Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

A Compelling Need for Change in Legal Hold Practices

BY Brad Harris
May 22, 2011

Over 17 months ago, Judge Shira Scheindlin sounded the clarion call once again ' organizations that fail to take reasonable steps in response to a preservation obligation do so at their peril. In January 2010, The Pension Committee of the University of Montreal, et. al. v. Banc of America Securities, LLC (685 F. Supp. 2d 456, SDNY Jan. 11, 2010) opinion reinforced principles that had been laid out as early as 2003. When litigation is reasonably foreseen, affirmative steps must be taken to prevent spoliation of potentially responsive information. Among other actions, failing to issue a written legal hold notice may constitute gross negligence, since the likely outcome of failing to notify those responsible for the custody, ownership or control of electronically stored information will be its modification or destruction.

Yet despite this call, many in-house counsel remain reluctant or unwilling to implement seemingly simple steps deemed reasonable by numerous jurists at the federal court level ' Issue a written legal hold. Take steps to ensure understanding and agreement to comply with the hold instructions. Send periodic updates and reminders. And be actively engaged in deciding what and how information needs to be preserved and collected.

Understanding the Need to Change

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
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.