What is the scope of discovery in NC civil actions?

• A. All information possessed by a party, regardless of relevance.
• B. Non-privileged information relevant to a party's claim or defense, subject to limits and protective orders.
• C. Only information that supports your client.
• D. Information that is privileged is always discoverable.

Answer: (B)

Discovery in NC civil actions is broad but controlled: you may obtain information that is not protected by privilege and that relates to the claims or defenses in the case. This means anything that could help prove or rebut elements of the dispute, as long as it’s relevant to the subject matter and not privileged. The process can be narrowed by limits such as proportionality, time frames, and protective orders to shield sensitive information. Privileged communications and work product are protected from discovery, though there can be rare exceptions by order of the court. So the best description is: non-privileged information relevant to a party's claim or defense, subject to limits and protective orders.