The Appellate Group

Poulson PC v. Smith

Poulson PC v. Smith, 2026 UT App 54 (Luthy, J.)

Civil Procedure

The Utah Court of Appeals held:

(1) Defendant has made a prima facie showing that the district court exceeded its discretion by dismissing defendant’s third-party complaint as a rule 37 discovery sanction when third-party did not move for the sanction.
(2) The district court exceeded its discretion by excluding evidence as a rule 26 sanction for defendant’s failing to disclose himself as a potential witness when that failure was harmless.
(3) The district court erred in granting summary judgment on breach of employment agreement claim in light of genuine issue of material fact.

Practice tip:

The failure of a party to disclose himself or herself as a potential witness is not per se harmless.

Read the full court opinion