Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_91-cv-01057/USCOURTS-cand-4_91-cv-01057-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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Case No. C-91-1057-CW 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JUDI BARI, et al., 

 Plaintiffs, 

 v. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al., 

 Defendants. 

Case No. C-91-1057-CW 

ORDER CONCERNING THE DELIVERY 

AND HANDLING OF EVIDENCE FOR 

EXAMINATION 

 

 In furtherance of the Court’s Order of March 31, 2012 (Doc. #686), for good cause 

shown, and based on the non-opposition of the federal Defendants, the Court hereby finds and 

orders as follows: 

 The term “the Evidence,” as used in this Order, means and includes the following items, 

as discussed in the proceedings giving rise to this Order, and as summarized in the March 21, 

2011 Order by Magistrate Judge James Larson (Doc. #672): 

all components and remnants of the Oakland and Cloverdale bombs, along 

with the “LP Screws Millworkers” sign, the “lifted” fingerprints, and any 

fingerprint analysis. 

The Evidence does not include incendiary powder said to have been previously removed from 

the Cloverdale bomb. 

 Plaintiff has requested that the Evidence be transferred to Forensic Analytical Sciences, 

Inc., an independent criminal laboratory located in Hayward, California, for examination and 

testing under the supervision of C. Alan Keel, its DNA Section Technical Leader. 

 According to Plaintiff’s proffer, filed on December 3, 2012, Forensic Analytical 

Sciences, Inc. is a nationally accredited criminal laboratory specializing in providing “a wide 

variety of services to the criminal and civil justice community, including trace evidence analysis, 

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DNA typing by PCR-based methods, gunshot residue analysis, firearms evidence examination, 

crime scene reconstruction, and a host of other analytical services.” (see 

http://www.forensica.com/_default.asp?x=home_au.htm). The laboratory is located at 

3777 Depot Road, Suite 403 

Hayward, CA 94545 

 Forensic Analytical Sciences is accredited by Forensic Quality Services, under the ANSIASQ National Accreditation Board (see http://fqsforensics.org) by “assessors [who] are experts 

from industry, the U.S. government and military, other accreditation bodies (both domestic and 

international), and the international laboratory and accreditation community.” (See 

http://fqsforensics.org/accreditation.aspx). Plaintiff submitted in support of his proffer on 

December 3, 2012 a copy of Forensic Analytical Sciences’ current certificate of accreditation by 

Forensic Quality Services and scope of accreditation. 

 Among its services, Forensic Analytical Sciences provides DNA and forensic biology 

analysis, toxicology, pathology, impression evidence analysis (e.g. fingerprints, shoeprints, and 

tire tracks), trace evidence examination (including fiber, glass, hair, and paint), ballistics 

analysis, gunshot residue analysis, document examination, and forensic photography analysis. 

(See http://www.forensica.com/fasc/_default.asp?x=fsd_oview.htm). 

 C. Alan Keel is Forensic Analytical Sciences’ DNA Section Technical Leader. 

According to Forensic Analytical Sciences’ website, 

Mr. Keel is responsible for consultative, analytical and expert witness 

testimony services on a wide variety of cases involving biological 

material. He has been doing forensic DNA casework and expert testimony 

for over 30 years and possesses knowledge and experience in the area of 

DNA analysis including isolation of biological materials and subsequent 

preparation, analysis and interpretation using PCR and traditional 

serological techniques. Mr. Keel is also a court certified expert in latent 

fingerprint analysis as well shoeprint and other impression evidence. 

pursuant to the FBI’s DNA analysis guidelines. 

(See http://www.forensica.com/fasc/_default.asp?x=fsd_team.htm). 

 According to Plaintiff’s proffer filed on December 3, 2012, Mr. Keel will work with 

Edward T. Blake, a Forensic DNA Expert with Forensic Analytical Sciences, whom the United 

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States recommended in 2000 when the parties agreed to allow Dr. Blake to develop DNA 

profiles from several other items of evidence related to this case. 

 Plaintiff submitted in support of his proffer copies of Mr. Keel’s curriculum vitae (see 

also, http://www.forensica.com/fasc/doc%5Ccv%5Cak.pdf), and summaries of Mr. Keel’s and 

Dr. Blake’s proficiency tests from 2011 and 2012. 

STORAGE, HANDLING, AND SHIPMENT OF THE EVIDENCE BY THE UNITED 

STATES TO FORENSIC ANALYTICAL SCIENCES; CHAIN OF CUSTODY 

 Within ten (10) days of the entry of this Order, Defendant United States, by and through 

its agents and officers, shall cause the Evidence to be delivered to Forensic Analytical Sciences, 

Inc., to the attention of C. Allen Keel, DNA Section Technical Leader, at 3777 Depot Road, 

Suite 403, Hayward, CA 94545, together with an inventory of the items delivered. 

 In all storage, handling, transportation, and delivery of the Evidence, the United States, 

through its agents and officers, shall “preserve [the Evidence] against loss, alteration, 

destruction, or contamination,” in accordance with Magistrate Judge James Larson’s March 21, 

2011 Order (Doc. #672), which is still in effect. 

 In aid of preservation, the United States shall follow the principles underlying Federal 

Rule of Evidence 901 (the “chain of custody rule”), as that rule has been interpreted and given 

effect by the courts, and by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 

their guidelines. 

 In particular, the United States shall: pack and transport the Evidence so that it does not 

break, degrade, or change form; handle it with gloves and other necessary protections against 

contamination; and keep a chain of custody log recording the identity, title, and agency/company 

of each person who helps receive, transport, or deliver any item of the Evidence, together with 

the locations, dates, and times of all pickups, transfers, and deliveries of the Evidence. 

EXAMINATION, HANDLING, AND STORAGE OF THE EVIDENCE 

BY FORENSIC ANALYTICAL SCIENCES 

 According to Plaintiff’s proffer filed on December 3, 2012, Forensic Analytical Sciences 

will receive the Evidence and inventory it in its regular course of business, through an 

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agent/employee whose specific job it is to receive such evidence for examination and testing. 

Forensic Analytical Sciences will then examine and test the Evidence, both visually and by 

taking and testing samples of areas most likely to contain biological markers, impressions, or 

other clues which may tend to reveal the identity/ies of those who constructed the bombs and/or 

helped carry out the bombings, or to narrow the field of potential suspects. Throughout the 

process, Forensic Analytical Sciences will handle and store the Evidence securely and so as to 

minimize loss, alteration, destruction, or contamination. Forensic Analytical Sciences will handle 

the Evidence in its own secure facility and store the Evidence in its own secure storage room. 

EXCHANGE OF RECORDS 

 Following delivery of the Evidence to Forensic Analytical Sciences, the United States 

shall produce a copy of the chain of custody log or other chain of custody record(s) to Plaintiff, 

together with copies of the inventory and any shipping labels or manifests, as discussed above. 

 Over the course of the examination of the Evidence by Forensic Analytical Sciences, 

Plaintiff shall produce to the United States copies of all photographs, reports, and/or other 

records generated by Forensic Analytical Sciences within ten (10) days of receiving each such 

record from Forensic Analytical Sciences. 

HANDLING OF THE EVIDENCE UPON CONCLUSION OF THE EXAMINATION 

 At the conclusion of its testing process Forensic Analytical Sciences shall return the 

Evidence to the FBI’s custody. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

 

Date HONORABLE CLAUDIA WILKEN 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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