Langlais v. Palisades Collections, LLC, et al

Filing 15

ORDER approving in part 13 Discovery Plan. Length of Trial 2 days. Case Track: Standard. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE CANCELLED. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Landya B. McCafferty. Summary Judgment Motions due by 10/15/2013. Dispositive Motion Filing Deadline 5/21/2013. Miscellaneous Deadline set for 3/13/2013 for Motion to Supplement.(mm)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Debi Langlais
v.

Civil No. 12-cv-456-PB

Palisades Collection, LLC
d/b/a Asta Funding, Inc., et al.

NOTICE OF RULING
Re:

Document No. 13, Proposed Discovery Plan

The parties’ proposed discovery plan (doc. no. 13) is approved.
However, the court orders the parties to file a supplement to
the plan for the reasons explained below.
The parties’ statement regarding electronic discovery is
inadequate. Rule 26(f)(3)(C) requires that a plan “must”
include the parties’ views on electronic discovery “including
the form or forms in which it should be produced . . . .” The
parties’ proposed discovery plan states: “No agreement has been
reached at this time. Plaintiff intends to seek electronic
discovery from Defendant in so far as such information exists
and related to the issues of the case. Defendant intends to
seek electronic discovery from Plaintiff in so far as such
information exists and related to the issues of the case.” More
is required under the rule.
Accordingly, the parties are ordered to meet and confer and
file, on or before March 13, 2013, a joint motion to supplement
the discovery plan that outlines more specifically their
plans/agreements with respect to electronic discovery. The
court refers the parties to the following outline of potential
issues to discuss:
1. Preservation. Counsel should attempt to agree on steps
the parties will take to segregate and preserve ESI in
order to avoid accusations of spoliation.
2. E-mail Information. Counsel should attempt to agree on
the scope of e-mail discovery and e-mail search
protocol.

3. Back-up and Archival Data. Counsel should attempt to
agree on whether responsive back-up and archival data
exists, the extent to which back-up and archival data is
reasonably accessible, and who will bear the cost of
obtaining such data.
4. Format and Media. Counsel should attempt to agree on the
format and media to be used in the production of ESI,
and whether production of some or all ESI in paper form
is agreeable in lieu of production in electronic format.
5. Reasonably Accessible Information and Costs. Counsel
should attempt to determine if any responsive ESI is not
reasonably accessible, i.e., is accessible only by
incurring undue burdens or costs.
6. Privileged or Trial Preparation Materials. Counsel also
should attempt to reach agreement regarding what will
happen in the event privileged or trial preparation
materials are inadvertently disclosed. See Fed. R.
Evid. 502.
Third-party actions shall be filed on or before March 30, 2013;
motions to dismiss shall be filed on or before May 21, 2013.
Trial in this case is scheduled for the two-week trial period
beginning March 4, 2014.
In light of the court's approval of the parties' proposed
discovery plan subject to the aforementioned modifications, the
pretrial conference currently scheduled to occur on February 21,
2013, is cancelled.

__________________________
Landya McCafferty
United States Magistrate Judge
February 20, 2013
cc: Steven S. Broadley, Esq.
James D. Kelly, Esq.
Nancy J. Puleo, Esq.
2