Discovery of Social Media

In Lopez v. Bendell, No. 156292/2017, 2021 WL 4776215 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Oct. 13, 2021), an employment discrimination case (involving allegations of national origin discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and wrongful termination), the court denied defendants’ request to vacate the Note of Issue (on the ground that plaintiff failed to produce “social…

Read More Court Declines to Vacate Note of Issue in Discrimination/Hostile Work Environment Case; Requires “Jackson Affidavit” Regarding Social Media Posts
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In Lopez v. Bendell, No. 156292/2017, 2021 WL 826394 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Mar. 03, 2021) – an employment discrimination case – the court addressed several of defendants’ discovery requests, including, inter alia,[1]While this decision also addresses defendants’ motion to compel other discovery, e.g., an independent medical examination, tax records, authorizations for government benefits,…

Read More Social Media Discovery Addressed, Limited in Employment Discrimination Case
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In Kloppel v. HomeDeliveryLink, Inc., 17-CV-6296, 2020 WL 38895 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 3, 2020) (a wage/hour case in which plaintiffs assert New York Labor Law violations and unjust enrichment), the court, inter alia, denied defendant’s motion to compel plaintiff’s social media posts.[1]This decision also addresses other issues, e.g., the discoverability of plaintiffs’ tax records; this aspect…

Read More Social Media Discovery Denied in Wage/Hour Case
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In Babbitt v. Koeppel Nissan, Inc., 2019 WL 3296984 (EDNY July 23, 2019) – an employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation case brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – the court ruled on the parties’ respective motions to compel discovery. One issue addressed by the court – which has become…

Read More Social Media Discovery Compelled (in Part) in Sexual Harassment Case
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In Doyle v. Temco Serv. Indus., Inc., 2019 NY Slip Op 03919 (App. Div. 1st Dept. May 21, 2019), the court held that defendant was entitled to discovery of plaintiff’s social media accounts – albeit not to the extent that defendant demanded. From the decision: Private social media information can be discoverable to the extent…

Read More Social Media, Passport Discovery Ordered in Personal Injury Case
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In Caserta v Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, No. 157983/2015, 2019 WL 1003772 (N.Y. Sup Ct, New York County Feb. 26, 2019), a personal injury case, the court stated and applied the general rule regarding discovery of a plaintiff’s social media postings. Here is the court’s summary of the general rule: Social media information is…

Read More Court Permits Limited Social Media Discovery in Personal Injury Case
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Here is yet another reason why accident victims should refrain from using social media after they are in an accident. In Smith v. Brown, 2018 NY Slip Op 28299 (Sup. Ct. Bx. Cty. Sept. 27, 2018), a personal injury case involving a motor vehicle accident, the court held that plaintiff was required to respond to requests…

Read More Car Accident Plaintiff Must Respond to Requests for Admission Regarding Instagram “Selfies,” Court Rules
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In Forman v. Henkin, 2018 NY Slip Op 01015 (N.Y. Ct. App. Feb. 13, 2018), a personal injury case, the New York Court of Appeals provided guidance on how courts should evaluate discovery requests for discovery of information from litigants’ social media accounts. Judge DiFiore wrote: [C]ourts addressing disputes over the scope of social media discovery should…

Read More NY Court of Appeals Outlines Standards for Social Media Discovery
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In Spearin v. Linmar, L.P., 129 AD3d 528 (App. Div. 1st Dept. June 16, 2015), a personal injury case, the court addressed an issue that is coming up with increasing frequency: namely, the extent to which a plaintiff’s social media postings must be turned over in discovery. The court reversed a lower court decision that “ordered…

Read More Piano-Playing Plaintiff’s Facebook Posts Ordered for In-Camera Inspection
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