Key Insight: Lack of cooperation and deception on production does not lead to terminating sanctions if evidence was not actually destroyed but does lead to adverse inferences and cost shifting
Nature of Case: Unfair Competition
Electronic Data Involved: Electronic records
Keywords: CrossFit, terminating sanctions, perjury
Key Insight: Texas Supreme Court 7 part test for proportionality- benefit, case needs, amount in controversy, parties’ resources, issues at stake, importance of proposed discovery and other articulable factors. Brought Texas in line with FRCP.
Nature of Case: Homeowner Insurance Claim Litigation
Electronic Data Involved: Insurer Records
Keywords: Format of Production; Proportionality Factors
Key Insight: Specific objections are required for proportionality claims
Nature of Case: Breach of contract
Electronic Data Involved: Electronic data
Keywords: boilerplate, control, former owner and top officers
Key Insight: Motion for sanctions denied since the court found that the loss had been accidental, so no intent. Plus, much of the info likely never existed.
Nature of Case: workplace discrimination/hostile work environment
Electronic Data Involved: Telephone logs and connected data, electronic logs
Keywords: Spoliation, loss of data, equipment failure, recoverable data, sanctions
Gordon v. T.G.R. Logistics, Inc., No. 16-cv-00238-NDF, 2017 WL 1947537 (D. Wy. May 10, 2017)
In this personal injury case, Defendant requested production of Plaintiff’s entire “Facebook account history” for her two accounts (and later limited the relevant timeframe of the request to information from three years prior to the accident through the present). In response, Plaintiff produced information that referenced the at-issue auto accident or her injuries and also provided information identified by a set of keywords set forth by Defendant. She objected to further production based on a lack of relevance, undue burden, and invasion of privacy. The court granted Defendant’s subsequent motion to compel, but imposed significant limits on the scope of production.
Key Insight: Intentional deletion and refusal to produce evidence leads to default judgment
Nature of Case: Breach of contract
Electronic Data Involved: Electronic data
Keywords: Default judgment, China, termination sanction
Key Insight: sanctions not appropriate for deletion of original recordings, no alteration of originals
Nature of Case: Termination of employment
Electronic Data Involved: audio recordings, transcripts, photographs
Keywords: deletion of original, termination of employment, Best evidence rule
Key Insight: Discovery had been completed in September 2016. In February 2017, at deposition, additional on-going claims were presented. Court specified search terms to use against 3 custodians for the additional time frame.
Nature of Case: American with Disabilities; Employment Discrimination
Electronic Data Involved: E-mail
Keywords: Search Terms, Supplemental Production; Additional Discovery
FCA USA LLC v. Cummins, LLC, No. 16-12883 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 28, 2017)
In this case, the court was asked to rule on the parties’ dispute regarding “whether the universe of electronic material subject to TAR review should first be culled by the use of search terms.” The court, although expressly reluctant to get involved, concluded that it should not:
Be that as it may, having reviewed the letters and proposed orders together with some technical in-house assistance including a read of The Sedona Conference TAR Case Law Primer, 18 Sedona Con. J. __ (forthcoming 2017), the Court is satisfied that FCA has the better postion [sic]. Applying TAR to the universe of electronic material before any keyword search reduces the universe of electronic material is the preferred method. The TAR results can then be culled by the use of search terms or other methods.
A full copy of the court’s short order is available here.
Key Insight: Defendant had reviewed video recording twice and did not show area of spill and fall. Deleted recording per their normal 37 day video retention policy. Defendant moved for summary judgment, Plaintiff argued should be sanctioned by not granting order. Judge granted summary judgment.
Nature of Case: Personal Injury
Electronic Data Involved: Video Recording
Keywords: Summary Judgment; Retention Policy
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