Michigan No-Fault Law, section by section › MCL 500.3159
Discovery.
In plain terms
When the insurer's right to discovery of earnings or treatment facts is disputed, a court may order the discovery on motion for good cause, with conditions to protect against annoyance, embarrassment or oppression.
How this section works in practice
When an insurer and a claimant disagree about the insurer's right to discover facts about earnings or medical history under section 3158, either side may ask a court for an order. The order is made only on motion for good cause, on notice to everyone with an interest, and it must specify the time, place, manner, conditions and scope of the discovery. The court may also refuse discovery, impose conditions to protect the claimant from annoyance, embarrassment or oppression, and shift costs and attorney fees. This is the mechanism for limiting a fishing expedition into decades of unrelated medical records while still giving the insurer what it legitimately needs.
Text of MCL 500.3159
Sec. 3159.
In a dispute regarding an insurer's right to discovery of facts about an injured person's earnings or about his history, condition, treatment and dates and costs of treatment, a court may enter an order for the discovery. The order may be made only on motion for good cause shown and upon notice to all persons having an interest, and shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions and scope of the discovery. A court, in order to protect against annoyance, embarrassment or oppression, as justice requires, may enter an order refusing discovery or specifying conditions of discovery and may order payments of costs and expenses of the proceeding, including reasonable fees for the appearance of attorneys at the proceedings, as justice requires.
History: Add. 1972, Act 294, Eff. Mar. 30, 1973
Source: MCL 500.3159 at legislature.mi.gov (official text). Text as published in the 2025 Michigan Compiled Laws; reviewed by Koussan Law on September 15, 2026.
Practice pages
Important: This is not legal advice
This article is general information about Michigan personal injury law. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Michigan attorney about your specific situation. The laws, deadlines, procedures, and frameworks here are general guidelines that may or may not apply to your case.
Every personal injury case turns on its own unique facts. The timing, the parties, the evidence, the jurisdiction, the insurance available, and dozens of other variables can change the legal analysis. Do not rely on anything written on this website to make decisions about your case.
If you have been injured in Michigan, the only responsible step is to speak with a licensed Michigan attorney about your specific facts. Call Koussan Law at (313) 800-0000 for a free consultation, or contact a different Michigan personal injury attorney of your choosing.
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