Legal Definitions - Bates-stamp number

A Bates-stamp number is a unique, sequential identifier assigned to each page of a document, or to entire documents, within a collection of legal materials. Its primary purpose is to create an organized and easily referenceable set of documents, ensuring that all parties in a legal case can track, discuss, and refer to specific pages or documents without confusion, especially during the discovery phase where large volumes of information are exchanged.

Here are a few examples illustrating how Bates-stamp numbers are used:

• Imagine a large lawsuit between two corporations involving thousands of internal emails, contracts, and financial reports. When one company provides these documents to the other side during the discovery process, each individual page of every document will be marked with a unique, sequential Bates-stamp number (e.g., "CORP-LIT-000001," "CORP-LIT-000002," and so on). This allows attorneys, judges, and witnesses to refer to "page CORP-LIT-001234" in court filings, depositions, or trial, knowing that everyone is looking at the exact same document and page.

• In a personal injury case, the plaintiff's medical history might include hundreds of pages from various doctors, hospitals, and therapists. When these extensive medical records are gathered and shared with the opposing legal team, each page is assigned a Bates-stamp number (e.g., "PLTF-MED-0001" through "PLTF-MED-0500"). This ensures that if a lawyer needs to question a doctor about a specific diagnosis or treatment noted on a particular page, they can simply refer to "page PLTF-MED-0125," eliminating any ambiguity about which record or entry is being discussed.

• Consider an estate dispute where family members are contesting the distribution of assets, requiring a review of numerous bank statements, investment portfolios, and property deeds. To manage this volume of sensitive financial information, all relevant documents are Bates-stamped. For instance, a multi-page bank statement might be stamped "ESTATE-FIN-001" on its first page, "ESTATE-FIN-002" on the second, and so forth. This systematic numbering makes it straightforward for all parties involved – the heirs, their legal representatives, and the court – to precisely identify and discuss specific financial disclosures without confusion.