Case Title: IN THE MATTER OF THE MONTANA RULES

Citation: 

Docket Number: d60ecf0a-5108-4c42-9d16-cc4087358eec

State: montana

Court: Montana Supreme Court

Date: 2007-02-28T00:00:00Z

Document:
- ~ +=. FILED

February 284007
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

_ A£07-0157 LED
INTHE MATTER OF PROPOSED REVISIONS
TO THE MONTANA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

)
)
WITH RESPECT TO DISCOVERY OF )
ELECTRONIC INFORMATION )

 

 

ORDER Pua fy)
sinitht

 

chur

 

‘The Advisory Commission on Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure (Commission)
appointed @ subcommittee of the Commission to study whether we should amend the
Montana Rules of Civil Procedure with respect tothe discovery of electronic information to
conform more closely with recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on
this same issue. The subcommittee reported back to the Commission with a “Majority
Proposal” and a “Minority Proposal.” We have attached the Majority Proposal to this Order
at Exhibit A. The Commission unanimously supports amending Rule 26 of the Montana
Rules of Civil Procedure and the related rule to facilitate electronic discovery.

‘The Commission caused the Majority Proposal and the Minority Proposal to be
published in the August 2006 edition of the Montana Lawyer. The post
Lawyer directed interested parties o submit written comments tothe Commission. Interested

 

ig in the Montana

parties submitted written comments on the proposals, The Commission also invited members
of the bar and the public to attend a meeting, to coincide with the State Bar Meeting in
Bozeman, to provide comment on the proposed revisions convened. The Commission
convened the meeting in Bozeman as scheduled and received limited public input.

‘The Commission voted six to one in favor of adopting the Majority Proposal. The
Commission now petitions this Court to amend Rule 26 of the Montana Rules of Civil
Procedure and related rules to facilitate electronic discovery by adopting either the Majority
Proposal or the Minority Proposal.

We agree with the Commission thatthe Montana Rules of Civil Procedure should be
amended to provide more specific guidance with respect to the discovery of electronic
information. The Majority Proposal provides the appropriate mechanism for this guidance
We recognize and acknowledge the concems of discovery abuse raised by the Minority
Proposal. We also recognize, however, that neither the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, nor

 
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the rules of civil procedure of any other jurisdiction, have imposed the types of
responsibilities and obligations contained in the Minority Proposal. We likewise deem it
jons at this time, In so doing, we

 

‘unnecessary to adopt these types of responsibilities obli

‘emphasize that we retain the ability to modify the rules regarding the discovery of electronic

 

information in the future if practice dictates the need to address the type of abuse
contemplated by the Minority Proposal. Accordingly,

ITIS ORDERED that Majority Proposal to Amend Rule 26 of the Montana Rules of
Civil Procedure and Related Rules to Facilitate Electronic Discovery is ADOPTED;

ITIS FURTHER ORDERED THAT the Clerk of this Court shall mail a true copy of
this Order to each member of the Commission; to Gregory Petesch, Code Commissioner and
Director of Legal Services; and, in addition, to the Executive Director of the State Bar of
Montana and the State Law Librarian, with a request that this Order be posted to their

respective websites yy
DATED this ns » day of February 2007

 

 

 
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MONTANA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE,

RULE 16. PRETRIAL CONFERENCES-SCHEDULING-
MANAGEMENT

 

(@) Scheduling and Planning Except in categories of actions
exempted by district court rule as inappropriate, the judge shall, after
consulting with the attorneys for the parties and any unrepresented parties, by
a scheduling conference, telephone, mail, or other suitable means, enter &
scheduling order that limits the time

 

(2) tojoin other parties and to amend the pleadings:
) tofile and hear motions; and
(3) to complete discovery.

‘The scheduling order also may include

(4) the date or dates for conferences before trial, final pretrial
conference, and trial and

() provisions for disclosure or discovery of elactronically stored
information: and

(8) any other matters appropriate in thé circumstances of the case.

‘The order shall issue as soon as practicable but in no event more then 120

fer filing of the complaint. A schedule shall not be modified except by
leave of the judge upon a showing of good cause.

 

RULE 26. GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING DISCOVERY

(&) Discovery Scope and Limits. Unless otherwise limited by order of the
court in accordance with these rules, the scope of discovery is as follows’

 

() fn Goneral. Partios way obtain discovery regarding any matter,
not privileged, which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the
pending action, whether it relates to the claim or defense of the party

 
secking discovery or tothe claim or defense of any other party, including
the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any
books, documents, electronically stored information, or other tangible
things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of any
discoverable matter, It is not ground for objection that the information
sought will be inadmissable at the trial ifthe information sought appears
reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admiasibl

 

  

 

 

‘The frequency or extent of use of the discovery methods
in subdivision (a) shall be limited by the court ifit determines that-() the
discovery sought is unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, of is
obtainable from some other source chat is more convenient, less
burdensome, or Jess expensive: (id) the party seeking discovery has had
ample opportunity by discovery in the action to obtain the information
sought; or (id) the discovery is unduly burdensome or expensive, taking
into account the needs ofthe case, the amount in controversy, limitations
‘on the parties’ resources, and the importance of the issues at stake in the
litigation. 26(b)(2) The court may act upon its own initiative after
reasonable notice or pursuant to a motion under subdivision (c).

© Discovory Conference. At any time after commencement of an action
the court may direct the attorneys for the parties to appear before it for a
conference on the subject of discovery. The court shall do so upon motion by the
attorney for any party if the motion includes:

Q) A statement of the issues as they then appears

(2) A proposed plan and schodule of discovery:

(3) Any limitations proposed to be placed on discovery:

@ — Anvissuos relating to discovery of electronically stored
information. including the form or forms in which it should be produced:

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(5) Any other proposed orders with respect to discover

 

(© __Astatement showing that the attorney making the motion has
made a reasonable effort to reach agreement with opposing attorneys in the
‘matters set forth in the motion. Each party and each party's attorney are under
‘8 duty to participate in good faith in the framing ofa discovery plan if plan is
proposed by the attorney for any party. Notice of the motion shall be served on
all parties. Objections or additions to matters sat forth in the motion shall be
sorved not later than 10 days after service of the motion.

 

Following the discovery conference, the court shall enter an order
tentatively identifying the issues for discovery purpotes, establishing aplan and
schedule for discovery, including resolut ti

baproduced, setting limitations on discovery, ifany; and determining such other
matters, including the allocation of expenses, as are necessary for the proper
‘management of discovery in the action. An order may be altered or amended
whenever justice so requires,

RULE 83. INTERROGATORIES TO PARTIES

 

(© Option to Produce Business Records. Where the answer to an
interrogatory may be derived or ascertained from the business records, including

i 2 ofthe party upon whom the interrogatory has
been sorved or from an examination, audit or inspection of such business
records, including a compilation, abstract or summary thereof and the burden
of deriving or ascertaining the answer is substantially the same for the party
serving the interrogatory as for the party served, itis a sufficient answor touch
interrogatory to specify the records from which the answer may be derived or
ascertained and to afford to the party sorving the interrogatory reasonable
‘opportunity to examine, audit or inspect such records and to make copies,
compilations, abstracts or summaries. A specification shull be in sufficient
detail to permit the interrogating party to locate and identify, as readily as can
the party served, the records from which the answer may be ascertained,

RULE 34, PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND THINGS AND ENTRY
UPON LAND FOR INSPECTION AND OTHER PURPOSES

 

 

 

(=) Scope. Any party may serve on any other party a request (1) to produce
and permit the party making the request, or someone acting on the
requestor's behalf, to inspect, nd copy, test or sample any designated
documents or electronically stored information (including writings,

 

 
drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, sound recordings. images, phone-
records; and other data or data compilations stored in any medium from
which the information can be obtained, translated, if necossary, by the
respondent througirdetection devices into reasonably usable form), or to
inspect, an¢ copy, test, or sample any designated tangible things which
constitute or contain matters within the scope of Rule 26(b) and which
are in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the
request is served: or (2) to permit entry upon designated land or other
property in the possession or control ofthe party upon whom the request
is served for the purpose of inspection and measuring, surveying,
photographing, testing, or sampling the property or any designated object
or operation thereon, within the scope of Rule 26(t).

 

(b) Procedury, Tho request may, without leave of court, be served
upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other
party with or after servico of the summons and complaint upon that
party. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by
individual item or by category, and describe each item and category with
reasonable particularity. Tho request shall specify a reasonable time,
place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related
acts.

stored information is to be produced,

‘The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written
response within 90 days after the service of the request, except that a
defendant may serve a response within 45 days after service of the
summons and complaint upon that defendant. ‘The court may allow a
shorter or longer time. The response shall state, with respect to each
item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted
8 requested, unless the request is objected to, including an objection to

information, inwhich event the reasons for objection shaltbestated. If
objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be
specified. ion

 

he "
ing the request may move for an order under
Rule 37(a) with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to
the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as
requested.

‘Unless the partios otherwise agree, or the court otherwise orders:

[al party who produces documents for inspection shall
produce them as they are kept inthe ussal course of business or

 

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shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories in
the request

RULE 37. FAILURE T0 MAKE DISCOVERY: SANCTIONS

(ehand (0 [Reserved].

(© Electronically Stored Information, Absent exceptional
‘circumstances, a court may not impose sanctions under these rules ona
arty-for failing to provide electronically atored information lost as a

‘esult-of the routine, good-faith operation of an electronic information
aystem,

RULE 45. SUBPOENA

()
@

Form-issuance.
‘Every subpoena shall
(A) state the name of the court from which itis issued’ and

(B) state the title of the action, the name of the court in which itis
pending, and its civil action number’ and

(C) command each person to whom it is directed to attend and give
testimony or to produce and permit inspection, amd-copying. testing or
sampling of designated books, documents, lectronically_ stored
information, or tangible things in the possession, custody or control of
that person, or to permit inspection of premisos, at a time and place
therein specified: and

(D) _ set forth the text of subparagraphs (c) and (d) of this rule

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A command to produce evidence or to permit inspection, copying, tasting
or sampling may be joined with a command to appear at trial or hearing

 

 

Protection of persons subject to or affected by subpoenas,

(WA person commanded to produce and permit inspection, and
copying,_testing,_or_sampling of designated electronically stored
information, books, papers, documents or tangible things, or inspection
of premises need not appear in person at the place of production or
inspection unless commanded to appear for deposition, hearing or trial.

 

(B) Subject to subparagraph (d)(2 of this rule, a personcommanded
to produce and permit inspection, and copying, testing or sampling, or
any person affected thereby, may, within 14 days after service of the
subpoena or before the time specified for compliance if such time is less
than 14 days after sorvice, serve upon the party or attorney designated
in the subpoena written objection to mradasing mepctton-orcopying of
any or all ofthe designs erials or inspection of the premisesor to

 

Iodine slams sage iforaaton it the foun or hese
requested. [fobjection is made, the party serving the subpoena shall not
bbe entitled to inspect, wnt-copy, test, or sample, tho materials or inspect
the premises except pursuant to an order of the court by which the
subpoena was issued, Ifobjection has boon made, the party serving the
subpoena may, upon notice to the person commanded to produce, and to
any affacted person who has served written objection, move at any time
for an order to compel the production, inspection. copving. testing or
sampling. Such an order to compel production shall protect any person
who is not a party or an officer of a party from significant expense
resulting from the inspection, amd copying testing or saroling

commanded,

 

 

 

Duties in responding to subpoens.

(Q) A person responding to a subpoena to produce documents shall
produce them as they are kept in the usual courso of business or shall
‘organize and label thom to correspond with the categories in the demand.

 

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