美国诉讼程序的discovery指的是什么

1938年后，美国的《联邦民事诉讼规则》中明确采纳了Discovery程序，从此“披露程序”便成为了美国民事诉讼中极为关键重要的部分。

根据美国的Discovery程序的规定：

诉讼双方，需要由己方向对方提供涉案相关的文件，中间甚至可能包括不利于己方之证据，己方也需如实提供。虽然仍未脱离谁主张，谁举证之原则的范围，但实质上诉讼根本已经发生较大的改变。本着in good faith （诚信）的精神，如果如实提供，可能会遭致法律上的不利后果；但如果不如实提供，更可能直接导致败诉甚至有三倍赔偿的可能。而中国法律诉讼程序中，关于证据的搜集相比之下就难上加难，因为没有该程序。

Discovery Phase一词字面上的意思是发现阶段，在美国法庭上，此阶段所进行的程序因案件性质的不同而有所区别。在民事案件程序中，此阶段主要是指法庭调查阶段，而在刑事案件中，则侧重于指双方间的证据开释阶段。具体行为视各州的司法实践以及立法规定的不同而有所差别。

Civil litigation usually begins when the claimant files a document called a complaint.The complaint must announce the jurisdictional basis for the court to take the case and indemnify the plaintiff's grivance.After th court has been selected and after the case is filed with the court,the plaintiff will serve on the defendant the first of the pleadings with the summons,and the defendant must respond to it.The first major checkpoint after the filing of a complaint appears with the defendant's opportunity to file a motion to dismiss,which is a way of testing complaints to see if they have legal merit.

If the defendant does not move to dimiss,or,if the motion to dismiss is unsuccessful the defendant must file an answer to the complaint.

As litigation progress ,the parties will be collecting information and evidence about the case,through what is called the "discovery" process. They can collect information through depositions,which are oral examinaions of parties or witness under oath,and interrogatories,which are questions propounded by counsel in writing to the other party.Then,,at the end of the pleadings,results of discovery,and probable evidence are reviewed in an attempt to settle the suit.The issues may be further narrowed,and the judge may even predict the outcome in order to encourage settlement.If the case has not been terminated by dismissal,summary judgement,it must be set for trial.

P.S.美国民事诉讼的基本流程还包括Trial(opening statements,examination of witnesses,motions,charge to the jury,deliberations）、Verdict and Judgment.但基于楼主的要求，就只写到了审前程序。

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