Discovery
The pre-trial process by which parties obtain evidence from each other.
Discovery is the formal pre-trial exchange of information between parties to a lawsuit. The main tools are interrogatories (written questions), requests for production of documents and electronically stored information, requests for admission, and depositions (sworn oral testimony).
In federal court, discovery is preceded by mandatory Rule 26(a)(1) initial disclosures and governed by proportionality limits. Failure to disclose can lead to exclusion of the evidence under Rule 37.