What may happen if a party fails to obey a motion to compel?

• A. Sanctions, including penalties or contempt of court
• B. A warning without effect
• C. A fine payable to the court clerk only
• D. A stay of proceedings

Answer: (A)

When a party fails to obey a motion to compel, the court can impose sanctions to enforce compliance. The most appropriate and common consequence is sanctions, which can include penalties and, in cases of willful disobedience, contempt of court. This mechanism ensures the discovery process proceeds and the noncompliant party bears the repercussions for delaying or denying the other side’s right to obtain information.

A simple warning is not enough to enforce the order, so it isn’t the remedy used here. A fine payable only to the court clerk misstates how sanctions are typically structured, which often involve payment of fees or penalties imposed by the court to the party or the court as ordered. A stay of proceedings is not the usual consequence of ignoring a discovery order; stays are typically related to other procedural or substantive issues rather than directly enforcing the compelled production.