Under Rule 1002, the original writing must be produced to prove its content unless an exception applies. In which scenario is this required?

• A. A duplicate is admissible in all cases.
• B. A summarized version is always sufficient.
• C. The original writing must be produced to prove its content unless an exception applies.
• D. Parol evidence is never allowed.

Answer: (C)

The concept at work is that to prove what a writing says, you normally must present the original document. This rule is about reliability: the exact text is best shown by the physical document itself rather than by memory or a paraphrase. However, there are exceptions. If the original is lost, destroyed, or cannot be obtained with due diligence, or if there’s a genuine question about its authenticity, other proof—such as a duplicate, a sworn statement about the content, or other admissible evidence—may be used to prove what the writing says. That’s why the statement that the original must be produced to prove its content unless an exception applies is the correct framing.