No matter what side you occupy in a Florida business litigation matter, it is highly likely that the parties will take advantage of discovery tools as part of preparing for trial. Despite its negative reputation as being an invasion of privacy, the process is essential for fairness and trial efficiency. Information is the basis for doing justice between parties to a business-related lawsuit. Under the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, the scope of discovery is quite expansive, so it is important for stakeholders to know what they may need to turn over – and what details they will want to seek from the opposing side.
Your Clearwater business litigation lawyer tackles these relevant concepts on a regular basis and will handle the specifics regarding discovery. Still, an overview will give you a better idea of what to expect and how you can support your attorney’s efforts.
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- Requests for Production of Documents
Despite the term, this most common discovery tool extends far beyond information in document form. Parties can request a plethora of information in various formats, including:
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- Electronic information and data;
- Drawings, graphs, and charts;
- Information captured in photo, audio, or video form; and
- Any details from which information can be accessed.
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In addition, requests for documents can be used for purposes of inspection, measuring, and testing, when doing so is an appropriate approach for assessing a tangible item.
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- Written Interrogatories
This type of discovery is a set of questions that one party poses to another to obtain additional details, so a corporate officer or other stakeholder is typically in the position to provide answers. Note that answers to interrogatories are required to be given under oath, so there can be consequences for making false or misleading statements.
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- Depositions
In some cases, stakeholders may be required to appear for a deposition. This proceeding is basically an in-person interview where one attorney asks the deponent questions about the case. Your lawyer will also be present, and a court reporter will record the deposition. Answers are also given under oath and penalty of perjury.
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- Requests for Admission
With this discovery tool, the point is to get a party to admit that certain facts are true or state that they are false. Requests for admission are effective in narrowing down the issues for trial, since there may be no disputes over certain facts. The critical point with these requests is that inaction can be devastating: If you do not respond by the deadline, the facts will be deemed as admitted.
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- Physical and Mental Examinations
Medical exams may be necessary when a party’s health is a factor in a business lawsuit, such as cases involving workplace injuries, disability, discrimination, and related disputes.
Our New Port Richey, FL Business Litigation Attorneys Will Handle Discovery Tasks
This summary of discovery in Florida business lawsuits is useful, but you can count on our team at Clearwater Business Law to apply these tools to support your company’s interests. To learn more about the process, please call (727) 785-5100 to set up a consultation with a New Port Richey business law attorney today.