Key Insight: ineffective litigation hold, failure to preserve electronic evidence
Nature of Case: workplace harassment and discrimination
Electronic Data Involved: emails, text messages, instant messages
Keywords: instant messages, faulty and failed litigation hold, the defendant “bollixed its litigation hold”
Key Insight: When does the duty to preserve arise, what constitutes a sufficient triggering event?
Nature of Case: Contract violation
Electronic Data Involved: WeChat messages
Keywords: Spoliation sanctions, adverse inference,
Key Insight: cost-shifting, proportionality
Nature of Case: Title IX violation
Electronic Data Involved: computer, cell phone, text messages
Keywords: privacy interests, forensic examination, attorney’s fees and costs, inconsistent testimony
Key Insight: self-incrimination through possession of documents
Nature of Case: Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
Electronic Data Involved: text messages, call logs
Keywords: Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), non-party agents, Fifth Amendment Rights, self-incrimination, 47 U.S.C. 227
Key Insight: Discoverability of the identity and communications of users of anonymous messaging services.
Nature of Case: Suit against supporters of “Unite the Right” rally
Electronic Data Involved: anonymous communications, anonymous user account info, Discord records
Keywords: anonymous communications, stored communications act, first amendment rights, Discord, third party subpoenas
Key Insight: Non-party ESI must be in the possession, custody or control; phone not city owned, no consent given by city official- did not require production; prior phone and service provider required supplemental briefing regarding service provider contractual obligations
Nature of Case: Civil Rights
Electronic Data Involved: Cell Phone/Text Messages
Keywords: text messages, phones, service provider, consent, ownership
Key Insight: Fabricated evidence justified sanction of dismissing case
Nature of Case: fraud, breach of contract
Electronic Data Involved: archived email
Keywords: spoliation, closely held corporation, fabricated emails
Key Insight: proportionality, spoliation sanctions
Nature of Case: wrongful termination
Electronic Data Involved: text messages, e-mails
Keywords: spoliation, forensic imaging, relevance, duty to preserve, intent to deprive, prejudice, attorney’s fees
Key Insight: discoverability of Facebook messages
Nature of Case: Breach of fiduciary duty, ERISA
Electronic Data Involved: Facebook private messages, Facebook post
Keywords: 37(a), Facebook, private messaging, relevance, work product doctrine, common interest privilege
Key Insight: whether certain ESI production requests relating to ESI created both before and after a personal injury incident are proportional to the needs of the case
Nature of Case: personal injury, Jones Act
Electronic Data Involved: text messages, call logs, roaming data logs, phone account information, credit card transaction history, bank account transaction history
Keywords: “defendants are fishing”, ” balance of the benefits and burdens of these post-incident discovery requests are not in defendants’ favor”, “wheelhouse”
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