May 24, 2010

E-Mail Discovery: Latest Cases Impel Public Agencies to Retain Records

By Benjamin Wright, JD

Since the adoption of special amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in late 2006, the field of e-discovery law has grown more dangerous for public agencies. Recent cases show courts are serious about expecting litigants to possess and be able to find their e-mail and other electronic records. Litigation trends suggest that an agency is wise to be generous in the retention of e-mail by decision makers and to be capable of easily finding and searching the more recent records. A prudent course would be for the agency to implement a central e-mail archival system.