What is 28 u.s.c. 1782?

28 U.S.C. 1782 is a United States federal law that pertains to judicial assistance in foreign and international proceedings. This statute allows foreign tribunals or litigants in foreign proceedings to request assistance from U.S. courts in order to obtain evidence or testimony within the U.S. It also allows U.S. courts to authorize and facilitate discovery for use in foreign proceedings. The law applies to both civil and criminal proceedings and has been used by parties in various international disputes, including international arbitration cases. However, there are limitations and restrictions to the application of 28 U.S.C. 1782, such as the requirement that the evidence sought must be for use in a proceeding outside of the United States and that the person seeking the evidence must not be able to obtain it through other means.