Spoliation of Evidence: A Primer

1) Legal Scope of Spoliation
2) Jurisdictional Scope
3) Learning Objectives
4) Origins of Spoliation – Armory v. Delamire
a) first published spoliation opinion
b) facts
c) holding
5) Definition of Spoliation
6) Smith v. Superior Court
a) intentional spoliation as a tort
b) facts
c) holdings
7) Velasco v. Commercial Building Maintenance Co.
a) negligent spoliation as a tort
b) facts
c) holdings
8) Recap
9) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 1 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Elements of Spoliation
2) Analysis Framework
a) who destroyed evidence
b) when was evidence destroyed
c) how was evidence destroyed
d) so, what – effect on case
e) what else – alternative proof
3) who destroyed evidence
a) a party to underlying suit
i) injured party -plaintiff
ii) tortfeasor – defendant
b) non-party to underlying suit
i) lawyer
ii) expert
iii) adjuster
iv) storage company
c) impact on separate cause for spoliation
d) impact on remedy
4) When was evidence destroyed
a) before litigation
b) after litigation
i) suit filed
ii) specific discovery request
iii) general discovery request
iv) notice and duty to preserve evidence
5) Reasonableness Standard
6) Recap
7) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 2 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) When was evidence destroyed (continued)
a) before litigation
b) notice and foreseeability of litigation
2) Plaintiffs
a) notice before suit
b) anticipate initiating litigation
3) Defendants
a) Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Johnson
i) Christmas reindeer falls and injures plaintiff
ii) plaintiff leaves store contending all is well
iii) Wal-Mart disposes of reindeer in normal course of business
iv) Held: No notice; no spoliation
b) duty to preserve evidence
i) party knows or reasonably should know
ii) substantial chance of a claim or suit
iii) evidence in its control is material and relevant
c) Martino v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
i) shopping cart collapses on plaintiff’s arm
ii) plaintiff meets with assistant manager . . .
(1) shows him the cart
(2) asks him to get the surveillance tapes
iii) Wal-Mart cannot produce items for discovery
iv) held: sufficient notice; therefore spoliation
4) Remedies Against Parties
a) cannot be a separate cause of action
b) sanctions
i) striking evidence
ii) striking witness
iii) dismissal of suit
iv) default judgment
v) barring damages
vi) presumption that evidence was unfavorable to spoliator
vii) other
c) presumption instruction is rebuttable
5) Other matters creating a duty for non-parties
a) statute
b) contract
c) voluntary assumption
6) Recap
7) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 3 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) No Common Law Duty to Preserve
a) Williams v. State of California
i) truck’s brake drum struck plaintiff
ii) police investigated but did not affirmatively seek out
evidence
iii) held: no duty on police to collect and preserve evidence
b) Royal & Sunalliance v. Lauderdale Marine
i) Yacht fire caused by yacht cleaners
ii) Marina discarded debris
iii) Held: no common law duty
c) Silhan v. Allstate
i) fire damaged home
ii) Allsate preserved the suspected Sear’s dishwasher
iii) Allstate allowed home restoration
iv) Sears desired to investigate other potential causes
v) homeowners lost on Motion to Dismiss
vi) homeowners sue Allstate for Spoliation
vii) held
(1) HO Policy did not create contractual duty
(2) unfair practices act did not create statutory duty
(3) insurers per se have no common law duty (absent
specific notice)
2) Costs and Retention Expenses
a) Informal Agreements
i) purchasing
ii) contract for storage
b) Court fashioned agreements
c) Notice/Reasonableness
3) Non-party Protection
a) subpoenas
b) court protection
4) Recap
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 4 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Hypothetical 1
a) how does adjuster terminate voluntarily assumed duty
i) letters to potentially interested parties
ii) provide reasonable time to respond
iii) explain consequences
iv) use certified and regular mail
v) telephone call as follow up
b) terminating duty as to unknown parties
2) How was evidence destroyed
a) intentionally or unintentionally
b) impact on severity of sanctions
3) So What – effect on losing evidence
a) prejudice to innocent party
b) practical importance of lost evidence
4) What else
a) was there prejudice
b) can it be cured with other evidence
5) Elements of Spoliation
6) Recap
7) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 5 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Coverage for Spoliation
&nbspa) general rule
&nbsp    &nbspi) property damage
&nbsp    &nbspii) bodily injury
&nbsp    &nbspiii) intangible interest
&nbspb) intentional act
&nbspc) property owned by the insured
2) Hypothetical 2 – Air Boat Accident
&nbspa) personal injury
&nbspb) underlying tort action
&nbspc) reservation of rights and dec action
&nbspd) notification to the insured to preserve
&nbspe) documenting condition of evidence
&nbspf) securing evidence
&nbspg) storage methods
&nbsph) availability of evidence for inspection
&nbspi) alteration of evidence
&nbspj) sale of evidence
&nbspk) chain of possession
3) Recap
4) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 5 materials
&nbspa) 5 multiple choice questions
&nbspb) 4 choices per question
&nbspc) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz