SEATTLE (LN) — A federal judge dismissed Roger White from a civil rights lawsuit against the King County Sheriff’s Office with prejudice Thursday, ruling the plaintiff’s refusal to appear for a deposition warranted sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour granted in part the defendants’ motion for discovery sanctions, noting it was "undisputed" that White was obligated to appear, failed to do so, and has expressed a "continued refusal to attend his deposition" despite prior court orders.
The defendants sought dismissal of the entire case and a stay of dispositive motions deadlines, arguing that White’s noncompliance violated the court’s Order at Docket #149.
While the court agreed that White violated his discovery obligations, it rejected the request to dismiss co-plaintiff Melissa White. The judge found the defendants failed to show she was responsible for Roger White’s violations or that she had "flagrantly violated" the court’s orders.
"Likewise, Melissa White’s status as Roger White’s spouse and co-plaintiff, while obviously pertinent to the trajectory of this lawsuit, is legally insufficient to warrant the harsh remedy of dismissal for her claims as well," Coughenour wrote.
Coughenour exercised his discretion to impose sanctions on Roger White that he deemed just, including an order to pay the defendants’ reasonable expenses and attorney fees caused to appear.
The judge also ordered Roger White to appear for a deposition within 45 days. In an alternative sanction, the court authorized the defendants to move for an order designating certain facts pertaining to Roger White as established for the purposes of the action if he fails to comply.
The court denied in part the defendants’ motion for relief from the May 26, 2026, dispositive motions deadline and stay of remaining case deadlines.