§26.5 Purpose and Procedure

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§26.5 PURPOSE AND PROCEDURE

The civil discovery rules are intended to effectuate a party's constitutional right to access to the courts. Doe v. Puget Sound Blood Ctr., 111 Wn.2d 772, 780-83, 819P.2d370 (1991). According to the court in Doe, this right is found within article I, §§1, 10, and 32 of the Washington Constitution. The Supreme Court stated that "extensive discovery is necessary to effectively pursue either a plaintiff's claim or a defendant's defense. Thus, the right of access as previously discussed...