District courts have broad discretion over the admissibility of evidence and control of pretrial and trial proceedings. M. R. Civ. P. 16(a) authorizes a court, in its discretion, to direct attorneys and unrepresented parties to appear for pretrial conferences. Stevenson v. Felco Indus., 2009 MT 299, ¶ 32, 352 Mont. 303, 216 P.3d 763.
A district court has broad discretion in sanctioning pretrial conduct, and we generally defer to its decisions in such matters. Vermeer of Wash., Inc. v. Jones, 2004 MT 77, ¶ 7, 320 Mont. 435, 87 P.3d 516. We review a trial court's imposition of sanctions for abuse of discretion. Vermeer, ¶ 7 (citations omitted).