Inspection of Documents and Other Things

• Author: Scott Brister (Ret.)/Dan S. Boyd
• Pages: 923-968

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Chapter 27

INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS AND

OTHER THINGS

QUICK VIEW

Definitions: A request for production of documents is a request by a party to inspect, sample, test, photograph or

copy documents, electronic data, or other tangible things in another party’s possession, custody, or control. A

party can also request inspection of documents and other tangible items of a nonparty pursuant to a court order

or by means of deposition subpoena or an independent action for discovery.

Scope of chapter: Rules and techniques applicable to requesting documents, responding to a request, producing

documents, and compelling production. Discovery of medical records, public records, and computer records.

Objections to production requests, stipulations, and protective orders for confidential materials.

Related topics: Scope of Discovery, Ch 24; Requests for Disclosure, Ch 26; Request for Admissions, Ch 31;

Interrogatories, Ch 30; Discovery Motions, Ch 32; Depositions, Ch 28; Presuit Activities, Ch 2.

Strategies and tactics:

Requester: Serve written requests for documents early. Draft requests that identify the requested items with

reasonable particularity. Use Definitions and Instructions sections to make the detailed requests more concise,

effective, clearer, and less objectionable.

Respondent: Work with the client to compile the responsive items. Segregate the items you will withhold (e.g.,

non-responsive, privileged, confidential and trade-secret matter) from materials you will produce. To avoid

waiving objections to the request, timely serve a written response asserting all the objections you want to pre-

serve. If the request seeks confidential information, propose the parties enter into a Confidentiality Agreement

and consent to a protective order.

Statutes and rules: TRCP 192, 196, 205 and 215.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Party Document Requests

A. General Points

§27:01 Introduction

§27:02 No Court Order Required

§27:03 Governing Rules

§27:04 Governing Cases

(Rev. 10, 4/13)

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TEXAS PRETRIAL PRACTICE 27-2

§27:05 “Request” Defined

§27:06 “Documents” and “Tangible Things” Defined

§27:07 Who Can Be Made Respondents

§27:08 All Parties in a Multi-Party Case Are Entitled to Production

§27:09 Scope of Requests

§27:10 No “Fishing Expeditions”

§27:11 No Limit on Number

§27:12 Production Does Not Make Items Admissible

§27:13 Cost-Shifting

B. Using Requests With Other Discovery Tools

§27:18 Document Requests Come First

§27:18.1 Plan for Electronic Discovery

§27:19 Authentication Is Automatic

§27:20 Identify Documents

§27:21 Follow Up With More Document Requests

C. Steps to Obtain Documents

1. PREPARE REQUESTS

a. Form

§27:26 Put Requests in Writing

§27:27 Informal Requests

b. Format

§27:32 Caption

§27:33 Title

§27:34 Definitions Section

§27:35 Instructions Section

§27:36 “Privilege List” Instruction

§27:37 Time and Place Designation

§27:38 Signature

§27:39 Certificate of Service

c. Substance

i. General Points

§27:44 Goals and Strategies

§27:45 Consult Client

§27:46 Beware of “Boomerang” Requests

§27:47 Specify by Individual Item or Category

§27:48 Describe With “Reasonable Particularity”

§27:49 Avoid Compound Requests

§27:50 Individual-Item Requests

ii. Category Requests

§27:56 Purpose

§27:57 Too Broad

§27:58 Too Narrow

§27:59 Take the Middle Ground

2. PARTICULAR TYPES OF DOCUMENTS

§27:64 Income Tax Returns

§27:65 Computer Records

§27:66 Documents Showing Net Worth

(Rev. 1, 12/00)

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§27:67 Non-Existent Documents

§27:68 Expert Reports

§27:69 Indemnity, Insuring and Settlement Agreements

§27:70 Witness Statements

§27:71 Trade Secrets

3. SERVE AND FILE

§27:76 Earliest Time to Serve

§27:77 Deadline for Requests

§27:78 Whom, What, and How to Serve

§27:79 Certificate of Service

§27:80 No Filing

4. TRACK RESPONSE

§27:86 Calendar Response Deadline

§27:87 Post-Deadline Action

D. How To Respond and Produce

1. INITIAL STEPS

§27:92 Review Request and Calendar Dates

§27:93 Calendar Dates and Deadlines

§27:94 Contact Client

§27:95 Contact Opposing Counsel

2. TIME TO RESPOND

§27:100 Deadline for Response

§27:101 When Response Time Starts

§27:102 Weekends and Holidays

§27:103 Extra Days if Service by Mail

§27:104 Extra Days if Service by Fax

§27:105 Court May Shorten or Extend Deadline

§27:106 Stipulation to Change Deadline

3. FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND

§27:112 Consequences

§27:113 Waiver of Objections

4. POSSESSION, CUSTODY, OR CONTROL

§27:118 Rule and Definitions

§27:119 Not in Possession, Custody, or Control

5. LOCATE, COLLECT, AND EXAMINE ITEMS

a. General Points

§27:124 Client’s Responsibilities

§27:125 Lawyer’s Responsibilities

§27:126 Educate Client

§27:127 Work With Client

§27:128 Select a “Point Person”

§27:129 Prevent Deliberate Destruction

§27:130 Suspend Automatic Destruction Procedures

b. Locate Items

§27:136 Identify Sources

§27:137 Interview Sources

(Rev. 10, 4/13)

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