Electronic Discovery: An Overview

No longer is electronic discovery reserved for the rare case involving complex technical issues, or those involving large damage claims. In modern-day complex litigation, as well as simpler cases involving individuals, the proverbial "smoking gun" is as likely to be a deleted e-mail or electronically stored draft document as it is a "hard copy" of a document. The proliferation of computers not only in the office but in the home — and, indeed, portable computers that travel with the user — greatly increases the odds that many discoverable documents will be available, and perhaps only available, in electronic format. This article provides a general primer on the subject of electronic discovery, discussing some recurring issues in the case law, as well as issues that should be of particular interest to franchisors and franchisees.