Wade Clark Mulcahy LLP

Last year, Wade Clark Mulcahy won a significant victory, both for our client and for the defense bar in general, in <em><a href="http://blog.wcmlaw.com/2018/02/new-yorks-highest-court-rules-private-facebook-posts-are-discoverable/">Forman v. Henkin</a>. </em> In a unanimous reversal of the underlying First Department decision, the Court of Appeals held that a plaintiff's social media posts are discoverable, so long as the defendant demonstrates some need for the materials therein.  The Court of Appeals held that social media relevancy trumps privacy interests, which thereby created new law in New York, and a new means for defendants to gauge plaintiffs' damages claims.

Since the <em>Forman</em> decision in February 2018, we have been keeping tabs on how the various appellate divisions have been applying the new law.   Last week, the First Department not only followed <em>Forman</em>, but actually broadened a defendant's rights, in <em><a href="http://nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2019/2019_00541.htm">Vasquez-Santos v Mathew</a>.  </em>The plaintiff in that case claimed an injury, and defense counsel became aware of photos of plaintiff playing basketball, which were posted on social media after the accident.  Plaintiff testified that even though the photos were posted after the accident, they had actually been taken before the accident, and therefore, were not relevant to damages.

Defense counsel wasn't buying plaintiff's account, and although counsel's motion to compel was denied at the trial level, the First Department wasn't buying it either.  The First. Department unanimously reversed the trial court, citing cited <em>Forman</em> in its decision.   The Court took the additional step of granting defendant access, through a third-party data-mining company, to plaintiff's devices, email accounts, and social media accounts, to assist in defendant's damages evaluation.

The fact that <em>Forman</em> is being followed and even broadened -- particularly by the First Department -- is welcome news for the defense bar, and illustrates the significance of WCM's victory at the Court of Appeals last year.  Please call <a href="mailto:MBono@wcmlaw.com">Mike Bono</a> or <a href="mailto:BGibbons@wcmlaw.com">Brian Gibbons</a> with any questions about the <em>Forman</em> decision, and its impact on personal injury litigation.