Classification Protocols with Minimal Disclosure

This paper considers the multi-party classification problem that arises in document review for discovery in legal proceedings. The plaintiff (henceforth: Bob) issues a request for production to the defendant (henceforth: Alice). The legal team of Alice is then accountable for reviewing all documents and provides the responsive ones. Grossman and Cormack (2010) show this manual process can be significantly improved by automation. A potential issue with the adoption of this technology, however, is that automation could reduce transparency and accountability, and the accuracy and completeness of this process relies critically on the accountability of Alice's legal team and its obligations under the rules of professional responsibility.