# Discovery

> The pretrial phase in which each party can obtain evidence from the opposing party through depositions, document requests, and interrogatories.

**Category:** Legal Procedure
**Canonical URL:** https://drugsmonitor.com/glossary/discovery
**Last updated:** 2026-06-11

Discovery in pharmaceutical MDLs is extensive and often produces millions of pages of documents including internal company emails, FDA correspondence, clinical trial data, adverse event reports, and marketing materials.

E-discovery has become central in modern pharmaceutical litigation, with plaintiffs' attorneys using technology to search for evidence of knowledge, concealment, or failure to act on safety signals.

The discovery phase typically lasts one to three years in large MDLs and is followed by summary judgment motions, bellwether trials, and potential settlement negotiations. Preservation of your medical records throughout this period is essential.

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*Glossary entry from DrugsMonitor.com.*