Discovery is a process by which the parties seek information from each other that is relevant to the case. This is a very broad standard, which means that a lot of personal information can be requested in the process, including bank statements, tax returns, and details related to someone’s affair. The point is for each side to have an idea of what the other side may present in a trial in order for each side to best prepare their case. Discovery helps to prevent one side from blindsiding the other during a trial with evidence or a witness that they have not had time to prepare an answer to.
Types of Discovery
There are various types of Discovery, some of which include interrogatories, request for production of documents, admissions, depositions, and subpoenas. We will explore each one in future blog posts.
How long does Discovery take?
Different discovery tools have set timeframes. For example, per Virginia Statute, a party has 21 days to respond to Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents beginning on the date they receive them from the opposing side. If the party does not respond within 21 days, then the requesting party must make one more effort to resolve the issue, which usually means sending a letter saying the responses are overdue and providing one last deadline. If the interrogatories are still ignored, then there are steps that the requesting party can take through the court to get the responses. Eventually, if someone does not cooperate, they can suffer various consequences such as having to pay sanctions, attorney’s fees, and even being barred by the court from presenting any evidence that the discovery asked about!
The process of Discovery can be very lengthy, which means it can significantly add to the cost of a case. However, often the process increases the chances that the case will settle outside of court. It provides each side a glimpse into the other’s case and essentially forces each party to “show their hand.” It’s an extremely important part of the case, even though it certainly isn’t much fun for either side. It is rarely advised to go forward with a trial without first going through discovery.