Privilege
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An Attorney-Client Communication Advising Spoliation is Not Privileged
Michael D. Berman examines a ruling that advice to spoliate evidence is not privileged, though the court found no actual destruction because both pre- and post-advice versions of Meta’s disputed documents survived and were ordered...
Two Debatable Holdings
Michael D. Berman examines a S.D.N.Y. discovery order requiring production of every document that hits an agreed search term, without a responsiveness review, and questions whether the ruling reaches beyond the scope allowed under Rule...
Restrictions on Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools to Process Disclosure Materials
Michael Berman reports on a case with restrictions on the use of AI tools to handle disclosure materials and questions what happens in a clawback situation.
EDRM Project and Advisory Council Leaders Author Groundbreaking Paper on GenAI Prompt Protection
A new paper argues that prompts attorneys write to instruct generative AI in document review deserve work-product protection, distinguishing them from search terms that courts have traditionally required parties to exchange.
Information Governance–Employee’s Use of Employer’s Email for Privileged Communications
Michael Berman analyzed Lalwani v. Trustees of Indiana University where an employee, plaintiff Mr. Lalwani, had communicated with his lawyers using the employer-defendant university’s email system that found Indiana University to be a public institution...
A.I. Protective Order—Again
Two recent Southern District of New York cases highlight a growing trend in discovery practice: protective orders that regulate how parties may use confidential discovery materials with AI tools. While not universal, these provisions increasingly...
Unicorn Rejects A.I. Protective/Confidentiality Order – Order Entered in Criminal Case
In Litton v. Roblox Corporation, the Northern District of California declined to modify its model protective order to address AI use, relying on existing standing-order provisions. Michael D. Berman contrasts that decision with a growing...
Motion for Reconsideration—It Does Not Exist—But It Is Routinely Entertained—On Limited Grounds
A Colorado federal court denied reconsideration in Stanisaveljevic v. The Standard Fire Ins. Co., finding that evidence already in a party’s possession but left unreviewed is not newly discovered. The opinion reinforces that discovery choices...
Court Refuses to Enter Fed.R.Evid. 502(d) & “Clawback” Order Without Agreement; Also Refuses to Order Production of Responsive Documents That Do Not “Hit” on Search Terms
In Medal v. Amazon, a federal court refused to enter a Rule 502(d) clawback order without party agreement and declined to require production of responsive documents not captured by search terms. Michael Berman respectfully disagrees...
Deponent’s Use of A.I. to Answer Deposition Questions Barred; ChatGPT Was Not an Attorney
A federal court ruled that a pro se litigant could not use ChatGPT during a deposition and that such use is not protected by attorney-client privilege, reinforcing limits on AI in litigation.
A.I. Protective Orders Are Becoming Routine
Courts are increasingly entering AI protective orders that restrict how parties use generative AI with discovery materials, highlighting growing concerns over confidentiality, privilege, clawbacks, and litigation risk.
Inadvertent Production of Work Product Did Not Waive Protection; However, Recipient Showed Substantial Need and Overcame That Protection
In Aerosonic LLC v. Joby Aero, Inc., the court held that inadvertent disclosure of work product did not waive protection under Rule 502 and the ESI Protocol. However, the receiving party demonstrated substantial need and...