Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 286: Listen and Learn -- Conclusory Pleadings Under Rule 12(b)(6) (Civ Pro)
Direct Examination: To Lead or Not to Lead
Law School Toolbox Podcast Episode 416: Listen and Learn -- Service of Process (Civ Pro)
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 224: Listen and Learn -- Service of Process (Civ Pro)
The Only Rule of Multidistrict Litigation Is...
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 208: Listen and Learn -- Motions to Dismiss a Case
Practicing Before the U.S. Supreme Court | Kannon Shanmugam | Texas Appellate Law Podcast
Amended Rules Five Months Later: Early Trends in Case Law and What It Means
Proposed FRCP Changes: Effect on eDiscovery, RIM & IG (CLE)
The U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) recently amended its Rules and Regulations, making a number of changes to its discovery and complaint-filing procedures. The new rules went into effect on February 3, 2025. The...more
These days, ignoring social media evidence in investigations and litigation is akin to leaving a crucial witness unquestioned. But as the case of Federico v. Lincoln Military Housing demonstrates, navigating this terrain can...more
Regular visitors to this blog no doubt are aware that the rules of practice for the Commercial Division are centered on innovation, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and predictability. This includes the rules governing trial...more
Litigators frequently interview fact witnesses in pending or anticipated litigation settings. Their interview notes normally deserve fact work product protection, but that can be overcome if the witnesses disappear or their...more
The apex deposition doctrine is a judge-made rule that protects company executives from harassing, repetitive depositions in cases in which the executive has little relevant evidence to provide. Courts applying the doctrine...more
Having recently transitioned from being a litigator to serving as a discovery neutral, I've gained a distinct perspective on the role of discovery neutrals in our legal system. This experience has highlighted both the...more
The discovery process is a crucial part of any Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) lawsuit. Oftentimes, important information and documents, such as consent records, will be in the possession of third parties. As a...more
Frequent readers of this blog know that we are not shy in acknowledging the Commercial Division’s status as the leading forum for resolving complex business disputes. This reputation can be, in part, largely attributed to the...more
Revised Minnesota pretrial discovery rules, which took effect Jan. 1, now encourage remote depositions by allowing them to be set by notice alone. Former practice required either a court order or stipulation....more
Expert witnesses can be critical to defending a tax position—but what happens when an expert must maintain confidentiality over information that is important to their analysis? Preserving this confidentiality while ensuring a...more
The risks of self-collection in ediscovery continue to be a central theme in courts across the country. A decision from Magistrate Judge William Matthewman in the Southern District of Florida, EEOC v. M1 5100 Corp., serves as...more
If you find yourself involved in civil litigation of any kind, the case will take up a significant part of your life. While your attorney will take on the heavy lifting, he or she will require your help to gather the facts...more
Noticing a deposition is a critical part of the litigation process. Far from just a formality, it’s an assurance that a deposition you’re engaging in is being done fairly and in good faith. By giving all interested parties...more
We live in an era of ‘big data.’ According to the International Telecommunications Union, more than three-quarters of the world’s population own a mobile phone. The same statistics apply for computer and internet use....more
The blog post Turning Deposition No-Shows to the Client’s Advantage proved popular with our readers when written (2021!) and for years afterward. The sustained readership of that article is gratifying but also disappointing...more
In today's fast-paced litigation landscape, electronically stored information (ESI) plays a critical role in shaping legal strategies and outcomes. Among the myriad sources of ESI, text messages have emerged as a critical...more
What's the difference? There are three main ways for a defendant to bring a lawsuit to an end. Each involves a different level of proof – and of expense and hassle. It's better to get a lawsuit “disposed of” as early as...more
A privilege log is the absolute bane of an attorney’s existence. I don’t mean it isn’t important and a critical component of discovery, but the level of planning, analysis and detail required to complete such a log is...more
I was fortunate to moderate a webinar for ACEDS about proportionality and summarize the discussion below. You can listen to the entire program here. Proportionality in e-discovery is based on the objective of Rule 1 of the...more
In civil litigation, depositions are a key pretrial discovery tool used to uncover facts, obtain admissions, gather evidence for motions, and assess witnesses. They prevent “trial by ambush” by revealing crucial information...more
Ten is the presumptive upper limit on the number of depositions that each party may take in civil litigation in the federal courts. This number, provided by Rule 30(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, can be...more
To their credit, experienced litigators are able to resolve the vast majority of pretrial discovery disputes without the need for court intervention. This is particularly true when the dispute in question is whether a...more
Dismissal of a lawsuit is a rare sanction for a discovery violation, but it happened recently in a workplace discrimination lawsuit, due in large part to two probing depositions that called into question one party’s assertion...more
The increasing globalization of business, through Internet-based commerce and the activities of multinational corporations, has made it more likely than ever that litigators in U.S. courts will be confronted with documents...more
Corporate defendants are frequently faced with a quandary—is the company’s highly sophisticated professional employee simply a fact witness or does their anticipated testimony propel them into the world of expert discovery?...more