1. 1
Discovery In Deep: Corporate
Preservation and Identification of
Relevant Evidence
Suzanne Ilene Schiller
Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP
401 City Avenue, Suite 500
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(484) 430-2354

2. 2
Obligations of Preservation and Identification
Apply To:
 Defendants
 Plaintiffs
 Corporations/Business Entities
 Individuals
 Nonparties “who possess materials
reasonably anticipated to be subject to
discovery in this action.”
Pretrial Order #1, Para. 14
© Copyright 2010

3. 3
Sources
 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
 Court Orders
 PTO #1
 PTO #11
 Manual for Complex Litigation (4th Ed.)
 Case Law (e.g. Zubulake v. UBS Warburg LLC )
© Copyright 2010

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Types of Discoverable Information
 “Reasonably Accessible” Electronically
Stored Information (ESI)
 Hard Copy Documents
 Physical Evidence/Things
 Witness Testimony
© Copyright 2010

5. 5
Types of Discoverable Information
 “Reasonably Accessible” Electronically
Stored Information (ESI)
 Documents, Photographs, Videos
 Emails/Text Messages
 Voicemails, Sound Recordings
 Programs
 Databases
© Copyright 2010

6. 6
Pre-Incident Preparedness
 Mapping
 Current and Historical
 US and Ex-US
 Document Retention Policy
 Litigation Hold Policy
 Privacy Policies/Written Consents
 EC Directive on Data Protection - “Safe Harbor”
 E-Discovery Team/Outside E-Discovery Consultant
© Copyright 2010

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Pre-Incident Activities
 Mapping
 Organization Mapping
 Network Mapping
 Document Management Mapping
© Copyright 2010

8. 8
Pre-Incident Activities
 Mapping
 Organization Mapping
 Parent/Subsidiary Companies
 Departments
 Positions
 Individuals
 Outside Consultants
 Outsourced Departments/Responsibilities
© Copyright 2010

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Pre-Incident Activities
 Mapping
 Network Mapping
 Active and Passive Data – ROM and RAM
 Back-Up Media
 Offsite Storage and Processing
 Internal Controls (Employee Ability to Copy,
Download, Destroy, Alter)
 Effect of Mergers, Acquisitions, Deacquisitions
© Copyright 2010

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Pre-Incident Activities
 Mapping
 Document Management Mapping
 Centralized Filing System
 Departmental Filing System
 Individual/Personal Working Files
© Copyright 2010

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Preservation and Litigation Hold Directives
 Timing
 Contents
 Distribution
 IT Department
 Records Departments
 Working Departments
 Individual Employees
 Third Parties
© Copyright 2010

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Witness Interviews
 Identify Scope of Relevant Knowledge
 Identify Documents
 In Witness’ Possession – Confirm Preservation
 Known to Witness/Not in Witness’ Possession
 Identify Other Potential Witnesses
© Copyright 2010

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Identify Relevant and Potentially Relevant ESI
 Pathname
 Filename
 Key Word/Term/Concept Search
 Attorneys - Privilege
© Copyright 2010

14. 14
Cooperation and Coordination
 External
 Opposing Counsel
 Business Partners
 Consultants/Outside Counsel
 Outsourcing Companies
 Internal
 Transactional
 Regulatory
 Government Relations
 Ex-US
© Copyright 2010

15. 15© Copyright 2010
Questions or Further Information:
Suzanne Ilene Schiller
Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP
401 City Avenue, Suite 500
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(484) 430-2354
www.mgkflaw.com