In Re Ford Motor Co.

in which PHILLIPS, Chief Justice, GONZALEZ, HECHT and OWEN, Justices, join.

In this mandamus proceeding, we must decide whether the trial court abused its discretion by imposing discovery sanctions against Ford Motor Company. As part of the sanction order, the trial court excluded evidence Ford obtained from a nonparty and ordered Ford to pay plaintiffs’ attorney’s fees for both the trial court and appellate proceedings. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by determining that Ford’s conduct was sanctionable and by awarding attorney’s fees. However', because we conclude that…