This appeal arises out of the trial court’s order striking and dismissing the plaintiffs’ complaint for wilful failure to respond to discovery. Because the record supports the sanction, we find no abuse of the trial court’s discretion. We therefore affirm. This is the second appearance of this case here. As more fully set out in Gropper v. STO Corp. , 250 Ga. App. 820 552 SE2d 118 2001, plaintiffs Gary and Vickie Gropper, on behalf of themselves and their children, sought redress against three defendants for property damage and personal injuries allegedly arising out of the unauthorized substitution of a synthetic stucco product during the construction of their home. Id. at 820. They contended that defects described in their complaint resulted in water infiltration, which in turn damaged their home and caused personal injuries through the growth and release of “hazardous biological contaminants and chemicals into the indoor environment.” Numerous cross claims and third party claims were filed as well. Id. at 820-821. In the previous appeal, this court affirmed in part and reversed in part the trial court’s grant of partial summary judgment and summary judgment. Following this Court’s July 2001 decision, several claims remained pending.
1. The issues addressed in this appeal involve the Groppers’ pattern of failing to respond efficiently and timely to discovery requests made by the defendants. In July 2003, defendant Renaissance Building Corporation filed a motion for entry of a case management and scheduling order. Renaissance sought an order setting forth discovery deadlines, particularly a date by which the Groppers “be required to revisit, update and restate their answers to previously served discovery.” Renaissance noted that the plaintiffs’ previous discovery responses were “outdated and so absurdly overbroad as to make some of them virtually meaningless” and that the Groppers should “be required to narrow and more properly shape their prior responses.” It appears that the initial discovery responses had been provided only after the trial court compelled response and imposed sanctions on the Groppers.
