Law Commons^™

Introduction: Reflections On The Future Of Discovery In Civil Cases, Paul W. Grimm

Vanderbilt Law Review

First, we have a long way to go to educate judges about the benefit of active judicial management of the discovery process and the proportionality requirement. Second, just telling judges to "go forth and actively manage" without showing them concrete ways to do it in realistic case settings is not going to be effective. I am happy to report that thanks to the hard work of Judge Jeremy Fogel, director of the Federal Judicial Center, the educational programs for new and experienced judges alike now include special emphasis on management of the discovery process and the proportionality requirement. And the …

Bespoke Discovery, Jessica Erickson

Vanderbilt Law Review

The U.S. legal system gives contracting parties significant freedom to customize the procedures that will govern their future disputes.' With forum selection clauses, parties can decide where they will litigate future disputes.2 With fee-shifting provisions, they can choose who will pay for these suits. 3 And with arbitration clauses, they can make upfront decisions to opt out of the traditional legal system altogether.4 Parties can also waive their right to appeal,5 their right to a jury trial,6 and their right to file a class action.7 Bespoke procedure, in other words, is commonplace in the United States. Far less common, however, …

Erie To York To Ragan -- A Triple Play On The Federal Rules, Edward L. Merrigan

Vanderbilt Law Review

Approximately twelve years have passed since the Supreme Court of the United States promulgated the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure almost simultaneously with its decision in Erie R. R. v. Tompkins.' These two events revolutionized almost every phase of practice in the federal courts. The Rules substituted uniformity for state conformity in federal procedure, while the Erie decision required an adherence to state conformity in matters of substantive law.

As a result of this concurrent, diverse treatment of substantive and adjective law, it was assumed that the Court intended, in future diversity of citizenship cases, to recognize the dichotomy of …