Local Rule LR 26.1: Duty to Investigate and Disclose
M.D. Pa. — Civil rule
LR 26.1 Duty to Investigate and Disclose.
(a) Prior to the conference of attorneys required by Local Rule 16.3, counsel for the parties shall inquire into the computerized information-management systems used by their clients so that they are knowledgeable about the operation of those systems, including how information is stored and how it can be retrieved. At the same time, counsel shall inform their clients of the duty to preserve electronically stored information.
(b) In making the disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1), the parties must disclose electronically stored information to the same extent they would be required to disclose information, files or documents stored by any other means.
(c) During the conference of attorneys required by Local Rule 16.3(a), in addition to those matters described in that rule, counsel shall discuss and seek to reach agreement on the following:
(1) Electronically stored information in general. Counsel shall attempt to agree on steps the parties will take to segregate and preserve electronically stored information in order to avoid accusations of spoliation.
(2) E-mail information. Counsel shall attempt to agree on the scope of e-mail discovery and e-mail search protocol.
(3) Deleted information. Counsel shall attempt to agree on whether deleted information still exists, the extent to which restoration of deleted information is needed, and who will bear the costs of restoration.
(4) Back-up and archival data. Counsel shall attempt to agree on whether back-up and archival data exists, the extent to which back-up and archival data is needed, and who will bear the cost of obtaining such data.
(5) Costs. Counsel shall discuss the anticipated scope, cost, and time required for disclosure or production of data beyond what is reasonably available to the parties in the ordinary course of business, and shall attempt to agree on the allocation of costs.
(6) Format and media. Counsel shall discuss and attempt to agree on the format and media to be used in the production of electronically stored information.
(d) In the event the parties cannot agree on the matters described in subparagraph (c), counsel shall note the issue of disagreement in Section 10 ("Other Matters") of the joint case management plan so that the court may, if appropriate, address the matter during the case-management conference.