In Re Colonial Pipeline Co.

In the case underlying this original mandamus proceeding, 3,275 plaintiffs sued three defendants alleging negligence, nuisance, and trespass as the result of the rupture of four pipelines containing hazardous substances. We must decide whether the trial court abused its discretion by issuing an order (1) prohibiting defendants from obtaining discovery from all but ten plaintiffs until after the first ten claims are resolved, (2) requiring defendants to create and produce an inventory list of all material previously produced by plaintiffs and defendants and between defendants in three related…