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Software CSI -- Effects of Computer-Resident Evidence

Software CSI -- Effects of Computer-Resident Evidence. September 12, 2008 Southern California Software Process Improvement Network (SCSPIN) John Cosgrove, P.E., Fellow NAFE Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc. JCosgrove@computer.org , www.CosgroveComputer.com. Outline.

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Software CSI -- Effects of Computer-Resident Evidence

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  1. Software CSI--Effects of Computer-Resident Evidence September 12, 2008 Southern California Software Process Improvement Network (SCSPIN) John Cosgrove, P.E., Fellow NAFE Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc. JCosgrove@computer.org, www.CosgroveComputer.com

  2. Outline • Part I - Computer Issues 3 • Part II – Doing the Work 8 • Example Case 13 • Summary 14 Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  3. Part I – Computer Issues • Computer Issues • Impacts on Litigation • E-Discovery & New Federal Rules • ESI Evidence - Software CSI Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  4. Computer Issues • Most evidence is computer resident • Volume of billions & trillions (GB & TB) common • Automated assistance required • Computer Forensics • Computer evidence handling • Chain of custody • CSI-type bag & tag – ESI version • Data recovery - deleted and archived • Establishing authenticity - Metadata • Electronic discovery – new Federal Rules • Electronically Stored Information (ESI) defined Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  5. Impacts on Litigation • Most cases involve ESI in some way • Electronic discovery standards • New Federal Rules for E-discovery – 12/1/06 • May need to help counsel write subpoena for discovery of evidentiary data • Standard-of-Care not yet established • Legal name for process maturity • Projects with computer components • E.g., Water system SCADA • Computer-aided-design Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  6. E-Discovery New FedRules -12/1/06 • “…most court battles … some electronically-stored information.“ (ESI) • Includes electronic documents as discoverable • Recognizes need for special guidance for e-documents • E-documents often exponentially larger in magnitude • Context, environment, collateral content, etc., often critical • Special rules for non-active (i.e., deleted) files Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  7. ESI Evidence – Software CSI • Computer evidence handling • Separate issue from E-discovery • Chain-of-custody rules for electronic data • E.G., ESI version of “bag and tag” • Rules for computer evidence • Forensic software at work – why Encase? • Inherently invisible evidence • Protect integrity of evidence • Adapt legal precedents for authenticity • Avoiding being challenged -- reproducibility • Added Issues in Criminal Proceedings • Establish reliable common evidence baseline Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  8. Part II -- Doing the Work • Litigation Fact Finding • Finding the Critical Facts in Gigabytes • Making Technical Issues Understandable • Subpoena wording • Example case Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  9. Litigation Fact-finding Data, deleted and otherwise Allegations, counterclaims Extraction Expert “Crushing” amounts of Emails, Documents, Records Data Expert Domain Expert Data Expert Issues, Timelines, Narratives Tech↔ Legal Translator Opinion Myself Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc. Source – M Chock

  10. Finding the Critical Facts in Gigabytes • Size matters • Tools and techniques must match size • Analogy with foundation of multi-story building • Information may be buried in GB of unsearchable print-image files • Common tactic by opposition • Document “provenance” lost • Metadata is electronic provenance • Subtle modifications can occur • Organizing data and extracting meaning • 10s of Ks of project emails, status, etc • Use appropriate tools – SSs, character analysis, etc. Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  11. Making Technical Issues Understandable • Legal concept of “Teaching the court” • Insist on foundation building with technical issues • Problem is magnified for jury trials • Creative use of analogies is effective • Example of analogy to explain buffering • Show complex event interactions in timelines - SS • Make explanation separate from proof • Avoid MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over) • Separate Summary opinion from fully substantiated Analysis with references • Plausible explanation section often useful for counsel Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  12. Subpoena wording • All information for Project #x, dates 12/0x - 3/0y. • Any form such as paper, scanned images or ESI files. ESI form preferred (Fed. Rule) • If Electronic • Media - disk drives or tape storage • Attributes - “metadata” must be included • Database (e.g. emails) or log-file entry – entire file with context • Custom Application (e.g. AutoCAD) issues Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  13. Example Case – Show Chronology of Issues Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

  14. Summary • Computer Technology is involved in most litigation • Trend is for this to increase • Some computer skills needed in most technical cases: • Find the relevant evidence • Organize the complexity • Interpret the meaning Cosgrove Computer Systems Inc.

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