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e-Discovery Today

By Connie A. Matteo, Timothy Coughlan and David C. Uitti
June 29, 2004

Since their invention more than 50 years ago, we have come to rely on computers to keep track of virtually every facet of our lives. Courts have acknowledged the central role of computers, understanding that individuals and corporations have used them to cut costs, improve production, enhance communication, store countless data, and improve capabilities in every aspect of human and technological development. Given the central role of computer technology in our personal and professional lives, discovery requests for electronically stored information have become commonplace. The costs associated with discovery frequently escalate when the information sought is stored electronically, because retrieval is often more complicated and nuanced than the production of hard copies of documents. Not surprisingly, the disclosure and production of electronically stored information is often the subject of discovery disputes.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(B) provides that mandatory initial disclosures should include a copy or description of all “documents … data compilations … and tangible things” in the possession of the disclosing party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 34 allows for any party to serve a request on another party to produce or make available for inspection “documents,” which include “data compilations from which information can be obtained,” and “tangible things” within the producing party's control. In addition, the 1970 Advisory Committee Notes to Fed. R. Civ. P. 34 provide that the rule amendment to include “data compilations” as a sub-category of “documents” was effected to account for “changing technology.” Some state courts follow similar rules.

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