Initial Discovery Protocols

IAALS' Disaster Protocols Provide Guidance amidst Chaos

In the aftermath of severe hurricanes in the southeastern United States, it's crucial to ensure that justice remains accessible. IAALS’ Disaster Protocols are designed to keep the justice system functional, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.

IAALS' Discovery Protocols Provide Clarity to Courts in Times of Emergency

September is National Preparedness Month, and with natural disasters increasing in severity—and with COVID-19 still wreaking havoc worldwide—it is important for courts to consider ways to mitigate the negative effects. Fortunately, IAALS' Pandemic Protocols and Disaster Protocols provide many of the tools they need.

Newly Released Pandemic Protocols for Litigation Will Help Struggling Businesses and Their Insurers

IAALS has released new initial discovery protocols to help both businesses and insurers alike reach a quick resolution to the rapid increase in court cases involving business interruption insurance property damage claims due to COVID-19.

Initial Discovery Protocols

The discovery process in civil litigation often generates unwarranted delays and inhibits access to justice for all parties involved. IAALS has created pattern discovery rules specific to particular types of cases—including pandemics, natural disasters, FLSA, and employment—which make the discovery process more efficient and more targeted.

Louisiana and Texas Implement Tools to Streamline Litigation and Hasten Recovery from Hurricanes

In the past few months, there have been encouraging updates in several states aimed at more effectively addressing the legal needs of disaster survivors. Two states—Louisiana and Texas—implemented various tools to help streamline litigation arising from these disasters.

New Pandemic Protocols for Litigation Will Help Struggling Businesses and Their Insurers

IAALS has launched a new project to help courts more quickly resolve the anticipated wave of business interruption insurance cases stemming from COVID-19-related closures and losses. The project will develop pattern discovery protocols specific to these cases, in an effort to reduce conflict and cost and to help both businesses and insurers alike reach a quick resolution.

Federal Judicial Center Releases Second Report on Employment Protocols

Last October, the Federal Judicial Center released a second report on the Pilot Project Regarding Initial Discovery Protocols for Employment Cases Alleging Adverse Action, which sets forth a set of pattern discovery protocols developed by a task force of plaintiff and defense attorneys working in conjunction with IAALS.

ABA Webinar: Hurricanes, Floods, and Fires, Oh My!

Next month IAALS will participate in an American Bar Association webinar, titled Hurricanes, Floods, and Fires, Oh My!: How to Improve Discovery in a Flood of Post-Disaster Property Insurance Lawsuits, which will also feature IAALS' initial discovery protocols for first-party insurance cases arising from disasters. 

New Discovery Protocols Outline How Courts Can Expedite the Recovery Process in Disaster Cases

Today, IAALS announces the release of The Initial Discovery Protocols for First-Party Insurance Property Damage Cases Arising from Disasters Protocols, which provides a new pretrial procedure for cases involving first-party insurance property damage claims arising from man-made or natural disasters. 

Courts Must Change to Serve Increasing Victims of Natural Disasters

The road to recovery is arduous for disaster victims. For the increasing numbers of those victims who end up in court in an effort to recover damages, the process can be protracted and complex. Courts are quickly overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of the cases and these challenges quickly frustrate victims already struggling to rebuild. But even with a documented upswing in both the number and severity of natural disasters, it doesn’t have to be this way.