Which statement accurately describes discovery conferences under federal rules?

Which statement accurately describes discovery conferences under federal rules?

• A. Conferences must be held before mandatory disclosure
• B. Conferences may be held after mandatory disclosure; not more than 2
• C. Conferences may be held after mandatory disclosure and are limited to 10 unless good cause
• D. Conferences may be held anytime; no numerical limit

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how discovery planning is controlled in federal practice. When parties plan discovery, they hold a meet-and-confer to set parameters for how discovery will proceed, including how many depositions will be allowed. Under the default rules, depositions are capped at ten per side unless the court grants permission for more for good cause. This cap is the main point that makes the statement correct: the conference is typically held after the parties have exchanged mandatory disclosures, and the number of depositions is limited to ten unless good cause is shown. This aligns with the idea that the discovery process is managed by a planning conference that comes after the initial disclosures, and it emphasizes the specific numerical limit that controls how expansive discovery can be. The other options misstate the timing or the numerical limit: the conference is not unrestricted or unlimited, and the deposition count is not limited to two.

The key idea here is how discovery planning is controlled in federal practice. When parties plan discovery, they hold a meet-and-confer to set parameters for how discovery will proceed, including how many depositions will be allowed. Under the default rules, depositions are capped at ten per side unless the court grants permission for more for good cause. This cap is the main point that makes the statement correct: the conference is typically held after the parties have exchanged mandatory disclosures, and the number of depositions is limited to ten unless good cause is shown.

This aligns with the idea that the discovery process is managed by a planning conference that comes after the initial disclosures, and it emphasizes the specific numerical limit that controls how expansive discovery can be. The other options misstate the timing or the numerical limit: the conference is not unrestricted or unlimited, and the deposition count is not limited to two.