California 'Disentitlement Doctrine'

Trial court entered $8M judgment against defendants. Plaintiffs sought financial records from defendants, and when they refused, brought motion before trial court. Trial court ordered defendants to produce records. Defendants appealed without complying with the trial court order. Court of appeal dismissed the appeal under the 'disentitlement doctrine': An appellate court has the inherent power, to dismiss an appeal by a party that refuses to comply with a lower court order. See, e.g., Moffat v. Moffat (1980) 27 Cal.3d 645, 652.

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