how to use discovery to frustrate plainitff attorney

by Lonie Bernhard 6 min read

What do lawyers ask for in discovery?

discovery requests to frustrate the other party. A significant number of litigants refuse to comply with discovery requests or court orders or only partially comply with discovery requests or court orders.13 A third type of predatory discovery is obnoxious behavior by attorneys. We discuss

What is the best method of discovery in contract law?

Making Plaintiffs Pay for Evasive Discovery Tactics ... ultimately pay a high price for such conduct by being required to pay the costs and attorney's fees that your client incurred to obtain the discovery at issue. ... to resolve a discovery dispute before filing a motion to compel. When faced with a discovery dispute, you should ...

What are the rules of discovery in a civil lawsuit?

Jun 02, 2020 · Civility lies at the core of the legal profession. The legal profession expects every lawyer to act with the utmost courtesy both in and outside the court. There is always a temptation to throw civility out of the window and display aggressive behavior towards an opposing counsel. Big mistake! In dealing with difficult attorneys, learn to be civil.

What can be discovered in a lawsuit?

May 15, 2007 · Plaintiff attorney: The nice thing about it is you don't even have to think ... Hickman changed the basic philosophy of discovery from "hide the ball" to full disclosure of relevant information. As the court said, "[C]ivil trials ... the case and consequently frustrate the entire civil justice system's attempt to find the truth." NOTE 6.

image

What is the work product doctrine?

Taylor, 329 U.S. 495 (1947), the work-product doctrine is critical to a lawyer's ability to render professional services to his client: "it is essential that a lawyer work with a certain degree of privacy, free from unnecessary intrusion by opposing parties and their counsel.

What is attorney-client privilege?

The attorney-client privilege, which originated in Roman and canon law, "is the oldest of the privileges for confidential communications known to the common law." Upjohn Co. v. U.S., 449 U.S. 383, 389 (1981). Its purpose is "to encourage full and frank communications between attorneys and their clients," and it exists to protect" not only the giving of professional advice to those who can act on it but also the giving of information to the lawyer to enable him to give sound and informed advice." Id. at 389-91.

What is the common interest privilege?

The "common interest" privilege enables counsel for clients with a common interest "to exchange privileged communications and attorney work product in order to adequately prepare a defense without waiving either privilege." Haines v. Liggett Group Inc., 975 F.2d 81, 94 (3d Cir. 1992); see also:

What is the oldest privilege?

The attorney-client privilege , which originated in Roman and canon law, is the oldest of the privileges for confidential communications known to the common law.13 min read. 1. Protection From Discovery — A Little About Work-Product, Attorney-Client And Common-Interest Privileges. 2.

How to deal with difficult lawyers?

In dealing with difficult attorneys, learn to be civil. When you are civil, you exert positive energy, felt not only by your opponents but also by the judge . Many lawyers on receiving correspondence from an opposing counsel will quickly put pen to paper and write a no-holds-barred letter in reply.

How to be proactive in a court case?

To be proactive, lawyers must have a plan of action and anticipate the next move of the opposing counsel, just like in a chess game. By preempting the moves of the lawyer on the other side, you will avoid delays caused by your opponent’s delayed actions.

What is the most stressful aspect of a lawyer's job?

According to some lawyers, dealing with a difficult opposing counsel is one of the most stressful aspects of their jobs. Since some opposing lawyers have formed the habit of aggression, it makes no sense trying to talk them out of it. Dealing with difficult attorneys requires tact. Habits, when formed and done repeatedly, are not easily broken.

What is civility in the legal profession?

Civility lies at the core of the legal profession. The legal profession expects every lawyer to act with the utmost courtesy both in and outside the court. There is always a temptation to throw civility out of the window and display aggressive behavior towards an opposing counsel. Big mistake!

How does being assertive help you?

Some research and studies have shown that being assertive reduces your stress and helps you deal with difficult situations. Assertive lawyers are rarely intimidated and can succinctly make their points without insulting the other side.

What is Federal Rule 30 D?

Federal Rule 30 (d) is specific about deposition abuse: (2) By order or local rule, the court may limit the time permitted for the. conduct of a deposition, but shall allow additional time consistent with. Rule 26 (b) (2) if needed for a fair examination of the deponent or if the.

What is Rule 30 C?

First, Rule 30 (c) provides that the examination "of witnesses may proceed as permitted at the. trial" under the rules of evidence. This means that one should not make an objection at a deposition that would. not or could not be made at trial.

Can a defendant serve discovery?

There is no such limitation as to the defendant. As soon as the defendant receives the complaint, he can serve you with discovery, and even though he has not appeared in the action, he can serve that discovery by mail because the plaintiff has appeared. Look it up and stop objecting.

When do you have to give notice of an ex parte hearing?

Our court rules require that notice of an ex parte hearing be given no later than 10:00 a.m. the day before the hearing. Sometimes, if I have something going on the next day, I will fax and email the notice before I go home the night before. If I’m working late, that notice might go out at six or seven o’clock.

image

What Can Be Discovered

  • The basic rule of discovery is that a party may obtain any information that pertains -- even slightly -- to any issue in the lawsuit, as long as the information is not "privileged" or otherwise legally protected (see "Discovery Limits," below). Here are some of the things lawyers often ask for in discovery: 1. anything a witness or party saw, heard, or did in connection with the dispute 2. anyt…
See more on nolo.com

Limits on What Can Be Discovered

  • Virtually any bit of information that might have even a slight connection to the lawsuit is fair game for discovery. But this enormous latitude sometimes leads to abuse. Lawyers might try to pry into subjects that have no legitimate significance for the lawsuit, or that are private and confidential, serving only to annoy or embarrass the parties. Fortunately, there are some legal limits on this ki…
See more on nolo.com

Discovery Procedures

  • There are four types of formal discovery tools that are frequently used in lawsuits. They are: 1. Depositions.In a deposition, one party or that party's lawyer conducts face-to-face questioning of the other party or a witness to the dispute. The person being questioned (the "deponent") must answer under oath, and the answers are recorded for later ...
See more on nolo.com

Want to Learn More?

  • These discovery tools are explained in detail in Represent Yourself in Court, by Paul Bergman and Sara Berman (Nolo), and Nolo's Deposition Handbook, by Paul Bergman and Albert Moore.
See more on nolo.com

Attorney-Client Privilege

Basic Rules Regarding Attorney-Client Privilege

Privilege Offers Absolute Protection

Common Interest Privilege

Work Product Doctrine

  • "The work product doctrine is an independent source of immunity from discovery, separate and distinct from the attorney-client privilege." In re Grand Jury, 106 F.R.D. 255, 257 (D.N.R. 1985). It is "broader than the attorney-client privilege; it protects materials prepared by the attorney, whether or not disclosed to the client, and it protects mat...
See more on upcounsel.com