Original writing must ordinarily be produced.
Section 284
SEC. 284. Original writing must ordinarily be produced. — There can be no evidence of the contents of a writing, other than the writing itself, except in the following cases: 1. When the original has been lost or destroyed, in which case proof of the loss or destruction must first be made; 2. When the original is in possession of the party against whom the evidence is offered, and who fails to produce it after reasonable notice; 3. When the original is a record or other document in the custody of a public officer; 4. When the original has been recorded and a certified copy of the record is made evidence by the Code or other statute; 5. When the original consists of numerous accounts or other documents, which can not be examined in court without great loss of time and fact sought to be established from them is only the general result of the whole.