[Editor's note: Today's guest blogger article is a follow-up on last night's Ask the No Nonsense Lawyer interview with Kathy Lang. Special thanks goes to Ms Lang and the firm of Dickinson Wright.]
The Anticipation of Litigation: Five Critical Steps to Manage Risks and Costs
By Kathleen A. Lang and Erin J. Stovel
Dickinson Wright PLLC
In today’s economic climate, no company can afford to waste its resources – human or financial. However, when litigation is threatened, an initial investment of resources to preserve evidence and prepare the defense is critical. In fact, by taking the proper steps when first notified of a potential claim or litigation, the risks of litigation can be better managed, and the overall exposure and costs spent in litigation can be limited.
1. Investigate. Often there is notice of a potential claim or litigation long before a lawsuit is filed. Such notices can include demand letters, law enforcement/regulatory inquiries, or an event itself may suggest future claims (such as the occurrence of a personal injury while on a business property or the termination of a problematic employee). However the initial notice of a potential claim is received, it is important to first ascertain and memorialize all of the critical information that may be relevant; such as who the key players are and whether there are documents that relate to the claim. Since there can be significant time lapses between the first notice of a lawsuit and when a lawsuit is actually commenced, it is usually a good idea to interview the important people as soon as possible in order to preserve their best recollections before memories fade.
2. Preserve Evidence. Today many lawsuits do not focus on the merits of a claim, but rather discovery battles over the preservation of evidence before and during litigation. During the initial investigation, steps should be taken to locate, preserve and prepare to produce all information (if it later becomes necessary), including electronically stored information, such as e-mail and data stored on computer hard drives, networks, servers and certain backup media that is, or may be, relevant to the subject matter of the potential litigation. Although not an exhaustive list, the following steps should be considered:
a. Suspend all protocols that relate to the routine destruction of electronic and hard copy data that may be relevant to the litigation. This includes the overwriting and recycling of archive or backup tapes routinely used for storing and retrieving information. This is typically accomplished with the circulation of a “litigation freeze order” or “litigation hold.” As a general rule, a litigation hold does not apply to inaccessible backup tapes such as those maintained solely for disaster recovery purposes. Counsel can assist you in preparing and implementing a litigation hold.
b. Notify the key players who likely possesses relevant hard copy and electronic information, and instruct them (a) not to destroy any such information, (b) to preserve indefinitely all such information, whether stored in active or archived files, including on PDAs (e.g. Palm Pilots or BlackBerrys), laptops, computer systems or networks, and (c) to place any later-created relevant information into a separate electronic file appropriately labeled.
c. Appoint a person who will be responsible for implementing, supervising and enforcing these safeguards. Counsel should meet with the person so designated to more fully explain the scope of that person’s responsibility and the current state of the law.
3. Assess the Risk. Assess the merits of the potential claims with counsel. A detailed assessment of claims may lead to opportunities for an early resolution of a claim before engaging in protracted litigation.
4. Ensure Litigation Prerequisites Are Exhausted. Prior to the commencement of litigation, there may exist certain prerequisites that must be exhausted (administrative remedies, contractual requirements, pre-suit notice). In highly regulated industries, for example, there may be administrative regulations barring litigation, or certain steps that a party must take prior to going to court.
5. Comply With Orders. At the commencement of litigation or afterwards, the court may issue orders relating to the production of information. Full compliance with any such orders will be extremely important. It is also very important that you notify counsel immediately if you become aware of any potential compliance failures, regardless of their perceived severity. Fulfilling all of these obligations will reduce the likelihood that discovery and document preservation issues will unduly impact the litigation.
While no company desires to be involved with litigation, these precautionary steps can help to manage the risks and costs of litigation. Often it is important to have counsel involved in this initial phase in order to manage the process and look for other specific measures that should be undertaken to protect the client in the event of litigation. This initial investment of resources in these types of preparatory actions can result in savings, both in terms of the overall exposure if litigation arises and the costs of litigation.
Take the situation Michael Steadman found himself in. He bought a clock on eBay for $44. When he got it in the mail it was in three pieces that according to him didn’t fit together or even appeared to be the same model. He got a refund, but then did what a lot of folks are doing these days on the Internet. He left his opinion on the seller’s eBay page. Unfortunately for the seller, it was negative feedback.