Beard Research, Inc. v. Kates

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• explaining that an adverse inference “cannot take the place of proof of a fact necessary to [a party’s] case”
• drawing an adverse inference where the defendant deleted information, replaced his hard drive, and failed to maintain the original despite receiving prior notice that the data could be discoverable
• calling for “early and, if necessary, frequent communications among counsel” regarding ESI
• “[D]rawing an adverse inference is appropriate when an actor is under a duty to preserve evidence and takes part in the destruction of evidence while being consciously aware of a risk that he or she will cause or allow evidence to be spoiled by action or inaction . . . .”
• “[D]rawing an adverse inference is appropriate when an actor is under a duty to preserve evidence and takes part in the destruction of evidence while being consciously aware of a risk that he or she will cause or allow evidence to be spoiled by action or inaction . . . .”
• “To obtain an adverse inference, however, a party must offer more than mere speculation and conjecture[.]”

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).

Cited by

32 cases in this archive cite this case; the 20 most cited are listed.

• ASDI, INC. v. Beard Research, Inc.
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 2010-11-23· cited 134×
• Lea Ann Tatham v. Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.
  Tennessee Supreme Court· 2015-10-30· cited 71×
• Shawe v. Elting
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 2017-02-13· cited 59×
• Beard Research, Inc. v. Kates (In re Kates)
  E.D. Pennsylvania· 2012-12-18· cited 28×
• James v. National Financial LLC
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2014-12-05
• Kan-Di-Ki, LLC v. Suer
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2015-07-22
• In re: Shawe & Elting LLC
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2015-08-14
• OptimisCorp.
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2015-08-26
• Delaware Acceptance Corp, CACV of Colorado, LLC and 202 Investments, Inc. v. Estate of Frank C. Metzner, Sr.
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2017-05-22
• In re Examworks Group, Inc. Stockholder Appraisal Litigation
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2018-02-21
• Foreman v. Two Farms, Inc.
  Superior Court of Delaware· 2018-10-04
• Fortis Advisors, LLC v. Dematic Corporation
  Superior Court of Delaware· 2020-11-18
• Danberger v. Danberger
  Delaware Family Court· 2013-12-09
• The Williams Companies, Inc. v. Energy Transfer LP
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2021-12-29
• State of Delaware ex rel. Jennings v. Concrete Technology Resurfacing & Design, Inc.
  Superior Court of Delaware· 2022-10-10
• BDO USA, LLP v. EverGlade Global, Inc.
  Superior Court of Delaware· 2023-01-31
• Farley v. Bonefish Grill, LLC
  Superior Court of Delaware· 2023-02-22
• Martin Lanz Zaslansky v. FZ Holdings US, Inc., C.A. No. 2021-0168-KSJM
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2023-04-10
• Urban Concepts, LLC v. Gruber
  Superior Court of Delaware· 2023-07-07
• Gener8, LLC and Symbient Product Development, LLC v. Scott Castanon
  Court of Chancery of Delaware· 2023-09-29

Cites

11 cases in this archive are cited by this case.

• Residential Funding Corporation v. Degeorge Financial Corp., Degeorge Home Alliance, Inc. And Degeorge Capital Corp
  Second Circuit· 2002-09-26· cited 503×
• Zubulake v. UBS Warburg LLC
  S.D. New York· 2003-10-22· cited 362×
• Eric Esher Schmid v. Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Eric Schmid
  Third Circuit· 1994-02-09· cited 341×
• Jardel Co., Inc. v. Hughes
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 1987-03-23· cited 198×
• Turner v. Hudson Transit Lines, Inc.
  S.D. New York· 1991-09-27· cited 140×
• Baliotis v. McNeil
  M.D. Pennsylvania· 1994-09-30· cited 73×
• Equitable Trust Co. v. Gallagher
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 1954-02-05· cited 37×
• Sears, Roebuck and Co. v. Midcap
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 2006-01-09· cited 37×
• Collins v. Throckmorton
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 1980-12-05· cited 22×
• Sundor Electric, Inc. v. EJT Construction Co., Inc.
  Supreme Court of Delaware· 1975-04-17· cited 20×
• Micron Technology, Inc. v. Rambus Inc.
  D. Delaware· 2009-01-09· cited 12×