What is Discovery in a Civil Lawsuit?
The Importance of Discovery in a Civil SuitDiscovery is the process in every civil lawsuit by which the parties can obtain relevant information from each other to help in their claims and defenses.
The procedure differs a little in federal vs. state court, but the fundamental principles are the same. All parties have an obligation to provide information that is relevant to the lawsuit and reasonably requested by the other side. It is important to know two things: (i) the discovery obligations apply whether the information is helpful to your case or not; and (ii) you have a duty not to destroy or discard relevant evidence once you know litigation is likely. This can be hard for some people to get their head around, but remember these rules apply to the other side, as well. There are three basic kinds of discovery:
Learn more here about what to expect as a defendant in a civil lawsuit. |
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