DISCOVERY
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Transcript of DISCOVERY
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DISCOVERY
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Types of Discovery
• Depositions
• Interrogatories
• Requests for Admissions
• Subpoena duces tecum
• Request for Physical Examination
• Request for Witness List
• Requests for Production, docs or things
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To file or Not to File?
• Don’t file discovery documents with the court. – Court “supervised” but not “monitored”– Serve opposing parties, keep copies and
proofs of service
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What can be “discovered”?
• Any information that is RELEVANT– And admissible
• But not a “fishing expedition”!
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Rules?
• Requests for Admissions– C.C.P. Sections 2033.010 through 2033.080
• Interrogatories– C.C.P. Sections 2030.010 through 2030.410
• Depositions– C.C.P. Sections 2025.010 through 2027.010
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Time Limits
• Discovery must be completed 30 days before trial dates (C.C.P. 2024.010)
• Must wait to serve interrogatories: 10 days after service of summons
• Notice of deposition 20 days after service of summons
• Depositions may take place 10 days after service of notice
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35 questions
• C.C.P. Section 94 – Limited to a total of 35 items of discovery
• Be careful, sub-parts may count as parts!
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Section 94
.... as to each adverse party, a party may use the following forms of discovery: (a) Any combination of 35 of the following:
(1) Interrogatories (with no subparts) under Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 2030.010) of Title 4 of Part 4. (2) Demands to produce documents or things under Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 2031.010) of Title 4 of Part 4.
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94 continued
• (3) Requests for admission (with no subparts) … – (b) One oral or written deposition …. . For purposes of this
subdivision, a deposition of an organization shall be treated as a single deposition even though more than one person may be designated or required to testify ...
– (c) Any party may serve on any person a deposition subpoena duces tecum requiring the person served to mail copies of documents, books, or records to the party's counsel at a specified address, along with an affidavit … The party who issued the deposition subpoena shall mail a copy of the response to any other party who tenders the reasonable cost of copying it.
– (d) Physical and mental examinations … – (e) The identity of expert witnesses …
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Need more?
• File a motion!
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Written Interrogatories
• Easiest form of discovery if case is simple and issues common…– Use FORM INTERROGATORIES DISC-004
• But…otherwise, you may have to draft your own questions!– …and define your own terms (see form)
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Case Questionnaire
• Don’t ask what you can find out without asking! – for Limited Civil Cases
• DISC-010
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DISC-004
• http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/disc004.pdf
– Form Interrogatories, Economic Civil Cases
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Request for Production
• Documents
• Or… Things
– Maybe they will just show it to you?– Usually good to wait until after interrogs are
returned before sending these? Why?
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Word Origin & History
subpoena 1422, sub pena, sub poena
"under penalty,"
from L. (see penal).
The verb is attested from 1640.
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Subpoena Duces Tecum
• I don’t have it. He doesn’t have it. Who has it?• “Bring with you”
– Documents or things in the possession, custody, or control of someone who is NOT a party to the lawsuit.
• Doctor• Mechanic • Realtor• Employer• Etc.
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Request for Admissions
• Usually Interrogatories are enough, but…• For specific items, use Form DISC-020• Example:
– “The windshield wipers on your 1997 Mazda Miata were not in use at the time of the collision with plaintiff’s vehicle.”
• http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/disc020.pdf
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Request for Admissions…
• OR… attach a copy of a document that you want the other side to admit is genuine.– bill of sale– Photograph– Hand-written receipt, diary, ledger, etc…– Or….
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Depositions
• The preparation details: Date, Place, Time, Service, Reporter…
• Prep of questions…
• Prep of witness…
• Prep of objections…
• Your typical job: Summarizing!!!
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Request for Physical Examination
• Uncommon…– Relevance?
• Doctor, Psychiatrist, Dentist, etc…
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What if they won’t…
• Must write letter requesting compliance first… Court demands attempts to resolve matter informally first.
• If no success, file a Motion to Compel– C.C.P. Section 93(e) and 2023.010
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Practice Test!