Key Insight: Party that does not dispute it spoliated ESI should be sanctioned
Nature of Case: consumer protection class action
Electronic Data Involved: deleted electronic records
Keywords: spoliation sanctions, deleted electronic records
Key Insight: No spoliation because no bad faith found when party did not retain records after selling assets (including computers)
Nature of Case: workplace discrimination, disability rights
Electronic Data Involved: unspecified electronic records
Keywords: Rule 37(e) ignored,
Key Insight: Predictive coding models are legitimate, and document review can stop when the burden outweighs the benefits.
Nature of Case: wage and hour class action
Electronic Data Involved: archived email
Keywords: privilege log, predictive coding,
Key Insight: Compelling ESI prematurely is not needed if the records will be preserved throughout litigation
Nature of Case: malicious prosecution
Electronic Data Involved: emails, documents
Keywords: Scope of ESI search terms, willingness to produce
Key Insight: How much access of a party’s electronic information system does rule 34(a) give a party?
Nature of Case: Trade secrets
Electronic Data Involved: Responsive documents
Keywords: ESI protocol, Forensic images, overly broad
Key Insight: Can documents be compelled to be produced in multiple formats, or in a certain specified format?
Nature of Case: Employment
Electronic Data Involved: Business documents, personnel files
Keywords: Multiple formats, native format
Key Insight: Oracle’s lawyers did not read the ESI produced to them, and instead accused Google of withholding critical evidence (that had been produced).
Nature of Case: Copyright infringement.
Electronic Data Involved: ESI produced by Google.
Keywords: This case shows the critical importance of electronic document review. Discovery-concealment misconduct.
Key Insight: Responding party’s ability to choose search methods is not above rule of proportionality.
Nature of Case: Breach of Contract/Breach of Fiduciary Duty Action
Electronic Data Involved: Personal and business electronic devices
Keywords: “search criteria” “access[ability]” “uncovered evidence” “limit[ing] searches” “shielding” “Sedona”
Key Insight: whether stating that “ESI request is not relevant or proportional” is not sufficient.
Nature of Case: breach of contract
Electronic Data Involved: emails
Keywords: informal internal emails
Identified State Rule(s): D. Kan. 37(2)
Key Insight: if sanctions can be granted for inconsistent and incomplete response from opposing party
Nature of Case: violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law
Electronic Data Involved: initial interrogatories and verifications
Keywords: spoliation, sanctions, default judgment, defunct business, unreachable party
Copyright © 2022, K&L Gates LLP. All Rights Reserved.