Opinion ID: 895162
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Emails are electronic information

Text: Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 192.3(b) provides for discovery of documents, defined to include electronic information that is relevant to the subject matter of the action. See TEX.R. CIV. P. 192.3(b) cmt. 1999. Rule 196 governs requests for production of documents, and Rule 196.4 applies specifically to requests for production of data or information that exists in electronic or magnetic form. As a threshold matter, Weekley contends the trial court abused its discretion because HFG did not comply with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 196.4 governing requests for production of electronic or magnetic data. HFG responds that Rule 196.4 does not apply because deleted emails are simply documents governed by the general discovery rules. According to HFG, Rule 196.4 only applies to spreadsheets and statistics, not emails and deleted emails. We see nothing in the rule that would support HFG's interpretation. Emails and deleted emails stored in electronic or magnetic form (as opposed to being printed out) are clearly electronic information. See Conference of Chief Justices, Guidelines for State Courts Regarding Discovery of Electronically-Stored Information v (2006), available at http:// www.ncsconline.org/images/EDis CCJGuidelinesFinal.pdf. Accordingly, we look to Rule 196.4 in analyzing HFG's requests.