Case v. Dundom , 115 Wash. App. 199 ( 2002 )

Bridgewater, J. —

Bary Dundom appeals the trial court’s default judgment against him which quieted title to certain real property in Ted Case. Dundom claims that the default award is invalid because Case did not comply with CR 26(i) before moving for discovery sanctions. We hold that, without the certification described in CR 26(i), a trial court does not have authority to entertain a motion to compel discovery. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court and vacate the default order.

This dispute arises from a real estate deal that never closed. The issues on appeal concern several discovery violations by the real estate purchaser (Dundom), and the propriety of sanctions that the trial court ordered in response to those violations.

On March 7, 2001, Case (the seller) filed an action against Dundom in Pacific County for ejectment and to quiet title. Case served Dundom with interrogatories on May 7, 2001. Dundom failed to reply within the 30-day period set forth in CR 33. On July 16, 2001, Case filed a motion to compel discovery compliance and for sanctions. A commissioner heard Case’s motion despite Dundom’s absence, ordered compliance within two weeks, and awarded monetary sanctions.

Dundom did not provide the interrogatory responses within the court commissioner’s two-week deadline. At a hearing on August 17, the trial court heard Dundom’s motion for continuance and Case’s “continued motion for discovery compliance.” Report of Proceedings (RP) (Aug. 17, 2001) at 2. The court reset the trial to November 7 due to courtroom congestion, and it ordered that Dundom respond to Case’s interrogatories by “next Friday.” RP (Aug. 17, 2001) at 22. The trial court warned Dundom that future noncompliance would result in default.

Despite the trial court’s warning, Dundom missed the “next Friday” deadline. He finally responded to the interrogatories the following Wednesday, August 29. The trial court entered a “Judgement [sic] and Order for Ejectment to Quiet Title” on September 4, 2001, and it denied Dundom’s motion for reconsideration at a hearing on September 28.

Generally, we review a trial court’s order dismissing a case for noncompliance with court orders or rules for abuse of discretion. Apostolis v. City of Seattle, 101 Wn. App. 300, 303, 3 P.3d 198 (2000). But when a trial court does not have discretion in a particular matter, and its decision rests instead on a question of law, we review the trial court’s decision de novo. Bishop v. Miche, 137 Wn.2d 518, 523, 973 P.2d 465 (1999). “A trial court’s authority to entertain a motion, as opposed to its authority to decide that motion, is a question of law that we review de novo.” Rudolph v. Empirical Research Sys., 107 Wn. App. 861, 866, 28 P.3d 813 (2001).

CR 26(i) provides:

Motions; Conference of Counsel Required. The court will not entertain any motion or objection with respect to rules 26 through 37 unless counsel have conferred with respect to the motion or objection. Counsel for the moving or objecting party shall arrange for a mutually convenient conference in person or by telephone. If the court finds that counsel for any party, upon whom a motion or objection in respect to matters covered by such rules has been served, has willfully refused or failed to confer in good faith, the court may apply the sanctions provided under rule 37(b). Any motion seeking an order to compel discovery or obtain protection shall include counsel’s certification that the conference requirements of this rule have been met.

We interpret court rules by reference to rules of statutory construction. State v. Greenwood, 120 Wn.2d 585, 592, 845 P.2d 971 (1993). In drafting CR 26(i), our Supreme Court selected the words “will not” and “shall.” These words are mandatory, as opposed to “may,” which is permissive. Scannell v. City of Seattle, 97 Wn.2d 701, 704, 648 P.2d 435, 656 P.2d 1083 (1982). Because the language of CR 26(i) is mandatory, not permissive, the trial court’s decision to hear a CR 37 motion to compel is a question of law that we review de novo. Rudolph, 107 Wn. App. at 866.

Case originally moved to compel discovery on July 16, 2001. In his correspondence with Dundom before and after July 16, which consisted of three letters,¹ Case never mentioned CR 26(i) or a discovery conference. Case did, however, submit two affidavits in support of his July 16 motion. The first stated, in relevant part, “That on June 26, 2001 I mailed correspondence to the Defendant’s [sic] regarding the non-compliance of the discovery process and the Defendant’s lack of cooperation herein.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 11. The second affidavit stated “The Defendant has failed to answer the Complaint filed herein and has failed to comply with discovery despite written requests for the same.” CP at 13. As Case submitted no other relevant affidavit, one of the cited statements must constitute Case’s “certification” under CR 26(i); if not, the trial court lacked discretion to entertain the motion.

Before addressing the relevant portion of CR 26(i), we emphasize that the trial court made no findings concerning “willful refusal or failure to confer in good faith.” Because the willful refusal provision of CR 26(i) contemplates an attempt at conferencing, and no such attempt appears on the record before us, the provision does not apply to our discussion. ¹

As the CR 26(i) conference requirement is relatively new, case law interpreting “certification” is sparse. We did, however, address the certification requirement in Rudolph v. Empirical Research Systems, 107 Wn. App. 861. There, we held that the trial court lacked discretion to entertain a CR 37 motion because the moving party’s motion did not contain a “certification.” Rudolph, 107 Wn. App. at 867. Although we did not address the precise language needed to satisfy the requirement, we emphasized that literal compliance with CR 26(i) was necessary. Empirical Research Systems, the moving party, argued that its written request to opposing counsel for compliance with a discovery request “is better and more effective than an oral telephone call.” Rudolph, 107 Wn. App. at 867. We stated, “This argument is meritless as it is contrary to the plain language of the rule requiring a conference in person or by telephone. The trial court lacked authority to entertain a motion to compel that did not contain a certification that the parties had complied with the conference requirements of CR 26(i).” Rudolph, 107 Wn. App. at 867.

Although the CR 26(i) issue in Rudolph was slightly different than the issue here — there we addressed what constitutes a conference — the case demonstrates the strict interpretive approach to the rule. CR 26(i) is designed to facilitate nonjudicial solutions to discovery problems by requiring a conference before a court order. The “in person or by telephone” requirement illustrates the policy of contemporaneous, two-way communications. Although traditional mail is a form of communication, it is not a contemporaneous, two-way communication and is certainly not a communication “in person or by telephone.” As such, Case’s statements that he “mailed correspondence” and made “written requests” for discovery compliance do not certify that he complied with CR 26(i). Also, Case submitted nothing else that we can construe as a certification between July 12 and September 4, 2001, the date judgment was entered. Therefore, the court lacked discretion to award default. The order granting default judgment and imposing sanctions is set aside.

Reversed and remanded.

Respondent requests attorney fees and costs on appeal. We decline his request under RAP 18.1(b) because he did not devote a section in his brief on attorney fees and costs.

Houghton, J., concurs.

1 Case relies on these three letters, along with the affidavits discussed below, for compliance with CR 26(i). The first letter, dated May 7, 2001, transmitted the interrogatories and requests for production and directed response within 30 days. The second, dated June 26, noted that Dundom had not yet responded and warned that Case would note a compliance motion and request attorney fees if he did not receive answers, but it did not mention a conference under CR 26(i). The third, dated August 3, included the order granting sanctions, stated the new compliance deadline, August 13, and demanded attorney fees totaling $382. No letter mentions CR 26(i) or a conference. Even if one did, this would not have satisfied Case’s obligation under CR 26(i).