Empire Wholesale Lumber Co. v. Meyers

Plaintiff obtained a judgment against defendant and then attempted to collect on it. It obtained an order compelling defendant to appear for a judgment debtor’s examination and to produce certain documents. Defendant appeared but refused to answer any questions or to produce any documents; he asserted a Fifth Amendment constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. The trial court ruled that defendant did not have to answer any questions or produce any documents. The trial court then ordered that the record of proceedings be sealed. Plaintiff appeals, arguing that the privilege against…