Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Demonstrating the True Burden of e-Evidence

By Kristin M. Nimsger
December 01, 2003

Approximately 3 years ago in Danis v. USN Communications, 2000 WL 1694325 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 23, 2000), Magistrate Judge Schenkier stated: “At some point, a party and/or its attorneys must be held responsible for knowing what documents are discoverable and where to find them.” He prefaced this statement by reasoning that we cannot create a loophole in the discovery rules by allowing counsel to argue: “Judge, we just didn't know those tapes existed.”

Case law in the past 3 years, most notably in Zubulake v. UBS Warburg, 2003 WL 21087884 (S.D.N.Y. May 13, 2003) decision, has expanded a corporate counselor's Danis duty to “know thy e-data.” See also Zubulake v. UBS Warburg, 216 F.R.D. 280 (S.D.N.Y. 2003). Counsel representing today's 21st century companies need to know more than simply where electronic evidence resides; they also have a duty to know if that data is accessible (ie, how easily it can be restored and produced) and how much the whole process is going to cost.

The Archeological Expedition for e-Documents

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.

The Anti-Assignment Override Provisions Image

UCC Sections 9406(d) and 9408(a) are one of the most powerful, yet least understood, sections of the Uniform Commercial Code. On their face, they appear to override anti-assignment provisions in agreements that would limit the grant of a security interest. But do these sections really work?