discovery-plan

name	discovery-plan
description	Drafts Joint Discovery Plans and Proposed Scheduling Orders under FRCP 26(f) or state equivalents. Analyzes pleadings, court requirements, and case complexity to produce discovery timelines, ESI protocols, privilege procedures, and scheduling deadlines. Use when preparing Rule 26(f) reports, proposed scheduling orders, case management plans, or discovery frameworks after meet-and-confer.
tags	["drafting","litigation","pleading"]

Joint Discovery Plan & Proposed Scheduling Order

Produces a court-ready Joint Discovery Plan and Proposed Scheduling Order reflecting FRCP 26(f) meet-and-confer results while protecting client interests.

Required Inputs

1. Complaint, answer, amended pleadings — all claims, defenses, counterclaims
2. Meet-and-confer details — date, participating attorneys
3. Court information — court/division, case number, judge, local rules, standing orders
4. Initial disclosures — if exchanged
5. Existing court orders — CMC minutes, scheduling preferences, model templates

Workflow

1. Analyze Discovery Scope

For each claim/defense, identify:

• Elements requiring proof and key disputed facts
• Document types, custodians, and witness categories
• Proportionality under Rule 26(b)(1): importance of issues, amount in controversy, relative access, party resources

2. Draft Document Sections

Section	Contents
Caption & Introduction	Court/division, case number, parties, cite to FRCP 26(f) or state equivalent, meet-and-confer date and counsel
Discovery Subjects & Scope	Claim-by-claim discovery needs tied to legal elements and factual disputes
ESI Protocol	Production formats, metadata, search terms, TAR/predictive coding, preservation
Privilege Procedures	FRE 502(d) clawback, privilege log requirements, timing
Discovery Limitations	Depositions, interrogatories, RFAs, time/geographic/custodian limits
Phased Discovery	If warranted: threshold issues, liability/damages bifurcation, multi-defendant sequencing
Proposed Schedule	All milestone deadlines in tabular format
Signature Blocks & Certificate of Service	All counsel of record with bar numbers, firm, address, phone, email

3. Set ESI Protocol

• Format: Native for spreadsheets/databases; searchable PDF or TIFF+load files for static documents
• Metadata: Author, recipient, dates created/modified, custodian, plus case-specific fields
• Email: Preserve threading and family relationships
• Search: Exchange proposed terms → validate against samples → refine precision/recall; specify TAR if used
• Preservation: Custodians, data sources (email, drives, cloud, mobile, social), time period, departing employee protocols
• Cost allocation: Burden-shifting for disproportionate costs, backup tapes, forensic imaging
• Deduplication: Global vs. custodian-level

4. Define Privilege Framework

Element	Provision
Clawback order	FRE 502(d) — inadvertent production does not waive privilege
Clawback procedure	Written notice with specificity + privilege basis → return/destroy within 5–10 business days
Receiving party duty	Assert within 30 days or before use in deposition/filing
Privilege log fields	Date, author, recipients, document type, subject description
Log timing	30 days after each production (or rolling)
Categorical exclusions	Consider post-litigation counsel-client and pure legal advice communications
Common interest/JDA	Address if applicable

5. Set Discovery Limitations

Type	Presumptive Limit	Rule
Depositions per side	10 (adjust for complexity)	Rule 30(a)(2)(A)(i)
Deposition duration	7 hours/deponent	Rule 30(d)(1)
Interrogatories	25 including subparts	Rule 33(a)(1)
RFAs	25–50 (stipulate)	Rule 36
Contention interrogatories	Deferred until close of fact discovery	—

Include format (in-person/remote), location protocols, and cost allocation for reporters/videographers.

6. Build Proposed Schedule

Work backward from anticipated trial date:

Milestone	Guideline
Join parties	+90–120 days from order
Amend pleadings	+120–180 days
Fact discovery closes	+9–12 months (moderate complexity)
Plaintiff expert reports	+30–60 days after fact discovery
Defendant expert reports	+60–90 days after plaintiff reports
Rebuttal expert reports	+30–45 days after defendant reports
Expert depositions complete	+30–45 days after final reports
Dispositive motions	+30–45 days after expert discovery
Responses	+21–30 days
Replies	+14–21 days
Motions in limine / jury instructions	–30–45 days before trial
Final pretrial conference	–14–30 days before trial
Trial	~18–24 months from order (moderate)

Adjust for party count, document volume, expert count, jurisdictional constraints, court availability.

7. Add Modification Provisions

• Fact/expert extensions: by stipulation with court approval if they do not affect dispositive motion or trial dates
• Dispositive/trial changes: court approval, good cause required
• Meet-and-confer required before any modification request
• Optional status conferences at key intervals

8. Assess Phased Discovery

Consider phasing when:

• Jurisdictional or limitations issues are threshold
• Liability and damages are naturally bifurcated
• Multi-defendant cases have distinct factual tracks
• Sampling custodians can inform broader discovery scope

Specify clear phase triggers, transition procedures, and right to modify if phasing proves unworkable.

Pitfalls & Checks

• Cite FRCP 26(f) or state equivalent in introduction; confirm local rule and standing order compliance
• Ground every discovery subject in specific pleading allegations — no generic categories
• Use court-adoptable format ("IT IS HEREBY ORDERED" or separate proposed order)
• Number all paragraphs for easy reference
• Verify all deadlines are internally consistent and comply with local rules
• Check for model plans or templates required by the specific court/judge
• Include certificate of service compliant with applicable rules
• Tone: cooperative where appropriate, protective of client interests where necessary