What is a Legal Hold: Litigation Holds 101

In the realm of litigation, the legal hold process plays a crucial role in preserving electronically stored information (ESI) that may be relevant to a lawsuit. By imposing a legal hold, also known as a litigation hold or preservation obligation, organizations ensure that potentially important data is retained and not altered or deleted.  

In this article, you’ll learn what a legal hold entails, the key steps in the process, the importance of compliance, and the roles of different stakeholders.

What is a Litigation Hold?

A litigation hold is a legal requirement that organizations must adhere to when faced with actual or anticipated litigation. It involves the preservation of relevant information that may become part of the discovery process. In simpler terms, a litigation hold is a directive to cease routine data destruction and ensure potential evidence is safeguarded.

When a litigation hold is issued, it signifies the start of a critical phase in the legal process. By implementing a litigation hold, organizations are legally obligated to retain all relevant data, including electronic documents, emails, instant messages, and other forms of communication that may be subject to the eDiscovery process.

What Must Parties Do During a Litigation Hold?

During a litigation hold, organizations are required to suspend any routine data destruction practices that may have been in place. This means that any regular deletion or overwriting of data must be halted to prevent the loss of potentially valuable evidence. Failure to comply with a litigation hold can result in severe consequences, including sanctions, adverse inference instructions, or even contempt of court charges.

Implementing a litigation hold involves more than just preserving data. It requires organizations to take proactive steps to identify and collect all potentially relevant information to the case. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially for large organizations with vast amounts of data. It often involves working closely with legal counsel and IT teams to ensure that all necessary data is properly identified, preserved, and protected.

Once a litigation hold is in effect, organizations must communicate the directive to all relevant employees and stakeholders. This ensures that everyone is aware of their obligations and understands the importance of complying with the hold. You should provide clear and concise instructions to guide employees on what actions they need to take to preserve relevant information.

It is crucial for organizations to have robust systems and processes in place to effectively manage litigation holds. This includes having the ability to quickly and accurately identify relevant data, implement necessary preservation measures, and track compliance. Failure to have proper systems and procedures can lead to the inadvertent destruction or loss of critical evidence, which can have serious implications for the outcome of a legal case.

Legal Hold Process

The legal hold process comprises several key steps. These steps include triggering events, identification of potentially relevant information, preservation of ESI, issuing legal hold notices, using legal hold software, monitoring and enforcement, and involving the key players in the legal hold process.

Triggering Events

Specific events often trigger legal holds such as the receipt of a lawsuit, a government investigation, or a regulatory inquiry. These events signify the need to preserve potentially relevant information that may be required for the case.

For example, with a lawsuit, a triggering event could be the moment the defendant receives the official court summons. This event sets in motion a series of actions to ensure that all relevant information is preserved and protected.

Similarly, in a government investigation, the triggering event could be the moment the organization receives a notice of investigation. This event prompts the organization to take immediate steps to safeguard any potentially relevant information.

Identification of Potentially Relevant Information

Once a triggering event occurs, the next step is to identify the potentially relevant information. This involves determining what data may be involved in the case and who may possess that data. Custodians of information, including employees and third-party vendors, are typically identified during this phase.

During the identification phase, organizations may conduct interviews, review data maps, and analyze existing systems to identify the custodians and sources of potentially relevant information. This process can be complex, especially in large organizations with vast amounts of data spread across multiple systems and locations.

For example, in a product liability case, the identification phase may involve identifying all employees involved in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of the product in question. It may also involve identifying any relevant third-party suppliers or contractors who may have contributed to the product's development.

Preservation of ESI

Preservation is a critical aspect of the legal hold process. It ensures that the identified ESI is safeguarded from deletion, modification, or destruction. Organizations must take measures to preserve data in its original state to maintain its evidentiary value. 

Preservation may involve implementing litigation hold procedures, which include issuing instructions to custodians of information to refrain from deleting or modifying relevant data. It may also involve working with IT departments to implement technical measures, such as data backups and system freezes, to prevent accidental or intentional data loss.

Take the example of a case involving a breach of contract. The preservation phase may require the organization to preserve all relevant emails, contracts, and financial records related to the disputed agreement. This ensures that the integrity of the evidence is maintained throughout the legal process.

Issuing Legal Hold Notices

Legal hold notices are notifications sent to custodians of information, informing them of their obligations and responsibilities in preserving relevant data. These notices typically outline the scope of the litigation hold, the time frame for compliance, and any specific instructions regarding data preservation.

When issuing legal hold notices, organizations must ensure that they are clear, concise, and comprehensive. The notices should clearly state the consequences of non-compliance and provide contact information for questions or concerns.

A multinational corporation facing a regulatory inquiry might need legal hold notices translated into multiple languages to ensure that all custodians of information across different regions understand their obligations.

Legal Hold Software

In recent years, the use of legal hold software has become increasingly popular to manage legal holds. These software solutions help streamline the legal hold process, providing organizations with tools to manage and track legal holds, automate the issuance of legal hold notices, and ensure compliance with data preservation obligations.

Legal hold software often includes features such as centralized repositories for storing legal hold notices and related documentation, automated reminders and notifications, and reporting capabilities to track and document compliance efforts.

A legal department in a large corporation may use legal hold software to efficiently manage hundreds of legal holds simultaneously. The software can help ensure that all legal action steps are taken, deadlines are met, and compliance is effectively monitored.

Choosing the right legal hold eDiscovery software is a critical decision to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the legal hold process. Organizations should consider features such as ease of use, automation capabilities, reporting functionalities, and integration with other e-discovery tools.

Monitoring and Enforcement

Organizations must monitor and enforce compliance with the legal hold. Regular follow-ups, reminders, and audits may be necessary to ensure that custodians of information are fulfilling their responsibilities. Monitoring and enforcement are essential to mitigate the risk of spoliation and show good faith to the courts.

Monitoring may involve periodic check-ins with custodians of information to ensure they are aware of their obligations and are taking appropriate steps to comply. It may also involve conducting internal audits to assess compliance efforts and identify any areas of improvement. Monitoring and enforcement may require ongoing communication with custodians of information to ensure that they understand the evolving nature of their preservation obligations.

Enforcement measures may include disciplinary actions for non-compliance, such as warnings, retraining, or even termination in severe cases. These measures demonstrate the organization's commitment to preserving relevant information and complying with legal obligations.

Key Players in the Legal Hold Process

Several stakeholders play crucial roles in the legal hold process:

• Legal Team

The legal team, including attorneys and paralegals, is responsible for understanding the legal hold requirements, issuing legal hold notices, and overseeing compliance throughout the litigation process.

• IT Department

The IT department is involved in identifying and preserving relevant electronic data, coordinating with custodians of information, and implementing technical measures to ensure data integrity during the legal hold. IT departments are vital for finding and preserving archived material for things like email discovery.

• Custodians of Information

Custodians of information are the individuals who possess or have control over potentially relevant data. They are responsible for complying with the legal hold notices and preserving the identified information in a timely and accurate manner.

• Third-Party Vendors

Third-party vendors, such as cloud service providers or digital forensics experts, can also play a crucial role in data preservation during the legal hold process. They might assist with data collection, preservation, and other technical aspects.

How to Issue a Proper Legal Hold

Issuing a legal hold involves several important considerations:

• Make it Timely - Legal hold notices should be issued promptly upon the occurrence of a triggering event to ensure the timely preservation of relevant data.
• Make it Clear and Specific - The notice should clearly communicate the scope of the legal hold, the relevant data and documents, and any specific instructions regarding data preservation.
• Explain the Matter at Issue - Briefly explaining the legal matter and its importance helps custodians of information understand the significance of their role in preserving data.

Ensuring Data Preservation Compliance with a Legal Hold

In conclusion, a legal hold is an essential component of modern litigation. It helps organizations preserve potentially relevant information and ensures compliance with data preservation obligations.  

Compliance with a legal hold is of utmost importance to avoid potential sanctions and adverse inference against an organization. Organizations must establish and implement robust processes, policies, and technologies to ensure data preservation in line with legal hold requirements.

By understanding the legal hold process, issuing clear and timely legal hold notices, and involving key stakeholders, organizations can navigate the complex landscape of litigation holds with confidence.

Picking The Right eDiscovery Software

In the ever-evolving landscape of eDiscovery, selecting the right software is critical for seamless and efficient legal processes. Our eDiscovery software offers cutting-edge features. To experience the power of our eDiscovery solution, schedule a demo today. Ensure your organization is equipped to navigate the complexities of litigation holds with confidence.