Hot documents are the highest-value pieces of evidence found during the discovery phase of litigation or an internal investigation. They are characterized by their ability to provide direct proof of a key issue. While a standard "responsive" document might just be relevant to the case, a hot document is one that is particularly helpful or damaging to a party’s position. Defining Characteristics
Modern litigation involves millions of files, making it impossible to find "smoking guns" by hand. Legal teams use advanced technology to surface these critical files early in the process. 1. Technology Assisted Review (TAR) hot documents
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Hot documents typically possess certain characteristics that necessitate their special handling: Hot documents are the highest-value pieces of evidence