This page within Virginia Tort Case Law is a compilation of cases reported by the Virginia Supreme Court and summarized by Brien Roche dealing with the topic of Documentary Evidence and the related topic of personal injury. For more information on the topic of evidence see the pages on Wikipedia.
Documentary Evidence-Statutes
See Va. Code § 8.1-202 (UCC) indicating that judicial notice will be taken of authenticity of documents authorized or required by contract to be issued by third party.
Documentary Evidence-Cases
1983 Taylor v. Maritime Overseas Corp., 224 Va. 562, 299 S.E.2d 340.
Official Coast Guard report was held to be within official written statements exception to hearsay rule, per Va. Code § 8.01-390. Report not admissible because not properly authenticated.
1982 Southern States Coop. v. Doggett, 223 Va. 650, 292 S.E.2d 331.
Poison case. Even if bag containing poison was not properly authenticated such was harmless error in light of testimony given.
1982 Walters v. Littleton, 223 Va. 446, 290 S.E.2d 839.
Medical bills deemed to be authentic because they were regular on their face, consistent with plaintiff’s testimony, and authenticity was not directly challenged. Writings may be authenticated by circumstantial evidence.
1975 Murphy v. Holiday Inns, Inc., 216 Va. 490, 219 S.E.2d 874.
Construction of written documents is exclusively for court.
