evidence.’” Pension Comm., 685 F. Supp. 2d at 467 (quoting Fed. R. Evid. 401). Moreover, for the court to issue sanctions, the absence of the evidence must be prejudicial to the party alleging spoliation of evidence. Id.; see Consol. Aluminum Corp. v. Alcoa, Inc., 244 F.R.D. 335, 346 (M.D. La. 2006) (noting that, in determining whether an adverse inference is warranted, the “‘relevance’ factor” involves not only relevance but also “whether the non-destroying party has suffered prejudice from the destruction of the evidence”); see also Rimkus, 688 F. Supp. 2d at 616 (quoting Consol. Aluminum Corp., 244 F.R.D. at 346). Put another way, a finding of “relevance” for purposes of spoliation sanctions is a two-pronged finding of relevance and prejudice. Spoliation of evidence causes prejudice when, as a result of the spoliation, the party claiming spoliation cannot present “evidence essential to its underlying claim.” Krumwiede, 2006 WL 1308629, at *10 (noting that even if the files were only modified and not deleted, “the changes to the file metadata call the authenticity of the files and their content into question and make it impossible for [the defendant] to rely on them”).
“Prejudice can range along a
continuum from an inability to prove claims or defenses to little or no impact on the presentation of proof.” Rimkus, 688 F. Supp. 2d at 613. Generally, courts find prejudice where a party’s ability to present its case or to defend is compromised. E.g., Silvestri, 271 F.3d at 593-94 (significant prejudice resulted when plaintiff’s failure to preserve vehicle after accident giving rise to litigation “substantially denied the defendant the ability to defend the claim”). However, at least one court has found that the delayed production of evidence causes prejudice. See Jones, 2010 WL 2106640, at *8-9 (noting that the defendant’s one-year delay in producing documents caused prejudice to the plaintiff). The court considers prejudice to the party and “prejudice to the judicial system.” Krumwiede, 2006 WL 1308629, at *11. 69