J.W.
J.W. v. Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc'y of N.Y., Inc.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MILLER J.
*1146 Plaintiff and respondent J.W., through her guardian ad litem, sued defendant and appellant Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. (Watchtower) and others for (1) negligence; (2) negligent *1147 supervision/failure to warn; (3) negligent hiring/retention; (4) negligent failure to warn, train, or educate J.W.; (5) sexual battery; and (6) intentional infliction of emotional distress. In January 2014, J.W. filed a motion to compel further discovery responses. On February 11, the trial court granted the motion in part. The trial court's order compelled Watchtower to produce all documents Watchtower received in response to a letter sent by Watchtower to Jehovah's Witness congregations on March 14, 1997, concerning known molesters in the church (1997 Documents).
By November 2014, Watchtower had not produced the 1997 Documents, and J.W. moved for terminating sanctions. At a hearing on the sanctions motion, the trial court offered Watchtower four days to produce the 1997 Documents. Watchtower declined the offer and refused to produce the 1997 Documents. The trial court granted the motion for terminating sanctions and struck Watchtower's answer. The trial…