Are email printouts admissible in court, as supporting evidence to an alleged event.In example: An executor says she authorized the theft of...

Question

Are email printouts admissible in court, as supporting evidence to an alleged event.

In example: An executor says she authorized the theft of estate property, in an email

to me; can I present this to the court, as evidence supporting an allegation that she

authorized the theft of estate property?

Answer

As an admission against interest, it would be admissible hearsay. You would have to testify as to it being what it claims to be--a true copy of the e-mail, etc.

Answer

There are other authentication issues potentially. For example, how do you know the executor typed the e-mail? Was someone else sitting at the executor's computer? The best way to aythenticate a document such as this is through pre-trial discovery, such as a request for admission or deposition testimony confirming authorship.