[OutOfHere]

Yes, the legal way is to lose the device in a boating accident, so to speak. The federal government itself has routinely lost hard drives in this manner that were subject to litigation.

More seriously, you're spot-on about setting a short retention policy. It's the primary rational way.

I hope that people can understand when I'm playing devil's advocate when no one else will.

[ceejayoz]

TL;DR: A retention policy is fine. A new retention policy the day you get a subpoena for your records is not.

[erik_seaberg]

When you have reason to expect litigation you have to start excluding relevant docs from your normal retention policy.