Gore v. Gore (2023): the Importance of Meeting Discovery Requirements

Published on
November 27, 2023
Written by
Angel Murphy, Esq
Category
Family Law

We hope that our blog articles on family law help readers better understand the different issues that can come up during divorce cases. Divorce litigants should not only be aware of the multitude of legal issues that may arise, but also must account for the procedural rules that regulate the divorce process. Litigants face not only the daunting challenges of custody, alimony, property division, and more, but also the relentless pressure of deadlines, obligations, and a multitude of diverse demands.

Complying with the procedural aspects of the divorce process is of utmost importance, as we will soon come to realize. The case of Gore v. Gore (2023) illustrates this fact with startling clarity. Let’s take a closer look at this case.

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Case Summary of Gore v. Gore (2023)

The couple in this case were married in 2013 and then divorced in 2019. During the marriage, the wife worked for the federal government, but she also had a side business of her own, and that business experienced considerable growth during the latter stage of the marriage. When the couple divorced in 2019, the wife’s side business had a substantial dollar value, and so the valuation of that business became a point of contention.

In order to properly value the business, both the husband and wife were allowed to call expert witnesses to substantiate their valuation. The husband observed all the procedural rules, and successfully obtained an expert witness who testified about the business’s (estimated) value. The wife, on the other hand, failed to comply with certain procedural requirements, such as those pertaining to discovery. She failed to call an expert witness in a timely manner in order to rebut or overcome the husband’s testimony; she also attempted to testify herself, but was barred because of her procedural violations. Ultimately, the court reprimanded her for her conduct and then disallowed her rebuttal regarding valuation. In the end, the husband’s valuation of the business (of nearly $35 million) was the valuation officially accepted by the court (and utilized for property division purposes).

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Outcome & Discussion

As mentioned, the husband’s valuation was accepted and the wife’s rebuttal was barred. The wife ended up suffering financially as a result of her procedural violations. The wife attempted to overcome the determinations of the court, but ultimately the court held that forbidding the wife’s rebuttal (regarding valuation) was within its purview. This is confirmation of the sheer importance of complying with all the procedural rules and requirements governing the divorce process. If a procedural mistake is made – such as the one in this case – the end result can be disastrous to a high degree. In a very real sense, the wife could’ve saved herself a lot of money by simply observing the court’s rules more closely.

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Contact the Murphy Law Firm for More Information

If you would like to learn more, or if you have a new query, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the leading family law attorneys at the Murphy Law Firm today by calling 240-219-8825.

Angel Murphy

Personable. Passionate. Persistent.

Family Law|Divorce Litigation|Procedural Rules|Property Division|Valuation|Gore v. Gore (2023)|Expert Witnesses|Financial Consequences|Custody|Alimony|Legal Issues|Deadline Compliance|Court Procedures|Discovery Violations|Case Study|Financial Impact|Marriage Dissolution|Expert Testimony|Compliance Importance

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