Legal Research in an Electronic Age: Electronic Data Discovery, a Litigation Albatross of Gigantic Proportions

[Excerpt] “The increase in e-discovery, e-discovery‘s impact on litigation, and the courts‘ unavoidable role in defining the limits of discovery led to the author‘s decision to develop this article. The availability, accessibility, and the ease of requesting electronic data, resulting in increased e-discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, is an important issue that will affect the legal profession and its constituents in many ways for years to come. Part II of this article is an overview of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f). This part stresses that in recognizing the herculean task involved in e-discovery, courts expect that litigants immediately begin the process of understanding what their cases require from an e-discovery standpoint. Part III highlights judges and cases that have had a clear hand in shaping the terrain of where electronic data discovery issues are heading. Part IV examines the ramifications of failing to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f), illustrating the importance of Rule 26(f) in the litigation process. Abiding by the agreements that the parties reach under Rule 26(f) could avoid most, if not all, e-discovery problems. Part V examines problems associated with electronic data discovery. Part VI offers workable solutions to electronic data discovery concerns. Finally, Part VII concludes that even though the outer boundaries of e-discovery may be uncertain, judges, practitioners, and law schools must work together to ensure that exposure, training, and classes are available from the earliest possible time to ensure efficient and responsible adherence to the new requirements that the electronic age has brought to the litigation process.

Synthesis, structure and reactivity study of magnesium amidinato complexes derived from carbodiimides and N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-butadiene ligands

We report an amidinato ligand-supported series of magnesium complexes obtained from the insertion of a magnesium–carbon bond into a carbon–nitrogen double bond of different carbodiimides and α-diimine ligands. The magnesium complexes [Mg(CH2Ph){CyN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)NCy}]2 (1), [Mg(CH2Ph){iPrN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)NiPr}]2 (2) and the homoleptic [Mg{tBuN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)NtBu}2] (3) (Cy = cyclohexyl, iPr = isopropyl, tBu = tert-butyl) were prepared by the reaction of dibenzyl magnesium [Mg(CH2Ph)2(Et2O)2] with the respective carbodiimides either in 1 : 1 or 1 : 2 molar ratio in toluene. The analogous reaction of [Mg(CH2Ph)2(Et2O)2] with the N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (Dipp2DAD) ligand afforded the corresponding homoleptic magnesium complex [Mg{DippN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)CH2NDipp}2] (4) (Dipp = 2,6 diisopropylphenyl) in good yield. The solid-state structures of magnesium complexes 1–4 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It was observed that in each case, a magnesium–carbon bond was inserted into the carbon–nitrogen double bond of either carbodiimides or Dipp2DAD resulting in a monoanionic amido–imino ligand. In a further reaction between 1 and N-aryliminopyrrolyl ligand 2-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)C4H3NH (ImpDipp-H) in 1 : 2 molar ratio, a new magnesium complex [Mg(ImpDipp)2{CyN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)NHCy}] (5), with one amidinato and two aryliminopyrrolyl ligands in the coordination sphere, was obtained in good yield. In contrast, the homoleptic magnesium complex 4 reacted with one equivalent of N-aryliminopyrrolyl ligand (ImpDipp-H) to produce another mixed ligated magnesium complex [Mg{DippN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)CH2NDipp}(ImpDipp)] (6), with a benzylated DAD ligand and aryliminopyrrolyl ligands in the coordination sphere. Further reaction of complex 4 with benzyl alcohol (PhCH2OH) afforded the third mixed ligated magnesium complex [Mg{DippN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH2Ph)CH2NDipp}(OCH2Ph)2] (7) in very good yield. The magnesium complexes 5–7 were characterised using standard analytical/spectroscopic techniques and their solid-state structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis

Amidinate Ligands in Zinc coordination sphere: Synthesis and structural diversity

A one-pot reaction involving neosilyllithium and three different carbodiimides (RN=C=NR, R=cyclohexyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl) in diethyl ether, followed by the addition of anhydrous ZnCl2, afforded, in high yield, corresponding homoleptic zinc amidinate complexes having the molecular formulae [Zn{CyN =C(CH2SiMe3)NCy}2] (1), [Zn{ i PrN =C(CH2SiMe3)N i Pr}2] (2) and [Zn{ t BuN =C(CH2SiMe3) N t Bu}2] (3), respectively, and amidinato moieties in the zinc coordination sphere. Solid state structures of complexes 1-3 are reported thereafter - all the three complexes are isostructural, and each of them consists of two four-membered metallacycles

Synthesis and Structures of Dimeric Zinc Complexes Supported by Unsymmetrical Rigid Bidentate Imino- acenapthenone Ligand

We report two zinc complexes of molecular formulae [ZnCl 2 (Mes - BIAO)] 2 ( 3 ) and [ZnCl 2 (Dipp - BIAO)] 2 ( 4 ) ( Mes = Mesityl, Dipp = 2,6 - diisopropylphenyl) of rigid unsymmetrical bidentate iminoacenapthenone ligands (Mes - BIAO) ( 1 ) and Dipp - BIAO) ( 2 ). The zinc complexes 3 and 4 can be achieved by the reaction of ZnCl 2 and neutral [ N - (mesityl) - iminoacenapthenone] ( 1 ) and [ N - (2,6 - diisopropylphenyl) - iminoacenapthenone] ligand ( 2 ) respectively in dichloromethane at ambient temperature. The solid state structures of the complexes 3 and 4 were established by single crystal X – ray diffraction analysis. In the solid state structures, bo th the complexes are dimeric in nature. In complexes 3 and 4 , each of the zinc coordination polyhedron is formed by the ligation of imine nitrogen, carbonyl oxygen atoms of the ligand 1 and 2 respectively along with three chlorine atoms. Out these three ch lorine atoms, two are 2 bridged with adjacent zinc atom to form the dimer. Thus overall zinc atom is penta - coordinated and the geometry can be best described as a distorted trigonal bipyramidal or a distorted square pyramidal

Chitosan as natural coagulant in hybrid coagulation-nanofiltration membrane process for water treatment

Water treatment industries are exploring the possibility to use environmental friendly chemicals and to discover the potential of advanced treatment technology in order to achieve sustainable development. Hybrid coagulation-membrane process has been introduced and proven to be a reliable water treatment process. In this study, the potential of chitosan as natural coagulant in hybrid coagulation-NF membrane process was studied. Three synthetic humic acid (HA) solutions with different ionic strength and composition will be used; without salt (Set 1), with NaCl only (Set 2), and with NaCl, CaCl2, and NaHCO3 (Set 3). Our findings indicated that gradual flux decline for Set 1 can be related to the continuous accumulation of neutral charged particles (pH 4.2) on the membrane surface. Formation of compact foulant layer due to further charge suppression of the foulants by dissolved ions (Set 2) resulted in severe membrane flux decline. When the pH of Set 1 and Set 2 supernatant solutions were increased to 7, fouling has been resolved due to the presence of strong electrostatic repulsion between the foulants and membrane. During the initial filtration process for Set 3, the flux has remained constant due to the strong repulsion between negatively charged foulants and membrane (pH 7). It was followed by severe flux decline which could be attributed to the effect of concentration polarization. Hence, this study highlighted that the impact of natural coagulant on the membrane process should be systematically studied in order to prevent unnecessary loss due to the incompatibility between both processes.This paper was made possible by NPRP grant #[5-1425-2-607] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the author[s]. The authors also wish to acknowledge the Ministry of Education Malaysia for sponsoring W.L. Ang?s postgraduate study via MyBrain.Scopu

Syntheses and solid state structures of zinc (II) complexes with Bi-dentate N-(Aryl)imino-acenapthenone (Ar-BIAO) ligands

We have synthesized five zinc complexes of molecular formulae [ZnCl 2 (2,6-dimethylphenyl- BIAO)] 2 ( 1a ), [ZnBr 2 (2,6-dimethylphenyl-BIAO)] 2 ( 1b ), [ZnI 2 (2,6-dimethylphenyl-BIAO)] 2 ( 1c ), [ZnBr 2 (mes- BIAO)] 2 ( 2b) and [ZnBr 2 (dipp-BIAO)] ( 3b) with rigid unsymmetrical imi noacenaphthenone ligands, (2,6- dimethylphenyl-BIAO) ( 1 ), (mesityl-BIAO) ( 2 ) and (2,6-diisopropylphenyl-BIAO) ( 3 ).Thezinccomplex 1a was prepared by the reaction of ZnCl 2 and neutral (mesityl-BIAO) ( 1 ). However, complexes 1b , 2b and 3b were obtained by the treatment of ZnBr 2 and neutral ligands 1 – 3 respectively in 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane at ambient temperature. In a similar reaction of ZnI 2 with (2,6-dimethylphenyl-BIAO) ( 1 ) in dichloromethane the corresponding iodo-complex 1c was obtained in good yield. All the zinc (II) complexes are characterized by FT-IR, 1 Hand 13 C{ 1 H} NMR spectroscopic techniques. The solid state structures of the complexes 1a , 1b , 1c , 2b and 3b are confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecular structures of com- plexes 1a , 1b , 1c and 2b reveal the dimeric nature of the complexes and subsequently the centre atom zinc is penta-coordinated to adopt distorted trigonal bipyr amidal geometry around it. In contrast, the complex 3b is in monomeric in nature due to bulkier size of the ligand and zinc ion is tetra coordinated to adopt distorted tetrahedral geometry

Electronic Data Discovery Sanctions: The Unmapped, Unwinding, Meandering Road, and the Courts’ Role in Steadying the Playing Field

This Article highlights a growing problem for litigants who are involved in electronic data discovery (EDD). The world of litigation today encompasses massive amounts of electronically produced documents. It is estimated that ninety-nine percent of new information is created and stored electronically. The litigation practice generally, as it relates to electronic discovery (e-discovery) particularly, has mushroomed into a chaotic process. The technological age has radically impacted the federal discovery process. The purpose of the 2006 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) was, among other things, to address problems associated with electronically stored information (ESI) that arise during the litigation process.... Part II analyzes courts’ approach to EDD violations and the different standards required for sanctionable conduct. Part III illustrates certain trends and methodologies involving sanctions that have arisen since the adoption of the 2006 FRCP. Part IV highlights the necessary corollary that indistinct sanctions have had on the litigation experience. Part V addresses the role of preservation in the sanctions process. Finally, Part VI concludes by examining possible solutions to ameliorate or redress the costly and often avoidable consequences of failure to comply with best practices regarding the preservation, production, and destruction of electronically generated documents that may be required during the litigation process

Study of the selectivity to light hydrocarbons in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa 26 February 2016Many reports in the open literature have focused on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) kinetics, yet none of them appear to be able to explain FTS completely. Few of the FT models consider the production of olefins and paraffins separately. To study whether the selectivity to olefins and paraffins follows similar trends and if kinetics alone suffices to explain FT phenomena, a series of FT experiments were conducted in a fixed bed reactor loaded with 10% Co/TiO2. FT feeds were periodically switched from syngas to syngas + N2 by adjusting the total reactor pressure so that the reactant partial pressures (PCO and PH2) remained constant. During the initial deactivation (the first 1200 hours), it was found that the formation rates of olefins remained fairly constant (in some cases they increased) while those of paraffins decreased. This indicates the deactivation is mainly caused by the decrease in the paraffin formation rate. Currently, none of the published kinetic models can explain the phenomenon that the decay of the reaction rates of olefins and paraffins were not the same during the deactivation. At steady state (1055 to 2700 hours, overall reaction rate fairly constant), adding extra N2 decreased the selectivity to the light hydrocarbons. These results suggest that by feeding the extra N2 there could be an increase in selectivity and formation rates to long chain hydrocarbons (C5+). Plotting molar ratios of paraffin to olefin (P/O) with carbon number n+1 versus the ratio with carbon number n revealed linear relationships which are independent of feed gases, catalyst activity and reaction temperature. These results imply that product distributions might be determined by some sort of equilibrium. Another plot of normalised mole fractions of CnH2n, Cn+1H2n+2, and CnH2n+2 in ternary diagrams showed that after disturbances these product distributions tended to stable points. It is suggested that this could be due to slow changes in the liquid composition after the disturbances. Although not all the results are explained, the researcher emphasises that normal kinetics alone cannot explain these results completely. There might be factors, iii including vapour-liquid equilibrium or reactive distillation, which are worthy of consideration to explain FTS.MT201