Discovery Flashcards
What are mandatory disclosures required as part of discovery process?
Mandatory disclosures under Rule 26(a) must be given without a party having to ask, and include:
1. initial disclosures
2. expert disclosures
3. pretrial disclosures
When must initial disclosures be filed?
Initial disclosures must be filed within 14 days after a Rule 26 conference and provided to all other parties
What must be included within initial disclosures?
- the name and contact info of any witness that a party may use to support a claim or defense
- copies or descriptions of documents, electronically stored information and tangible objects that the party may use to support its claim or defense
- computation of damages sought and supporting documents
- copies of an insurance agreements that may require the insurer to pay
What are expert disclosures?
If planning to rely on expert testimony, the party must disclose information regarding the expert
When must expert disclosures be provided?
At least 90 days before trial
What must be included within an expert disclosure?
- name and contact info of the expert
- expert’s final report which must include:
-expert’s qualifications
-expert’s opinion
-information relied on by expert
What are required pretrial disclosures?
- list of witnesses expected to be called
- witnesses that may be called if the need arises
- witnesses whose testimony will be given through deposition on transcript
- list of documents or physical evidence expected to be presented
When must pretrial disclosures be provided?
At least 30 days before trial
What is the scope of discovery under Rule 26(b)?
A party may ask for discovery material that is
1. non-privileged information 2. relevant to any claim or defense
3. proportional to the needs of the case
What is relevant material for the purposes of discovery?
Material is relevant if it is likely to make any fact in dispute more or less likely to be true, regardless of whether it would be admissible at trial
May a party seek discovery that would be inadmissible at trial?
Yes
What is work-product?
Even if relevant, work product including documents or tangible objects may be protected from discovery
When is material considered to be work product?
Work product is any document or tangible object created by a party or attorney in anticipation of litigation, including post-incident descriptions of events
What are exceptions to protection for work product?
A party can obtain work product if:
1. the work product is actually a statement the party itself has made
2. if the party seeking work product has substantial need and can’t get it without substantial hardship
Is privileged matter discoverable?
No, privileged matter is never discoverable
What is the scope of the attorney -client privilege?
Attorney/client privilege covers confidential communications between attorney and client for the purpose of obtaining or rendering legal advice
What constitutes an undue burden for purposes of discovery?
An undue burden exists in the following circumstances:
1. discovery is unreasonably cumulative or can be obtained from less burdensome sources or in a less burdensome way
2. party has ample opportunity to obtain information themselves
3. burden or expense of proposed discovery outweighs its benefits, considering the nature of the evidence, amount in controversy, and parties resources
What is a non-testifying expert?
A non-testifying expert assesses the merits of the case but has no intention of being called at trial
Is a non-testifying expert discoverable?
Generally if a non-testifying expert witness will not be called at trial they are un-discoverable
When will information regarding non-testifying experts be discoverable?
If the party has extraordinary need and no other way to obtain such information
Is testifying expert testimony and information discoverable?
Opinions held by those testifying are discoverable to a limited extent
What communications regarding testifying expert witnesses are discoverable?
- mandatory expert witness reports
- communications pertaining to compensation for expert’s study or testimony
- data provided by attorney to expert
- any assumptions the attorney asked the expert to make in an opinion