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Document Request Responses Under FRCP 34's and 26's Exacting Standards: Answering Broad Requests

Impermissible Boilerplate, Vague Objections, Outdated Templates, Relevancy, Proportionality, and Discovery on Discovery

Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Thursday, June 30, 2022

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will explore the challenges in responding to document requests--particularly broad requests--under FRCP 26 and 34 and propose solutions to several perennial discovery problems, including overbroad requests, privilege, and novel ways to restrict responses. The panel will also raise questions on the impact of timing and resources in light of remote working.

Description

The 2015 amendments to FRCP 26 and 34 are still a struggle for some. The Federal Rules require the parties responding to document requests to provide specific objections and state whether responsive documents are being withheld. Nevertheless, many attorneys continue to use boilerplate and vague pre-2015 responses and objections.

Historically, one of the most significant problems was respondents objecting broadly to requests for production yet producing only some documents. This left the requesting party guessing whether relevant and responsive information was withheld under the objections. The 2015 amendments to Rule 34 sought to end this uncertainty, but issues still arise. Conversely, there are times when production timing can be ambiguous or difficult to predict.

Objections that do not comply with the amendments may be deemed waived. Some judges have reasoned that boilerplate objections are legally meaningless or overruled otherwise legitimate objections for lack of specificity.

Listen as the panel dives deep into what the FRCP requires and novel ways to provide responses and objections that comply with the rules but retain sufficient flexibility to address the fluidity of discovery.

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Outline

  1. Refresher on FRCP 26 and 34 (December 2015
  2. Caselaw update
    1. Six-plus years later, how are practitioners and the courts responding to these changes?
  3. Legislative responses. See, e.g., California Code of Civil Procedure Section 2031.280(a)
  4. Challenges when drafting and responding to requests for production
    1. Requests that lack "reasonable particularity"
    2. Objecting to requests for production
      1. Avoiding boilerplate objections and objecting with "specificity"
      2. Identifying what is being produced vs. what is being withheld
      3. Determining a time for production
    3. Privilege considerations
  5. Practical tips

Benefits

The panel will review these and other essential matters:

  • The 2015 revisions to FRCP and how courts and practitioners have responded to these changes
  • Legislative responses, including California Code of Civil Procedure Section 2031.280(a)
  • Drafting requests with "reasonable particularity"
  • How to draft an objection "with specificity" and avoid boilerplate objections
  • Identifying what is being produced vs. what is being withheld
  • Determining a time for production
  • Identifying a privilege log format

Faculty

Heckman, Curtis
Curtis D. Heckman
Attorney
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Mr. Heckman assists and serves as project manager for case teams and clients with all phases of discovery, including...  |  Read More

Herlinger, Logan
Logan J. Herlinger
Attorney
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Mr. Herlinger consults with Orrick attorneys and clients on eDiscovery strategy and information governance issues,...  |  Read More

Tison, Erin
Erin C. Tison
Attorney
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Ms. Tison has experience with all aspects of litigation, from filing the complaint up to serving as first chair at...  |  Read More

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