Largest eDiscovery Project
It is difficult to determine the exact largest complex eDiscovery project ever as there are many factors that could be used to measure size and complexity, such as the number of documents, data sources, or parties involved, as well as the duration and cost of the project. Here are some examples of large and complex eDiscovery projects.
In 2017, the United States government reportedly spent over $11 million on eDiscovery in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The project involved reviewing over 1.5 million documents and communications, including emails, memos, and social media posts.
In 2012, a lawsuit involving Apple and Samsung resulted in an eDiscovery project that reviewed over 1.3 million documents and cost an estimated $60 million.
In 2009, a lawsuit against tobacco companies involved an eDiscovery project that reviewed over 20 million documents and cost an estimated $300 million.
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The size and complexity of eDiscovery projects continue to grow as more data is created and stored in various digital formats.
However the largest managed review case on record is believed to be the In Re: Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, which involved more than 300 attorneys reviewing approximately 15 million documents. The case was filed in 2015 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and was brought against Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and related entities.
The case arose from allegations that Volkswagen had installed software in certain diesel engines to cheat emissions tests. The discovery process involved extensive electronic document review, with teams of attorneys using technology-assisted review (TAR) to efficiently identify relevant documents for production.
The managed review process involved multiple review teams and lasted several years. The total cost of the case, including eDiscovery and other legal expenses, is estimated to be over $4 billion. The case ultimately resulted in a settlement of over $15 billion, one of the largest in U.S. history.