The Tort of Discovery Abuse

The Tort of Discovery Abuse

Author: Warren Freedman

Publisher: Praeger

Published: 1989-06-23

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In his latest work, Freedman seeks to establish a contemporary tort of discovery abuse. As he notes at the outset, the discovery process has become a central feature of modern litigation. He deals with the ways in which this interrogatory process can be abused, leading to excessive, costly delays in pretrial hearings and in subsequent litigation, if not settlement of the case. Discovery abuse places onerous demands on litigants who can be forced to produce documentation in such quantities, for example, that the costs involved discourage further litigation. At the outset, Freedman fully examines the nature of the discovery process itself, including international discovery procedures, and then explores abuses of the process and their ramifications for future litigation. Organized in two main parts, the book begins with an introductory overview of the discovery process in general. Subsequent chapters address issues such as American Bar Association standards for discovery and procedure before the criminal trial; federal, state, and civil discovery procedures; non-party access to discovery materials; discovery in arbitration; and discovery procedures abroad. The second section reveals the nature of the abuses of the discovery process, including the destruction or spoliation of evidence, abuses connected with the Freedom of Information Act, and discovery abuses in the insurance field. The book concludes with chapters devoted to sanctions and remedies for discovery abuse and the Freedman's recommendation for the intentional tort of discovery abuse. Both a practical handbook for corporate attorneys and an ideal supplemental text for courses in business law, this volume offers a clear and comprehensive treatment of a growing problem in litigation proceedings.


Discovery Practice, 9th Edition

Discovery Practice, 9th Edition

Author: Herr, Haydock

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer

Published: 2017-05-18

Total Pages: 1196

ISBN-13: 1454883812

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Discovery Practice, Ninth Edition gives you hard-nosed, trial-tested guidance through all the intricacies of what to do, whether to do it, and how to do it -- at every stage of the discovery process. Turn to this trusted guide for thorough, up-to-date clarification of: Insurance discoverability Discovery abuse -- its penalties and sanctions Confidentiality and discovery of trade secrets Use of experts Use of investigation files Use of witness statements Protective orders Invoking Rule 29 powers Tapes and telephones depositions Using the Manual for Complex Litigation Foreign discovery Discovery in administrative hearings Discovery in arbitration. Plus detailed coverage of such cutting edge areas as e-mail depositions and FOIA proceedings. Appendices include ready to adapt sample forms. Now, with all the practice tips and valuable strategies packed into Discovery Practice, you can Facilitate early and thorough disclosure of information Quickly determine a core of undisputed facts Intensively promote and pursue a negotiated settlement. Discovery Practice, Ninth Edition gives you hard-nosed, trial-tested guidance through all the intricacies of what to do, whet


Model Rules of Professional Conduct

Model Rules of Professional Conduct

Author: American Bar Association. House of Delegates

Publisher: American Bar Association

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 9781590318737

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.


Destruction of Evidence

Destruction of Evidence

Author: Jamie S. Gorelick

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer

Published: 1995-12-31

Total Pages: 544

ISBN-13: 0735545499

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A practice manual as well as an authoritative resource, Destruction of Evidence analyzes issues from the standpoints of civil litigation, criminal litigation, and the laws of professional responsibility. Destruction of Evidence also discusses in-depth such areas as: the spoliation inference the tort of spoliation discovery sanctions ethics, and routine destruction Also included is an expanded discussion of discovery sanctions, including procedural issues, choice-of-law considerations, the requirements for preserving sanctions issues for appellate review, burdens of proof, and appellate review. The supplement keeps you up to date on the continuing development of the controversial torts of both first- and third party spoliation of evidence: Massachusetts has declined to recognize a cause of action in tort for intentional or negligent spoliation of evidence The Supreme Court of Mississippi did not recognize an independent cause of action for the intentional spoliation of evidence against first or third party spoliators Nevada declined to recognize an independent tort spoliation of evidence when weighed against the andquot;potentially endless litigation over a speculative loss, and by the cost to society of promoting onerous record and evidence retention policiesandquot; Constitutional implications in the realm of criminal law. Many states within the last year have been addressing the potential for due process violations when evidence is destroyed and are continuing to adopt and expand the rules dictated by Brady, Trombetta, and Youngblood. While each of these new jurisdictions refused to find due process violation, this trend recognizes the increased potential for constitutional violations when evidence is destroyed: Hawaii refused to find a constitutional violation where a police officer failed to save her completed police report, citing Brady The Supreme Court of Mississippi ruled that a defendant was not denied due process by spoliation of crime scene evidence, citing Trombetta Nevada, using a bad faith standard, ruled that an independent laboratory's failure to refrigerate a defendant's blood sample did not violate due process A New Jersey court did not find a due process violation where the police had lost a videotape of the administration of breath tests for a DUI charge Oklahoma ruled that a defendant's due process rights were not violated when the police destroyed latent crime scene fingerprints, citing Youngblood Using an exculpatory evidence standard, the Supreme Court of South Dakota ruled that the State's release of a rape victim's vehicle without notice to the defendant did not violate the defendant's due process rights.