What does "discovery abuse" refer to?

Discovery abuse refers to the misuse of the discovery process in legal proceedings, particularly when one party employs it as a tool to harass, annoy, or impose undue burden on the opposing party. This can manifest in various ways, such as overwhelming the other party with excessive requests for information or scheduling depositions in a manner that is intended to inconvenience the other side rather than to gather relevant evidence.

The concept is primarily recognized to ensure that the discovery process remains just and effective, allowing both parties to prepare their cases without being subjected to undue pressure or distraction. This misuse undermines the purpose of discovery, which is to gather relevant information to support a fair resolution of the case.

The other options—failing to disclose important evidence, submitting false documents, or filing for discovery late—while problematic, do not capture the specific element of harassment or undue burden, which is the essence of discovery abuse. Instead, they represent different facets of improper conduct within the discovery process that do not necessarily involve the strategic use of discovery to oppress the other side.