Evidence Integrity Resources
Practical guides, case law summaries, and downloadable tools for legal professionals managing digital evidence.
Downloadable Tools
Free and ungated. No email required.
PDF · 1 page
Spoliation Prevention Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for implementing evidence preservation under FRCP 37(e).
Covers litigation hold, collection, ongoing management, and pre-trial steps.
Download PDFPDF · 2 pages
FRE 902(13) Certification Template
A fillable template for self-authenticating electronic records under Federal Rules of Evidence 902(13) and 902(14).
Includes instructions on who qualifies, notice requirements, and SHA-256 hash commands.
Download PDFPDF · 1 page
Evidence Integrity Cost Analysis
Case law consequences and cost comparisons for evidence integrity failures.
Covers Zubulake, Allied Concrete, Guarisco, Victor Stanley, and Lorraine v. Markel.
Download PDFGuides
How to Authenticate Digital Evidence Under FRE 902(13)
A practical guide to self-authenticating digital evidence through written certification. Learn the SHA-256 workflow, certification requirements, and common pitfalls.
12 min read
Evidence Spoliation Sanctions: What They Cost and How to Prevent Them
Real cases, real sanctions. From Zubulake's $29.3M verdict to Allied Concrete's $542K penalty, see what evidence spoliation actually costs — and the preservation strategies that prevent it.
10 min read
Body Camera Footage Chain of Custody for Defense Attorneys
Defense attorneys receive body cam footage with no chain of custody. Here's how to maintain evidence integrity from download to trial using hash verification and access logging.
11 min read
Digital Evidence FAQ
Answers to the 12 most common questions about digital evidence authentication, chain of custody, FRE 902(13), and spoliation prevention.
15 min read
Case Law Reference
Evidence authentication
Lorraine v. Markel (D. Md. 2007)
All digital evidence excluded because neither party authenticated it. 101-page opinion became the roadmap for digital evidence authentication.
ESI preservation
Zubulake v. UBS Warburg (S.D.N.Y. 2003–05)
Failure to preserve emails resulted in a $29.3M verdict with adverse inference instructions. Established the foundational duty to preserve.
Evidence deletion
Allied Concrete v. Lester (Va. 2011)
Attorney directed client to delete Facebook evidence. Result: $542K sanctions, $180K fees, and license suspension.
Evidence alteration
Guarisco v. Boh Bros. (E.D. La. 2009)
Digitally altered photograph in discovery triggered sanctions. SHA-256 hashing proves integrity and prevents this scenario.
Digital forensic methodology
State v. Casey Anthony (Fla. 2011)
Authentication gaps and a flawed forensic tool undermined the prosecution's digital evidence case. Chain of custody documentation is the defense.
See FileSworn in Action
FileSworn generates self-authenticating evidence certificates automatically — SHA-256 hash verification, chain of custody logs, and 28 U.S.C. § 1746 certification in a single document.