Legal Definitions - discovery abuse

Definition: Discovery abuse is when someone misuses the process of discovery in a legal case. This can happen when someone asks for too much information that is not needed or allowed, or when they use discovery for a bad reason.

Examples:

• Asking for personal information that has nothing to do with the case, like someone's medical history or their social security number.
• Requesting documents that are not relevant to the case, like a person's tax returns when the case is about a car accident.
• Using discovery to harass or intimidate the other party, instead of trying to find out the truth about the case.

These examples show how discovery abuse can happen in different ways. In each case, someone is using the discovery process in a way that is not fair or legal. This can make the legal case more difficult and time-consuming for everyone involved.