Understanding how Private Investigators work can be the key to realizing how helpful they can be in your search to locate someone as a Mass Tort Attorney. The following will give you background information regarding some of the tools PI’s use to assist them in their quests.
Court Records
These records can hold personal and business information. Historical records can be a great resource for the right case.
Investigative Database
Private Investigators are able to access what is known as a professional-grade investigative database. This is a compilation of public records, telephone information, credit header information, social networking information, and more. Databases such as Accurint and TLO are only available to licensed Private Investigators.
Public Records
Just like court records, there is a plethora of information publicly available. Such public information includes corporation records, property transactions, and different types of government records. The issue PI’s face with public records is that they may be incomplete and it takes a while to sift through. A quicker way to go about searching is to utilize LexisNexis and Westlaw. These services compile millions of records into an easy-to-navigate database.
News Archives
Did you know that historical news coverage costs a hefty sum of money if you want to obtain it online? That is why Private Investigators use LexisNexis, Factica, and Proquest to access historical publications that are not available with a quick online search.
Social Networks
There are 1.6 billion active users on Facebook alone. 126 million active users on Twitter. These social networks, along with many other niche networks, contain a vast array of personal and business information that could help a Mass Tort Attorney when building a case and locating a person.
Trash
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. In many states, once your trash is tossed, it is no longer your personal property. You know all of those items you figure you don’t have to shred? Depending on the state in which you live, those documents become public domain.
Government Repositories
Examples of government repositories are state government records, lobbyists’ records, military records, federal government contract information, and Securities and Exchange Commission records. While this information is not available to simply access, you may be able to request it because of the Freedom of Information Act or similar legislation.
Internet
The internet can be a good place to begin a search for information, however, this information is notoriously wrong and/or incomplete. Any information found from a quick search would need to be verified with official records.
Human Intelligence
This category comes down to surveillance, contacting sources, and conducting interviews. Much of this aspect can be verifying information you already have, but it is also a good place to begin.
Motor Vehicle Department
You can find information here such as a person's height, weight, traffic infractions, and date of birth. In many states, this can be the only way to find out if a person has a DWI on their record. It depends on the state in which the person resides as some states classify such an infraction as a criminal offense. You can also determine if a license is suspended or if someone is behind on child support payments.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time it was written. It is not intended to provide legal advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome. Individual situations will differ and the law may have changed since publication. Readers considering legal action should consult with an attorney to understand current laws and how they may affect a case.