when responding to discovery with attorney client priviledge should you provide privilege log

by Prof. Napoleon Leannon 7 min read

Discovery rules generally allow discovery only of nonprivileged information. Federal law generally requires a party to create a privilege log if the party is withholding responsive information from a discovery production on the basis of privilege.

Full Answer

When is a privilege log required for Discovery?

Sep 14, 2018 · Federal law generally requires a party to create a privilege log if the party is withholding responsive information from a discovery production on the basis of privilege. Most civil litigation—and to a large extent much criminal litigation—generally follows the construct for discovery codified in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP).

What happens if you accidentally reveal privileged information in discovery?

Jun 29, 2018 · A deficient privilege log can result in severe consequences, including time-consuming discovery disputes or waiver of privilege. Accordingly, young lawyers should understand both the requirements of a proper privilege log and how to assist the more senior members on the litigation team with preparing such logs. Requirements. The requirements for …

What is a privilege log in a civil case?

May 17, 2018 · For written discovery in particular, make specific objections in response to discovery requests, and serve a privilege log for withheld documents. Consider the scope of waiver if intentionally disclosing and relying on privileged information or work product. In-house counsel should focus on the following practice pointers:

How do you describe a document under attorney client privilege?

Mar 04, 2020 · The attorney-client privilege is a way to address communication to your outside or in-house counsel when you need to send a message (i.e., letter or …

Is a privilege log discovery?

A privilege log is a document that describes documents or other items withheld from production in a civil lawsuit under a claim that the documents are "privileged" from disclosure due to the attorney–client privilege, work product doctrine, joint defense doctrine, or some other privilege.

How do you make a privilege log?

When creating a privilege log, young lawyers should consider the following tips to prepare a proper log: Identify the fields to include in the privilege log. Common fields include parent/attachment, document type, date, to/from/cc/bcc (if known) fields, privilege description, and document description.Jun 29, 2018

Is a privilege log required in California?

The California Code of Civil Procedure does not specify what information must appear in a privilege log. It instead requires only that other parties be given sufficient factual information to evaluate the merits of the privilege claim (Cal.Jul 14, 2020

What is a categorical privilege log?

Categorical privilege log: A log that contains information in specific categories, rather than individual documents. Custom privilege log: A log in which all parties agree to specific information that will be included for each document withheld, but not all of the standard information.Dec 13, 2021

Do redacted documents go on privilege log?

Partially privileged documents – You should indicate on the log when a document has been produced in redacted form. In Relativity, this can be done by including the “Production::Has Redactions” field.Apr 9, 2019

What is privileged from discovery?

Discovery does not extend to accessing information that is privileged. Privileged information is information that is protected by a confidential relationship recognized by law, such as attorney-client, doctor-patient, etc.

Is privilege log required?

Federal law generally requires a party to create a privilege log if the party is withholding responsive information from a discovery production on the basis of privilege. ... Information within this scope of discovery need not be admissible in evidence to be discoverable.Sep 14, 2018

What is attorney work product California?

The attorney work product doctrine provides absolute protection to written work product that reveals an attorney's impressions, conclusions, opinions or legal research. 3. Attorney work product is defined in the governing statute as material created or derived from a lawyer's work.

What is a privilege document?

Privilege is a legal right which allows persons to resist compulsory disclosure of documents and information. The fact that a document is sensitive or confidential is not a bar to disclosure, although privileged documents must be confidential. There are two main types of privilege protection under English and US law.

What is a privilege review?

Process by which parties or their lawyers review each document that may fall within a discovery request or order to determine whether the document contains information subject to the attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine; typically, privilege review is conducted to ensure that privileged materials are ...

What is privilege log?

Privilege logs are also commonly accompanied with a “players list” that not only shows the identity of attorneys, but also the positions of the non-lawyers on the communications.

Why is a thorough review important?

A thorough review will reduce the number of documents withheld in error and will make the document descriptions more accurate. The lack of attorneys on a communication does not mean that it is not privileged. Likewise, the mere presence of attorneys does not, in and of itself, make the document privileged. It is helpful to keep the document ...

What is attorney client privilege?

The attorney-client privilege is a way to address communication ...

What is business legal 101?

While you may hope that you never need them, it's wisest to bring yourself up to speed with certain elements of "Business Legal 101" to protect yourself and your company from unwanted legal exposure.

Is attorney client communication privileged?

Again, not all attorney-client communications will be deemed privileged once submitted in court, so always proceed with caution and continue to communicate in writing as if your document may be used as evidence in court at some point and blown up and placed in front of a jury.

What is a INADVERTENT DISCLOSURE?

‘‘(b) INADVERTENT DISCLOSURE.—When made in a Federal proceeding or to a Federal office or agency, the disclosure does not operate as a waiver in a Federal or State proceeding if:

What does "d" mean in court?

‘‘(d) CONTROLLING EFFECT OF A COURT ORDER. —A Federal court may order that the privilege or protection is not waived by disclosure connected with the litigation pending before the court—in which event the disclosure is also not a waiver in any other Federal or State proceeding.”

What is self critical analysis?

The self-critical analysis privilege protects certain self-evaluations undertaken by organizations to determine their compliance with regulatory requirements without creating evidence that could possibly be harmful in future litigation.

What is subdivision A?

Subdivision (a) provides that a voluntary disclosure in a federal proceeding or to a federal office or agency, if it constitutes a waiver, generally results in a waiver only of the communication or information disclosed.

Is inadvertent production a waiver of work product immunity?

“Inadvertent production of documents or information subject to the attorney-client privilege, work product immunity, or both shall not constitute a waiver of, nor prejudice to, any claim that such or related material is privileged or protected by the work product immunity, provided that the producing party notifies the receiving party in writing promptly after discovery of such inadvertent production.”

What was the conflict between FRE 502 and FRE 502?

Before FRE 502, courts were in conflict over whether disclosure of privileged or protected information to a government agency conducting an investigation of a client constituted a general waiver of the information disclosed.

What happens if you inadvertently produce to the other party?

“If a party has inadvertently produced to the other party information subject to [a] claim of privilege or immunity, the other party upon request shall promptly return the information for which a claim of inadvertent production is made. The party returning such information may then move the Court for an order compelling production of such information, but said party shall not assert that inadvertent disclosure constitutes a waiver”

What is attorney-client privilege?

The attorney-client privilege protects communications you have with your attorney about your case. The communications are only protected if the communications relate to legal advice. If your communications are not legal in nature, you don’t waive the privilege by disclosing those communications to the other side.

When can you waive a privilege?

You can intentionally waive the privilege when you intentionally disclose privileged communications in litigation during written discovery, deposition, in a court filing or during trial, without making any effort to protect it.

What is an unintentional waiver?

An unintentional waiver is the most common type of waiver. An unintentional express waiver, or inadvertent waiver, occurs when you do not intend to disclose privileged communications. For example, an unintentional waiver can occur when you and your attorney went to great lengths to review and redact privileged information from your written discovery responses, and some of the privileged data was accidentally produced to the other side.

What is a privilege log?

The privilege log must include: 1. a description of the withheld documents/materials sufficient for the parties to assess whether the privilege truly is applicable (but not so detailed or specific that the description discloses too much information and waives the privilege); and.

What is a responsive document?

1. Responsive documents are being withheld; 2. Which discovery requests relates to the withheld materials; and. 3. The privilege (s) asserted. Once the requesting party receives a privilege claim, then it may request a privilege log, which the party claiming the privilege must create/produce a privilege log within 15 days of receiving the request.

Can a party to a lawsuit request discovery in Texas?

Generally, in Texas, a party to a lawsuit may request and obtain discovery about anything so long as the information or documents sought are (1) relevant and (2) not privileged. See TRCP 192.3 (a). Importantly, the party from which the information or documents is requested, is required to produce documents or tangible things within ...

What is privilege in law?

The privilege applies to (1) a communication between (2) an attorney and (3) a client, made (4) in confidence (5) for the purpose of seeking, obtaining or providing legal advice. The privilege operates much the same in state court systems within the US, though each state’s specific laws should be consulted when a dispute is or may be litigated in ...

What is the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure?

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (specifically 26 (b) (1)) provide that parties may request from each other (and even from third parties) any relevant information that is ‘non privileged.’. The privilege is explicitly mentioned in this procedural rule since information covered by the attorney-client privilege is excluded from the universe ...