Perlman Doctrine Law and Legal Definition
Perlman doctrine refers to a legal principle that a discovery order directed at a third party can be appealed immediately on the theory that the third party will not risk contempt by refusing to comply. The standard was set in the case Perlman v. United States, 247 U.S. 7 (U.S. 1918), where the court held that where a court enters an order allowing the United States access to exhibits in a prior case for use in a criminal investigation against an individual, such individual is not powerless to avert the mischief of the order because it is interlocutory, accept its incidence, and seek a remedy at some other time and in some other way, but may seek appellate review of such order.
