Archive - May 27, 2008

1
Maryland Law Firm Seeks Guidance on Whether Electronic Transmission of Data to Legal Process Outsourcing Company in India Waives Fourth Amendment Protections

Maryland Law Firm Seeks Guidance on Whether Electronic Transmission of Data to Legal Process Outsourcing Company in India Waives Fourth Amendment Protections

The law firm of Newman McIntosh & Hennessey, LLP of Bethesda, Maryland, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief in order to gain certainty about whether the electronic transmission of data from the United States to a foreign legal services provider waives Fourth Amendment protection with respect to the data that is electronically transmitted.  The complaint explains the nature of the action as follows:

India-based Acumen Legal Services (India) Pvt., Ltd. (“Acumen India”) has solicited Newman McIntosh & Hennessey, LLP (“NMH”) to provide litigation support services to NMH from its offices in India.  Acumen India is part of a fast-growing industry of Legal Process Outsourcers (“LPO”) that promise lower litigation support costs through outsourcing litigation support services to foreign nationals who live and work overseas.  Acumen India, and other such LPOs (“litigation process outsourcers”), provides its litigation support services through the electronic transmission of documents and other data from U.S.-based law firms to Acumen India’s offices.  In its solicitation of NMH’s business, Acumen India informed NMH that it already provides such litigation support to certain District of Columbia and U.S. based attorneys (herein designated as “John Doe, Esq. and Jane Doe, Esq.”).  On information and belief, John Doe, Esq. and Jane Doe, Esq. are competitors to NMH or are adverse to NMH clients in litigation.

Read More

Copyright © 2022, K&L Gates LLP. All Rights Reserved.