Motion to Compel – Page 6

Compelling Production of Hard Drives & Metadata to Show Time Worked

June 23, 2009 Josh Gilliland e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, ESI, Imaging Hard Drives

The Defendants in a disability suit brought a motion to compel for the following ESI from the Plaintiff: (1) The Plaintiff’s desktop computer hard drive; (2) Any computer hard drive the Plaintiff used for business from March 23, 2005 until the present; and (3) All business computer storage media from[…]

The Return of Covad Communications: Forensic Imaging of Databases & Email Servers

June 17, 2009 Josh Gilliland Discovery, e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, Email, ESI, Imaging Hard Drives, Request for Production, Search Terms

Magistrate Judge Facciola’s “Christmas Eve” opinion now has a sequel: Covad Communs. Co. v. Revonet, Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47841 (D.D.C. May 27, 2009). This opinion is very detailed covering issues of forensic examinations, email servers and commentary on retention policies. I encourage lawyers to look at this opinion. […]

The Plumbing of a Motion to Compel

June 15, 2009 Josh Gilliland Culling, Deposition, Discovery, Document Review, e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, Email, ESI, Litigation Hold, Motion to Compel, Processing, Request for Production

In a product defect case about brass plumbing fittings, the Defendants fought a motion to compel electronically stored information relevant to class certification, because of undue burden and cost. They lost…in large part. In re Zurn Pex Plumbing Prods. Liab. Litig., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47636, 1 (D. Minn. June[…]

Follow the Court Order: If You are Ordered to Produce Searchable PDF’s, Don’t Produce TIFFs without Searchable Text

June 12, 2009 Josh Gilliland Deposition, Discovery, e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, ESI, Form of Production, Motion to Compel, Request for Production, TIFF

Gamesmanship is the harbinger of bad lawyer reputations. Not obeying Court orders can be the death warrant on how the judge will view you every time you appear in her courtroom. One can imagine how things will go for a party when this is the opening line of an opinion:[…]

Procrastination and Objecting to the Form of Production Don’t Mix

May 22, 2009 Josh Gilliland Discovery, e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, ESI, Form of Production, Metadata, Motion to Compel, Request for Production, TIFF

It is beyond cavil that this entire problem could have been avoided had there been an explicit agreement between the parties as to production, but as that ship has sailed, it is without question unduly burdensome to a party months after production to require that party to reconstitute their entire[…]

Is ONE Keyword Adequate for a Search?

May 21, 2009 Josh Gilliland Discovery, e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, Email, ESI, Motion to Compel, Request for Production, Search Terms

Magistrate Judge Facciola’s Asarco, Inc. v. United States EPA, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37182 (D.D.C. Apr. 28, 2009) dealt with a very brief issue: Was one keyword adequate for the search of electronically stored information? Short answer: No In Asarco, the Plaintiff opposed a summary judgment motion and sought leave[…]

Name that Form of Production: Converting ESI to TIFF without Metadata is Not a Reasonably Useable Form

May 7, 2009 Josh Gilliland Discovery, Document Review, e-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information, Email, ESI, ethics, Form of Production, Metadata, Native File, TIFF

Bray & Gillespie Mgmt. LLC v. Lexington Ins. Co., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21250 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 4, 2009) is a lengthy opinion covering Rule 34 requests, form of production issues concerning metadata, reasonably useable form of production, ethical responsibilities for candor to the Court and Opposing Parties and sanctions. […]

The Express Way to Your Hard Drive

March 30, 2009 Josh Gilliland e-Discovery, Imaging Hard Drives, Request for Production

Inspection or testing of certain types of electronically stored information or of a responding party’s electronic information system may raise issues of confidentiality or privacy. The addition of testing and sampling to Rule 34(a) with regard to documents and electronically stored information is not meant to create a routine right[…]

Serving Discovery Requests by Email

March 9, 2009 Josh Gilliland Discovery, Service of Process

Many lawyers today no longer go to court with a pager on their belt, but a BlackBerry or iPhone. Partners can email directions to associates from the courthouse and associates can ping a paralegal for help at a deposition. Sending email is a normal part of the practice of law. […]

I Fought the Law…The Government’s Discovery Obligations in Civil Litigation

March 2, 2009 Josh Gilliland Discovery, Document Review, e-Discovery, Motion to Compel, Request for Production

“Like any ordinary litigant, the Government must abide by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. It is not entitled to special consideration concerning the scope of discovery, especially when it voluntarily initiates an action.” Judge Scheindlin once again delivered a powerful opinion with SEC v Collins & Aikman Corporation 2009[…]