{"id":14348,"date":"2018-02-19T19:03:37","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T19:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=14348"},"modified":"2018-07-08T20:41:15","modified_gmt":"2018-07-08T20:41:15","slug":"pretrial-discovery-civil-conducted-before-trial-to-reveal-facts-develop-evidence-and-prevent-parties-from-surprising-each-other-at-trial","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=14348","title":{"rendered":"pretrial discovery (civil) – conducted before trial to reveal facts, develop evidence and prevent parties from surprising each other at trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This page is continued from Civil Proceedings<\/a> >>>> 2. Case Preparation<\/a>:<\/span>
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pretrial discovery<\/span>:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>(1939)<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Discovery conducted before trial to reveal facts and develop evidence.\u00a0 *\u00a0 Modern procedural rules have broadened the scope of pretrial discovery to prevent the parties from surprising each other with evidence at trial.<\/strong> [1]<\/span><\/p>\n

discovery<\/span>:<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/strong>n<\/em>. (16c)<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Compulsory disclosure, at a party\u2019s request, of information that relates to the litigation<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0See<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Fed. R. Civ. P. 26-3<\/strong>7<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0The primary discovery devices are interrogatories, depositions, requests for adm<\/strong>issions, and requests for production.\u00a0 Although, discovery typically comes from parties, courts also allow limited discovery from nonparties. <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. The facts or documents disclosed<\/strong>\u00a0<the new associate spent all her time reviewing discovery>. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/strong><\/span>. The pretrial phase of a lawsuit during which depositions, interrogatories, and other forms of discovery are conducted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>discover<\/strong><\/em><\/span>,vb<\/em>. \u2014 discoverable<\/strong><\/em><\/span>,\u00a0adj<\/em>. [1]<\/span><\/p>\n

1. A<\/span> remedy<\/a> for the sole purpose of compelling the adverse party to answer its allegations and interrogatories, and thereby to disclose facts within his own knowledge, information, or belief, or to disclose and produce documents, books and other things within his possession, custody, or control, being usually employed to enable a party to prosecute or defend an action. 23 Am J2d Depos \u00a7 141<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong> [2]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. A means for providing a party, in advance of trial, with access to facts that are within the knowledge of the other side, to enable the party to better try her case.\u00a0 A motion to compel discovery is the procedural means for compelling the adverse party to reveal such facts or to produce documents, books, and other things within his possession or control.<\/strong><\/span> [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Excerpt from Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr. & Michele Taruffo\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0American Civil Procedure: An Introduction<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(1993):<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cDiscovery has broad scope.\u00a0 According to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Federal Rule 26<\/a>, which is the model in modern procedural codes, inquiry may be made into \u2018any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter of the action.\u2019\u00a0 Thus, discovery may be had of facts incidentally relevant to the issues in the pleadings even if the facts do not directly prove or disprove the facts in question.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0[4]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Related Terms:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

discovery abuse<\/span><\/a> – misuse of the pretrial discovery process, especially by<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(1) requesting unnecessary information;<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\n(2) requesting information for an improper purpose; or<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\n(3) <\/b><\/span>failing<\/b><\/span>\u00a0to respond adequately to a proper discovery request.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2014 aka\u00a0<\/span>abuse of discovery<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

References:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> All material throughout this website is compiled in accordance with Fair Use<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]: Black\u2019s Law Dictionary\u00a0Deluxe Tenth Edition<\/a>\u00a0by Henry Campbell Black & Editor in Chief Bryan A. Garner. ISBN: 978-0-314-62130-6<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[2]: Ballantine\u2019s Law Dictionary\u00a0<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/strong>with Pronunciations
\n<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em>Third Edition<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>by James A. Ballantine\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/strong>(James Arthur 1871-1949).\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/em>Edited by William S. Anderson.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a9 1969 by THE LAWYER\u2019S CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY.\u00a0 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 68-30931<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[3]:\u00a0\u00a0Ballantine\u2019s Law Dictionary <\/a><\/b><\/span><\/strong>Legal Assistant Edition<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em>
\nby Jack Ballantine\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/strong>(James Arthur 1871-1949).\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/em>Doctored<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>by\u00a0Jack G. Handler,\u00a0J.D.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a9 1994 Delmar by Thomson Learning.\u00a0 ISBN 0-8273-4874-6.<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[4]: Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr. & Michele Taruffo\u2019s\u00a0American Civil Procedure: An Introduction<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(1993)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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