A comment from a retired attorney:
People who are contemplating a lawsuit against the elders and/or the Watchtower Society over action taken or not taken by the elders should be sure to tell their lawyers about the existence of the Shepherding the Flock of God book. In the event of a lawsuit, the lawyer would be able to obtain a copy as part of the discovery process since the contents of such a procedural manual can be used to show whether or not the elders were following Watchtower procedures in what they were doing. But, of course, the lawyer needs to know that such a book exists in order to ask for a copy.
Dogpatch
Review of book on Freeminds.org: http://www.freeminds.org/organization/governing-body/the-watchtower-s-shocking-2010-elders-manual.html