Opinion
Civil No. 12-cv-263-SM
09-10-2012
John Merrick, et al. v. CitiMortgage, Inc.
NOTICE OF RULING
Re: Document No. 7, Proposed Discovery Plan The parties' proposed discovery plan (doc. no. 7) is approved. However, the court orders the parties to file a supplement to the plan for the reasons explained below. The parties' statement regarding electronic discovery is inadequate. Rule 26(f)(3)(C) requires that a plan "must" include the parties' views on electronic discovery "including the form or forms in which it should be produced . . . ." The parties' proposed discovery plan includes nothing about any agreement(s) with respect to electronic discovery, stating instead that the parties have "no disputes." More is required under the rule. Accordingly, the parties are ordered to meet and confer and file, on or before October 1, 2012, a joint motion to supplement the discovery plan that outlines more specifically their plans/agreements with respect to electronic discovery. The court refers the parties to the following outline of potential issues to discuss:
1. Preservation. Counsel should attempt to agree on steps the parties will take to segregate and preserve ESI in order to avoid accusations of spoliation.Trial in this case is scheduled for the two-week trial period beginning September 17, 2013. To the extent plaintiffs seek a jury trial, they shall file a demand on or before September 24, 2012. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(3). In light of the court's approval of the parties' proposed discovery plan subject to the aforementioned modification, the pretrial conference currently scheduled to occur on September 12, 2012, is cancelled.
2. E-mail Information. Counsel should attempt to agree on the scope of e-mail discovery and e-mail search protocol.
3. Back-up and Archival Data. Counsel should attempt to agree on whether responsive back-up and archival data exists, the extent to which back-up and archival data is reasonably accessible, and who will bear the cost of obtaining such data.
4. Format and Media. Counsel should attempt to agree on the format and media to be used in the production of ESI, and whether production of some or all ESI in paper form is agreeable in lieu of production in electronic format.
5. Reasonably Accessible Information and Costs. Counsel should attempt to determine if any responsive ESI is not reasonably accessible, i.e., is accessible only by incurring undue burdens or costs.
6. Privileged or Trial Preparation Materials. Counsel also should attempt to reach agreement regarding what will happen in the event privileged or trial preparation materials are inadvertently disclosed. See Fed. R. Evid. 502.
______________________
Landya McCafferty
United States Magistrate Judge
cc: Joshua William Gardner, Esq.
John Merrick, pro se
Joanne Merrick, pro se