Discovery: What Companies Ask

Defendants usually send written questions, called interrogatories, and requests for documents. Questions might ask for a list of every employer, every home address, military service details and medical providers. Document requests might ask for tax records, medical records or photos. Your attorneys help you prepare answers, often using the information already gathered during the investigation. Answers are given under oath, so accuracy matters. If you don't know an answer, it's fine to say so rather than guess. Your team may also check your draft answers against the records already gathered so the information stays consistent from start to finish.

Companies commonly ask about other possible sources of asbestos exposure, including jobs, homes, hobbies and household members. They may ask about smoking history, prior lung conditions and any earlier legal claims. These questions are meant to test the evidence and explore alternative explanations. Being prepared for them helps reduce stress. Honest answers, combined with your medical records and exposure evidence, allow your attorneys to respond to these arguments effectively. Companies may also ask about homes you renovated, cars you repaired yourself or relatives who worked in trades. Think about those areas before your answers are due, and share anything you remember with your attorneys, even if it seems minor.

Discovery doesn't mean your private information becomes public. Courts often use protective orders that limit how sensitive records can be used and who can see them. Medical records may be shared only with the attorneys and experts involved. Your attorneys can object to requests that go too far or aren't relevant. If a question makes you uncomfortable, talk with your legal team before answering. They can explain why it's being asked and whether it must be answered. Ask your attorneys which protections apply in your case. Sealed filings may also be used for especially sensitive records.

1. 1

   Keep a list of all medical providers you've seen, with approximate dates.

2. 2

   Gather addresses of every home you've lived in, as best you can recall.

3. 3

   Tell your attorneys about any prior legal or workers' compensation claims.

4. 4

   Review your written answers carefully before signing them under oath.