Discovery

Procedures used to obtain disclosure of evidence before trial.

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Encyclopedia Britannica

In law, pretrial procedures providing for the exchange of information between the partiesinvolved in the proceedings. Discovery may be made through interrogatories, which consist of written questions sent from one side to the other in an attempt to secure important facts; it also can be made through depositions, whereby a witness is sworn and, in the presence of attorneys for both sides, is subjected to questions. The written record of the proceedings also is called a deposition and may be introduced later if the case comes to trial. Other forms of discovery include the demand for production and inspection (by which the opposing party may be required to produce relevant documents or other evidence) and requests for medical examination (for cases in which a party’s mental or physical condition is at issue). Extensive discovery is permitted under U.S. civil procedure but is much more restricted in other countries with common-law systems and in civil-law systems.

Law.com Dictionary

The entire efforts of a party to a lawsuit and his/her/its attorneys to obtain information before trial through demands for production of documents, depositions of parties and potential witnesses, written interrogatories (questions and answers written under oath), written requests for admissions of fact, examination of the scene and the petitions and motions employed to enforce discovery rights. The theory of broad rights of discovery is that all parties will go to trial with as much knowledge as possible and that neither party should be able to keep secrets from the other (except for constitutional protection against self-incrimination). Often much of the fight between the two sides in a suit takes place during the discovery period.

Lect Law Library

Part of the pre-trial litigation process during which each party requests relevant information and documents from the other side in an attempt to "discover" pertinent facts. Generally discovery devices include depositions, interogatories, requests for admissions, document production requests and requests for inspection.

The formal procedures used by parties to a lawsuit to obtain information before a trial is called discovery. Discovery helps a party find out the other side's version of the facts, what witnesses know, and other evidence. Rules dictating the allowable methods of discovery have been set up by Congress (for federal courts) and by state legislatures (for state courts).

Legal-Dictionary.org

A pre-trial process in which each side requests relevant information and documents from the other. Parties must provide the requested information or documents or show good cause to the court why they should not have to do so.

The Free (Legal) Dictionary

A category of procedural devices employed by a party to a civil or criminal action, prior to trial, to require the adverse party to disclose information that is essential for the preparation of the requesting party's case and that the other party alone knows or possesses.

Wikipedia

In American law, discovery is the pre-trial phase in a lawsuit in which each party through the law of civil procedure can request documents and other evidence from other parties and can compel the production of evidence by using a subpoena or through other discovery devices, such as requests for production of documents, and depositions. In other words, discovery includes (1) interrogatories; (2) motions or requests for production of documents; (3) requests for admissions; and (4) depositions.