Discovery Consulting
Electronic discovery refers to all non-paper versions of client documents and data for a case. This includes, but is not limited to emails, word processing files, databases and associated electronic files.
There have been many articles discussing the high cost of electronic discovery. Here is one such article. At Rowald Trial Services we feel that Electronic Discovery should cost far less than traditional discovery. The facts are simple. Below we have listed the basic reasons e-discovery should be far less costly that paper discovery as well as the advantages to knowing what to ask for in the beginning.
Cost Advantages
Hundreds of thousands of documents can be stored on a single DVD rather that hundreds of thousands of pages of paper. This eliminates the burdensome argument.
Electronic evidence can be easily search for keywords, and with ever improving search technology, for entities and concepts reducing the overall manpower and time needed to review documents and retrieve relevant information.
Link Analysis allows for electronic data to be searched, categorized and relationships and timelines built based on the either metadata our the data (names, dates, times, locations, etc.) contained within the documents themselves.
Redaction is far simpler and faster in the electronic world as is bates numbering.
Structured data, such as databases can be queried easily and reports generated from the data in relatively no time.
It is often easier and less costly to determine the authenticity of electronic data.
Being Prepared
Having the resources to help understand the computing environment and where data may be located is imperative to controlling costs. A good expert can help you understand where important information my be stored and how to request it.
By preparing for discovery the cost reductions are significant. In fact Rowald Trial Services has help numerous attorneys weed through technical jargon and discover exceptionally import information that has help increase damages and, simply win cases.
The Real Cost of E-Discovery
Unlike traditional discovery, the cost of electronic discovery has very little hard cost, if documents and data is requested properly. For instance, if records from a database are requested, they should be requested in their native format. This means tables and links are preserved and the data can be reconstructed by the expert. once the data is reconstructed generating reports, statistics or any other type of data from the database is simple and efficient. If the "native format" is not available, database schemas and dumps of the database can be used to achieve the same results.
The bottom line is simple, a qualified expert, involved in the early stages of discovery can reduce the cost of discovery significantly. In fact cases where an expert from Rowald Trial Services was involved from the beginning have been significantly less expensive than what was estimated for the case.
If a cases arises where you perceive the need for electronic discovery discovery, A Rowald Trial Services Expert will explore the possibilities and help with planning for up to an hour at absolutly no cost to you or your client. Let us show you how we can help streamline and win cases for your firm and your client.