Dufrene v. American Tugs Inc. (District Court of Eastern Louisiana, 2018)
Key Insight: Scope of work-product doctrine
Nature of Case: Wrongful death
Electronic Data Involved: cellphone information and data
Keywords: tug
Key Insight: Protective order barring opposing council from viewing confidential materials denied for being too far
Nature of Case: trademark infringement, unfair competition
Electronic Data Involved: expert information
Keywords: trademark, protective order
Key Insight: When there are conflicting versions of a document, metadata to understand the modifications can be compelled to be produced, even with claimed significant costs
Nature of Case: Medical Malpractice
Electronic Data Involved: Metadata
Keywords: Surgery, colostomy, metadata, Fournier’s gangrene, Village Care
Identified State Rule(s): CPLR 3103
Key Insight: ordered forensic examination and sanctions (threatened terminating sanctions) for failure to disclose reconstructed hard drive
Nature of Case: personal injury
Electronic Data Involved: computer files
Keywords: converted motion for sanctions to motion to compel
Key Insight: What amounts to good cause to seal relevant evidence from public view
Nature of Case: Civil Rights Action, violation of 8th amendment
Electronic Data Involved: confidential health information and confidential investigatory information obtained from witness interviews
Keywords: HIPPA, seal, confidential health information, good cause
Key Insight: Provide only the information requested, especially if it is simple database records, additional work will not be compensated
Nature of Case: Horse Protection Act
Electronic Data Involved: Database records
Key Insight: Sanctions were appropriate for a fraudulently edited email entered into evidence
Nature of Case: Judge removal
Electronic Data Involved: E-mails
Key Insight: Which search terms are to be used to identify responsive ESI
Nature of Case: Construction litigation
Electronic Data Involved: Email and other ESI
Key Insight: False statements about loss of evidence more easily prove intent wrt spoliation
Nature of Case: Breach of contract
Electronic Data Involved: Emails
Key Insight: Intentional spoliation but with no bad faith and little prejudice leads to only costs and fees sanctions
Nature of Case: Intellectual property
Electronic Data Involved: Electronic documents
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