Hickman v. Taylor

Hickman v. Taylor is a key U.S. legal case from 1947 that addresses the discovery process in civil litigation. The court ruled that parties in a lawsuit must disclose relevant information and documents to each other to promote fairness and efficiency. Specifically, it established that a lawyer's "work product"—private notes and strategies prepared for preparing a case—can often be protected from disclosure unless there's a compelling reason. This decision aims to balance the need for open evidence with the protection of legal strategy, reinforcing the principle that both sides should have access to essential information to ensure a fair trial.