State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Stephens

MILLER, Justice:

In this original proceeding in prohibition, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm) asks us to prevent the Circuit Court of McDowell County from enforcing an order entered July 10, 1992, which held State Farm in contempt for failing to comply with court-ordered discovery and assessed a penalty against State Farm of $5,000 for each day of continued noncompliance. State Farm contends that the trial court’s discovery order was oppressive and unduly burdensome and that the contempt citation was, therefore, unwarranted. We agree, and we grant the writ of…