Privacy Rights Trump Litigation Tactics.

In a wrongful termination case, the plaintiff intended to present statistical information to develop a disparate impact claim.  He asked for the names of all employees terminated during a certain period, the department where each worked, the age of each, the reason for each termination, whether severance benefits were offered and, if so, if they were accepted and the identity of certain former employees.  The appellate court found privacy concerns prevail unless the litigant can show a compelling need for particular information which cannot reasonably be obtained through depositions and non-confidential sources.  Life Technologies Corp. v. Sup. Ct. (Cal. App. First Dist., Div. 1; July 14, 2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 640 [130 Cal.Rptr.3d 80; 112 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 1641].