Forensic Imaging – Electronic Discovery Law

Jordan Khan Music Co. v. Taglioli (E.D. Tex. 2022)

May 12 2022

Key Insight: Plaintiffs moved to compel the forensic examination of defendants’ devices and data storage for imaging and inspection, along with their licenses for all software used for their businesses. Plaintiffs claimed the discovery was relevant to their RICO claim, alleging continued criminal copyright infringement of unlicensed software as a predicate act. Defendants claimed forensic examination would be vastly disproportionate to the issue. The court agreed with defendants and denied plaintiffs’ motion to compel, finding the forensic examination would allow plaintiffs to become privy to information beyond the scope of audio software and they could engage in the discovery process in a less invasive but still worthwhile manner. Accordingly, the court ordered that defendant revise their boilerplate objections and respond to plaintiffs discovery requests to identify computers, storage mediums and software used in Defendants’ business within a specific time frame.

Nature of Case: Trademark Infringement

Electronic Data Involved: Electronic Devices, Computers, Software

Case Summary

Measured Wealth Private Client, Grp., LLC v. Foster (S.D. Fla., Mar. 2021)

Key Insight: Plaintiff filed a Motion to Compel Forensic Examination to permit inspection of the Defendant’s cellular phone. Specifically, the Plaintiff sought iMessages and text messages for a 12-month period. The Defendant asserted that the temporal scope of the messages sought was too broad, the messages could be obtained from other sources, and the examination of the phone for such a long time period was a “mere fishing expedition”.

The Court directed that the forensic examination proceed with an agreed upon independent expert to examine a forensic image of the phone with the Plaintiff paying for the initial fees and costs for doing so. In such an image was not feasible, then the expert was to acquire as much data as possible from the device to allow for the recovery of the iMessages and text messages. The Court noted that the Defendant had been “obstructionist” in responding to Plaintiff’s initial discovery requests (which sought the above described messages), and expressed concern about the Defendant providing complete production of all requested documents in the litigation.

Nature of Case: Employment

Electronic Data Involved: Text Messages, iMessages, Cellular Phone

Case Summary

Carrington v Graden, (S.D.N.Y. 2020)

Sep 28 2020

Key Insight: Plaintiff was discovered to have fabricated emails. Court awarded over $500,000 in damages to Defendant.

Nature of Case: antitrust litigation

Electronic Data Involved: Emails

Keywords: sanctions,m fabricated evidence

View Case Opinion

Densen v. The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints (D. Utah 2020)

Jun 29 2020

Key Insight: A forensic imaging of Plaintiff’s electronic devices and cloud based accounts was warranted because Plaintiff lost relevant evidence during the discovery process and continually made misrepresentations regarding this evidence and how it was stored. The forensic imaging would preserve any evidence and possible recover evidence that has been loss. This would not be an invasion of privacy as Plaintiff’s privacy can be adequately protected. A third party service provider can image the devices and collect the data. Counsel would not have access to any of the data until after the court approves a review plan, which would implement additional safeguards to ensure there is no access to irrelevant or private information.

Nature of Case: Sexual Assault, Fraud

Electronic Data Involved: Audio Recording, Cloud Based Account Data, Electronic Device Data

Case Summary

U.S. v. Morgan (Western District of New York, 2020)

Mar 06 2020

Key Insight: encryption

Nature of Case: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; Money Laundering conspiracy

Electronic Data Involved: Servers, computers, storage media, iPhone

Keywords: Search warrant; “GrayKey” program to access passcodes; Unreasonable retention of the iPhone; Motion for Return of Property; 3 part test – 1.entitled to possession, 2. property not contraband, 3. either seizure was illegal or the government’s need for the property as evidence has ended; evidentiary burden

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Lawson v. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc. (M.D. Penn. 2020)

Feb 17 2020

Key Insight: The court denied Plaintiffs’ requests for additional text message discovery or the forensic imaging of cell phone data. The court emphasized the privacy implications of producing broad cell phone data, which often contain “the most intimate of persona details on a host of matters, many of which may be entirely unrelated to issues in specific litigation.”

The court recognized “a more narrowly tailored request, supported by a more specific showing of relevance, might be appropriate.” The court directed the parties to work together to come to an agreement regarding the scope of a “carefully tailored, relevant search for such data.” Only if the parties cannot reach an agreement, would the court intercede.

Nature of Case: Fair Labor Standards Act, Employment Law

Electronic Data Involved: Text Messages, Cell Phone Data

Case Summary

Healthplan Serv., Inc. v. Dixit, et al (M.D. Florida, 2019)

Dec 19 2019

Key Insight: withholding discovery on the basis that forensic imaging isn’t under the scope

Nature of Case: trade secrets, unfair trade practices, unfair competition

Electronic Data Involved: Defendant’s laptop and associated harddrives

Keywords: scrubbed metadata, forensic imaging, hard drives, scope of discovery, bad faith litigation

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In re Apple Inc. (D. Md., 2019)

Aug 22 2019

Key Insight: whether plaintiff’s privacy rights outweigh apple’s interest in information re phone performance, updates, etc.

Nature of Case: consumer protection

Electronic Data Involved: forensic imaging

Keywords: forensic imaging iphone

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Hardy v. UPS Ground Freight, Inc. (D. Mass., 2019)

Jul 22 2019

Key Insight: whether failure to provide text messages talked was spoliation of evidence

Nature of Case: employment discrimination

Electronic Data Involved: forensic imaging of plaintiff’s cell phone, relevant text messages

Keywords: text messages, forensic imaging of cell phone, spoliation

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In The Matter of the Search of A White Google Pixel 3 XL Cellphone in a Black Incipio Case (District of Idaho, 2019)

Jul 22 2019

Key Insight: whether a serach warrant can require someone to be forced to unlock a phone with their finger

Nature of Case: search warrant, violation of 5th amendment

Electronic Data Involved: forensic search of a cell phone that is locked with a fingerprint

Keywords: cellphone, fingerprint scanner, 5th amendment rights

View Case Opinion

Tag:Forensic Imaging