•  
  •  
 
Vanderbilt Law Review

Article Title

Opting Out of Discovery

Authors

Jay Tidmarsh

First Page

1801

Abstract

This Article proposes a system in which both parties are provided an opportunity to opt out of discovery. A party who opts out is immunized from dispositive motions, including a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim or a motion for summary judgment. If neither party opts out of discovery, the parties waive jury-trial rights, thus giving judges the ability to use stronger case-management powers to focus the issues and narrow discovery. If one party opts out of discovery but an opponent does not, the cost of discovery shifts to the opponent. This Article justifies this proposal in both historical and efficiency terms and concludes by considering objections to the proposal.

Download
COinS