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Facebook Discovery News

The Drug and Device Law Blog writes a good post on a recent Facebook discovery opinion, arguing in favor of making Facebook posts, ostensibly intended only for your "friends", discoverable:

We might have responded: C?mon, Dude, everyone knows that what you tell or write your friends may come out some day. You knew that when your best bro told everybody about that problem in your nether regions. And when your teacher intercepted the note you passed in class, you never would have thought to object on privilege grounds before she read it to the class. Nor could you do anything when the cops squeezed your roommate and he told them where you said your stash was. So why should what you tell your friends in Facebook posts be protected from disclosure when what you tell your friends in other ways is not?

First, I wonder if the Drug and Device Law Blog is suggesting discovery should just be produced or reviewed on camera by the court. The blog has argued forcefully for liberal designation of confidentiality for discovery documents. But Facebook posts that could cause embarrassment and humiliation and be used completely out of context? Let's all look at those. We should be sensitive to huge multinational drug companies but let's just rifle through the little man's private life. Somewhere, Michele Bachmann is smiling and she does not know why.

Full post as published by Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog on November 17, 2010 (boomark / email).