ASTM E860-97

Standard Practice for Examining and Testing Items that Are or May Become Involved in Litigation

SCOPE
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for the examination and testing of actual items or systems (hereinafter termed evidence) that may have been involved in a specific incident that is or is reasonably expected to be the subject of products liability litigation. This practice is intended to become applicable when it is determined that examination or testing of the evidence is required. Testing, examination, and alterations that occur in the course of ordinary service or repair operations would not fall within the scope of this practice.  
1.2 For additional standards promulgated by ASTM Subcommittee E-30.40 on Technical Aspects of Products Liability Litigation, see Practice E620, E678, and E1020.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-1997
• ICS: 03.120.20 - Product and company certification. Conformity assessment
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.11 - Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E860-97(2006) - Standard Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2006
• Referred By: ASTM G145-08(2023) - Standard Guide for Studying Fire Incidents in Oxygen Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E3253-21 - Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Intact Explosives
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2292-21 - Standard Guide for Field Investigation of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incidents
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E1732-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E3329-21e1 - Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Explosive Residues
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2128-20 - Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E1492-11(2017) - Standard Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F561-19 - Standard Practice for Retrieval and Analysis of Medical Devices, and Associated Tissues and Fluids
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E860–97
Standard Practice for
Examining And Testing Items That Are Or May Become
Involved In Litigation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 860; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope tion, disassembly, or other action is likely to alter the nature,
state, or condition of the evidence so as to preclude or
1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines for the examination
adversely limit additional examination and testing.
and testing of actual items or systems (hereinafter termed
evidence) that may have been involved in a specific incident
4. Procedure
that is or is reasonably expected to be the subject of litigation.
4.1 The person, firm, or corporation conducting examina-
This practice is intended to become applicable when it is
tions or tests of the evidence must document the nature, state,
determined that examination or testing of evidence is required.
and condition of the evidence by descriptive, photo-graphic, or
1.2 For additional standards promulgated by ASTM Com-
other suitable methods prior to any test examina-tion, disas-
mittee E-30 on Forensic Sciences see Practice E 620, E 678,
sembly, or alteration. It should attempt to determine change(s),
and E 1020.
alteration(s)orcontaminationoftheevidencesubsequenttothe
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
incident, and report its findings.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 If proposed tests, examinations, or other actions are
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
likely to alter the nature, state, or condition of the evidence so
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
as to preclude or limit additional examination and testing, the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
person, firm, or corporation planning to perform the proposed
2. Referenced Documents action shall:
4.2.1 Notify its client that the proposed action is likely to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
alter the nature, state, or condition of the evidence so as to
E 620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Technical Ex-
preclude or limit additional examination or testing of the
perts
evidence.
E 678 Practice for Evaluation of Technical Data
2 4.2.2 Recommend that its client notify other interested
E 1020 Practice for Reporting Incidents
parties of the proposed action described in 4.2, and
E 1188 Practice for the Collection and Preservation of
4.2.3 Recommend to its client that other interested parties
Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investiga-
b
...