"Spoilation of evidence" is a term that means the destruction of evidence.
"Aside perhaps from perjury, no act serves to threaten the integrity of the judicial process more than the spoliation of evidence. Our adversarial process is designed to tolerate human failings—erring judges can be reversed, uncooperative counsel can be shepherded, and recalcitrant witnesses compelled to testfy. But, when critical documents go missing, judges and litigants alike descend into a world of ad hocery and half measures—and our civil justice system suffers. To guard against this, each party in litigation is solemnly bound to preserve potentially relevant evidence." (United Medical Supply Co. v. United States, 77 Fed. Cl. 257, 259 (Fed. Cl. 2007).)
For further information:
- American Bar Association, The Duty to Preserve Evidence
- Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., Spoilation of Evidence in All 50 States
