FOIA as a Litigation Tool

Unlocking Government Records Before You File

What You Will Learn

Understand the scope and power of FOIA at both state and federal levels.
Identify common types of government records available (e.g., 911 calls, CCTV, BWC footage, agency reports).
Learn how to draft effective requests and navigate agency procedures.
Maximize early access to information that may support settlement or increase case value.
Avoid pitfalls: timelines, preservation of short-lived materials, and how to follow up during discovery.

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What You Will Learn

Understand the scope and power of FOIA at both state and federal levels.
Identify common types of government records available (e.g., 911 calls, CCTV, BWC footage, agency reports).
Learn how to draft effective requests and navigate agency procedures.
Maximize early access to information that may support settlement or increase case value.
Avoid pitfalls: timelines, preservation of short-lived materials, and how to follow up during discovery.

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Price

$79 for Association Member
$99 for Non-member

79 minutes

Date Published

September 3, 2025

Publisher

Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.

Subjects

Evidence, FOIA

Questions

For immediate assistance please consult our FAQ page. If you're unable to find the answer you need, please call 737-201-2059 (M-F, 8am-6pm CT) or e-mail customer service.

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Summary

Learn how to strategically leverage the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to uncover critical evidence and gain a head start before filing your next case. This webinar will guide you through the essentials of using FOIA requests during client intake and early case investigation. Discover how public records can help shape your theory of liability, identify additional parties, and strengthen your negotiating position—all without waiting for formal discovery. This session will include practical tips for locating the right agency contacts, examples of useful records across practice areas, and a breakdown of relevant state and federal provisions.

SWOD-25744

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Presenters

Samantha Dos Santos, Esq.

Samantha Dos Santos joined Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. in Maryland in 2019 and was elevated to Partner in 2024. Prior to joining... Read More

Program Titles and Supporting Materials

This program contains the following components:

Media Files

FOIA as a Litigation Tool - Video

Downloadable Files

FOIA as a Litigation Tool - Handout

Credit

If applicable, you may obtain credit in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously for this program (see pending/approved list below). If electing credit for this program, registrants in jurisdictions not listed below will receive a Certificate of Completion that may or may not meet credit requirements in other jurisdictions. Where applicable, credit will be only awarded to a paid registrant completing all the requirements of the program as determined by the selected accreditation authority.

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How to Attend

Join the self-paced program from your office, home, or hotel room using a computer and high speed internet connection. You may start and stop the program at your convenience, continue where you left off, and review supporting materials as often as you like. Please note: Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser. We recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari for best results.

Technical Requirements
You may access this course on a computer or mobile device with high speed internet (iPhones require iOS 10 or higher). Recommended browsers are Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

Refund Policy
SeminarWeb and Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington DC programs are non-refundable.

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