Court Approves Retention of Independent Technology Expert to Build, Maintain and Operate Discovery Database to Ensure Consistency, Reliability and Accessibility of Information
In re World Trade Ctr. Disaster Site Litig., 2008 WL 793578 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 24, 2008)
This litigation concerns claims relating to respiratory injuries suffered by rescue and clean-up workers as a result of exposure to toxins and other contaminants in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Approximately 10,000 cases are before the court.
In this decision, the court approved the Special Masters’ recommendation that Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. ("TCDI") be retained to build, maintain and operate a database, to store the “Core Discovery” that the parties had begun to produce, and will continue to produce, pursuant to the court’s “Core Discovery Order" of November 27, 2007. The court explained that the “Core Discovery” will create a substantial amount of information, including insurance data from scores of contractors and subcontractors, and basic details concerning each plaintiff’s claim. The court continued: