If emails are collected by having the emails forwarded from the source custodian or client, there can be issues with this approach:
Loss of Metadata Integrity: When clients forward emails, metadata such as sender information, timestamps, and email routing details may be altered or lost. This can impact the accuracy and reliability of the email's context within the eDiscovery process.
Incomplete or Inaccurate Chain of Custody: Forwarded emails may not have a complete chain of custody, making it difficult to establish the authenticity and reliability of the email as evidence in legal proceedings. This can raise questions about the email's integrity and admissibility in court.
Risk of Data Alteration: Clients forwarding emails might unintentionally or intentionally alter the content, attachments, or headers of the emails. This can raise concerns about data tampering, which is a significant issue in maintaining the integrity of electronic evidence.
Inconsistencies in Data Collection: Different clients may forward emails in various formats or with varying levels of completeness. This can lead to inconsistencies in data collection, making it challenging to organize and review emails efficiently during eDiscovery.
Increased Manual Effort: Handling forwarded emails often requires manual intervention to verify and validate the content, correct metadata discrepancies, and ensure data integrity. This can result in increased time and effort spent on email collection and processing.
GoldFynch will process and extract metadata from native emails in various formats, such as MSG, EML, and EMLX. Additionally, native emails can be uploaded in archive/bulk formats such as PST, OST, OLM, and MBOX. If you need to collect emails from your client's email accounts, we can also directly pull emails from various email providers through add-on services.