The cost of litigation has always been a bane for the enterprise; many argue that expense of legal suits inhibits innovation and the advancement of business into local and international markets. But a consideration for litigation costs and rules has come to the table at the U.S. federal level — one that could have an impact on the overall cost for companies brought to court.

The U.S. federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules is considering amendments to discovery rules that would lower litigation costs. Jon Kyl, a former Republican senator for Arizona, and member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, applied his thoughts to the matter for the Wall Street Journal, writing:

“Since 2010, discovery expenses have risen sharply; the median cost is now $1.8 million per case, according to research by the RAND Institute for Civil Justice. The rapid escalation is due largely to court rules that require preserving and accessing vast amounts of irrelevant electronic information.”