Reedy

Letantia and Todd Bussell appeal "from the judgments entered against them on five probate petitions joined for trial. These judgments followed the imposition of terminating sanctions. Letantia and Todd argue, among other things, that the court- abused its discretion in-imposing such a draconian punishment. We disagree. Letantia and Todd’s entire course of conduct in this case can be fairly summed up in two words: “Make me.” Respondent Jacqueline B. Reedy had to do so repeatedly, filing motions with the court to force their compliance with discovery obligations, and at other times simply caving in to their unreasonable demands for accommodations. The court consistently gave Letantia and Todd the benefit of the doubt, and strongly indulged the policy preference for allowing matters to proceed on their merits.

Despite this, when the trial commenced, Letantia and Todd had still not fully complied with the court’s discovery orders. Nonetheless, the court merely took under submission Reedy’s motion for terminating sanctions, and allowed the matter to go forth. It was only after several days of trial, followed by additional discovery shenanigans, that the court finally became…