Client Social Media Discovery for Plaintiff Attorneys

Case Law

Social Media Used as Evidence in Court Cases

Case Name: Rodriguez v. School Board. of Collier County
Citation: 2024 Fla. Cir. LEXIS 84 (Fla. 20th Cir. Ct. January 3, 2024)
Judge: Honorable Joseph Foster
Court and County: In The Circuit of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in and for Collier County, Florida
Time to Comply with Social Media Disclosure Order: 7 days

Facts

In a Florida personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff sued the Collier County School Board after sustaining injuries on school premises. The defendant sought discovery of the plaintiff’s social media activity, specifically photos and status updates from two years before the accident to the present. The plaintiff objected, arguing the request was overly broad.

Ruling

The court overruled the plaintiff’s objection and granted the motion to compel social media disclosure. The judge ruled that the requested social media content was directly relevant to the plaintiff’s claims of pain and physical limitations. The court determined that the discovery request was neither overly broad nor unduly burdensome, as the plaintiff’s online activity could provide key evidence regarding the extent of their injuries. The plaintiff was ordered to produce the requested social media content within seven days.

Key Takeaways

  • In Florida, social media posts are discoverable in personal injury cases if they relate to the plaintiff’s claimed injuries.
  • Courts may grant social media production requests when they provide evidence of physical limitations or contradict a plaintiff’s claims.
  • Objections based on overbreadth may fail if the requested information is relevant and specific to the litigation.

Final Thoughts

This Florida ruling in Rodriguez v. School Board. of Collier County reinforces the importance of managing social media content in personal injury cases. Personal injury attorneys must educate their clients on how social media posts can impact litigation and proactively review online activity before discovery requests arise. A failure to comply with such orders can result in unfavorable consequences for plaintiffs, potentially undermining their credibility and weakening their case.

Private Footprint Keeps You in the Know

Your clients’ social media activity may be a goldmine or a minefield. Private Footprint was developed by Personal Injury Lawyers to help plaintiff-only law firms avoid the Discovery/Deposition Surprise. It gives firms immediate and ongoing visibility into their clients’ social media activity to protect and increase the value of their files. We’re also enabling paralegals and legal assistants to produce client social media reports in minutes, not hours. All this for only $100 per client (plus taxes), invoiced as individual receipts itemized for ease of tracking disbursements. No hidden fees, no subscriptions, no surprises.

Request a Demo to learn more about Private Footprint and how you can start protecting the value of your files.

Make Sure Your Clients' Social Posts Aren’t Damaging Their Files