| (a) On the judge's own motion or on motion of a party and after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, a judge may impose sanctions against a party or its representative for: (1) filing a motion or pleading that is groundless and brought: (A) in bad faith; (B) for the purpose of harassment; or (C) for any other improper purpose, such as to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of the proceeding; (2) abuse of the discovery process in seeking, making, or resisting discovery; or (3) failure to obey an order of the judge or the commission. (b) A sanction imposed under this section may include, as appropriate and justified, issuance of an order: (1) disallowing further discovery of any kind or of a particular kind by the offending party; (2) charging all or any part of the expenses
of discovery against the offending party or its representatives; (3) holding that designated facts be considered admitted for purposes of the proceeding; (4) refusing to allow the offending party to support or oppose a designated claim or defense or prohibiting the party from introducing designated matters in evidence; (5) disallowing in whole or in part requests for relief by the offending party and excluding evidence in support of those requests; and (6) striking pleadings or testimony, or both, in whole or part.
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