Uses and Examples of Digital Forensics and Computer Investigations – In working with attorneys around the world, we have found that the number one resource we have in our favor is a strong understanding of the legal system, and how our investigation will be used or viewed. This helps our attorney clients understand how the evidence we have found will help them or potentially hurt them.
By assisting attorneys in understanding what is technically important and what is not, we can greatly reduce the costs of an investigation by focusing on the areas that matter most.
The following table contains examples of how Digital Forensics can help you:
- Age Discrimination
- Locate Assets
- Breach of Contract
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty Cases
- Class Action Suits
- Conspiracy
- Contract and Commission Claims
- Copyright Infringement
- Data Misappropriation
- Data Recovery
- Data Theft
- Embezzlement
- Expert Consultation
- Expert Testimony
- Forensic Computer Analysis
- Fraud
- Implied Employment Contract Claims
- Negligence and Negligent Retention Claims
- Non Compete Clauses
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Sexual Harassment
- Slander and Libel Claims
- Software Infringement
- Trade Secret Misappropriation
- Trademark Infringement
- Whistleblower Claims
- Wrongful Discharge Cases
- Wrongful Termination
- Hidden Assets and Money Files
- Cellular Forensics
Successfully arguing a case means having the required information. In today’s digital world, this information is often stored on a computer or electronic media. Retrieving, analyzing and presenting this information is the realm of the computer forensics professional.Without the assistance of a private investigator who is also a computer forensics professional, you may be seeing only a small portion of the ultimate picture. Do not shortchange yourself, your case, or your client. Enlist the help of a private investigator who is also a digital forensics professional to find the information essential to your case.
To maintain an advantage, the modern attorney must seek and retrieve all of the information, whether electronic or paper, relating to their case. However, without specific knowledge of computer systems and data storage, attorneys are at a serious disadvantage. A digital forensics professional can help you identify potential sources of evidence and ultimately obtain, analyze and present this data. This could make the difference in your case.
Digital forensics can be used to uncover potential evidence in many types of cases including, for example:
- Copyright infringement
- Industrial espionage
- Money laundering
- Piracy
- Sexual harassment
- Theft of intellectual property
- Unauthorized access to confidential information
- Blackmail
- Corruption
- Decryption
- Destruction of information
- Fraud
- Illegal duplication of software
- Unauthorized use of a computer
- Child pornography
Digital forensics combines specialized techniques with the use of sophisticated software to view and analyze information that cannot be accessed by the ordinary user. This information may have been “deleted” by the user months or even years prior to the investigation, or may never have been saved to begin with – but it may still exist in whole or in part on the computer’s drive.
It is always in the best interest of the attorney, the client, and the matter to locate a forensics specialist who can assist in all stages of building a case, including:
- Ascertaining whether the computer(s) in question may contain information relevant to the matter.
- Assisting in preparing and responding to interrogatories.
- Retrieving and examining information that is accessible only through the use of forensics programs and methods.
- Developing court reports.
- Planning and providing expert testimony.
Contributed by:
Rick Crouch & Associates offers digital forensic services in civil, criminal and private matters. Rick Crouch & Associates provides complete, non-invasive computer investigation, analysis, recovery, evidence handling and search techniques on computer or network storage media. When performing recoveries for litigation, strict guidelines and protocols are followed to maintain positive control of evidence and content. Additionally, Rick Crouch & Associates provides support for civil and criminal litigation and expert court witnesses for testimonies and depositions.
