If a party or other witness refuses to be sworn or refuses to answer any question after being directed to do so by the court in which the action is pending or in which the judgment was originally rendered, the refusal shall be considered a contempt of the court of the parish where the deposition is being taken.
Art. 1470.Failure to Comply With Order Compelling Discovery; Contempt
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title III. Production of Evidence · Chapter 3. Discovery · Enacted 1976 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1470 makes it contempt of court, in the parish where a deposition is taking place, for a party or witness to refuse to be sworn in or refuse to answer a question after the court has directed them to respond.
Full Text of Art. 1470
Amendment History
Acts 1976, No. 574, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Article 1470 is a narrow, pointed provision. If a party or any other witness refuses to be sworn, or refuses to answer a question after the court has directed an answer, that refusal is treated as contempt of the court sitting in the parish where the deposition is being taken -- whether or not that's the same court where the underlying lawsuit is pending or where the judgment was rendered.
The article keeps depositions functioning without every dispute forcing a stop in proceedings. Once a court has weighed in and directed a witness to answer, digging in and refusing anyway carries the weight of contempt, not just an objection preserved for later argument.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as contempt under Article 1470?
Refusing to be sworn in, or refusing to answer a question after the court has directed a response, during a deposition.
Which court holds the contempt power here?
The court of the parish where the deposition is being taken, regardless of where the underlying case is pending or where the judgment was originally rendered.
Is contempt the only consequence for ignoring a discovery order?
No. Article 1471 provides a broader menu of sanctions -- beyond contempt -- for disobeying an order compelling discovery.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: discovery contemptcontempt of court depositionrefusal to answer depositionrefusal to be sworn