1. Finding & Backgrounding People Research Madness March 22, 2010

2. When Do You Need to Research People? You are searching for a job and want to learn more about the employees at a firm. You are conducting client development. You need to find the address of a defendant for proper service of process. You need to identify experts in a field. You are appearing before a judge and want to know more about her record. Others?

3. Specialized Directories Directories of Courts & Judges research guideDirectories of Courts & Judges Directories of Lawyers research guideDirectories of Lawyers Directories of Expert Witnesses –Zimmerman’s Research GuideZimmerman’s Research Guide –WorldCat: Witnesses—United States— DirectoriesWitnesses—United States— Directories

4. Words of Warning Today’s focus is on freely-available resources, or subscription resources which are available to Duke users. Your law firm may have access to a wider variety of premium people-finding tools: –Westlaw PeopleMap (or WestlawNext)Westlaw PeopleMap –LexisNexis SmartLinxLexisNexis SmartLinx

5. Key to Successful Fact Research When you need to research any factual information, consider this question: “Who cares?” The answer will determine the best starting place to find the facts you need.

6. The “Who Cares” Rule The “Who cares?” principle also applies to people-finding, but could be adjusted to: “Who knows?” Consider the amount of information we give out about ourselves regularly.

7. The Government FederalStateCounty/Local Social Security Administration Internal Revenue Service Federal Election Commission: campaign contributions DMV Tax department Other licensing boards (professional & recreational) County clerk: vital records (born, married, divorced, died) Tax assessor: Real property & some assets Board of Education Public library: records & contact info

8. Data Brokers There are also a lot of private companies that know a lot about you! –ChoicePoint (purchased by LexisNexis) –Intelius Marketers buy this information and use it to target advertising. –Do Not Call: https://www.donotcall.gov/https://www.donotcall.gov/ –Stop Credit Card Offers: https://www.optoutprescreen.com https://www.optoutprescreen.com

9. People-Finding Tools & Strategies

10. Basic Web Searches Google (with advanced search tips)Googleadvanced search tips Pipl: search by name, email address, online username, phone numbersPipl Birthdatabase: limited birthday & address information; links to premium reportsBirthdatabase ZoomInfo: free front-end to Intelius; links to premium reportsZoomInfo

11. Addresses & Phone Numbers Anywho: online phone directory; current listings only (no cellular)Anywho FoneFinder: Number information lookupFoneFinder Westlaw: NEWMOVERS databaseWestlaw LexisNexis: Locate a Person Nationwide database (Public Records > View More Sources) ; includes current & past addressesLexisNexis Google Maps & Bing Maps for satellite viewsGoogle MapsBing Maps

12. Vital Records Generally held at county level.county level “Public record” ≠ “free on the Internet”! Minimum requirement: available upon inspection. Research/copying service may be available (for a fee). Some governments will make records available online.Some governments

13. Asset Searches Real property records are generally available at the county government level.county government –Durham County (NC)Durham County (NC) –Orange County (NC)Orange County (NC) Commercial data brokers may be able to access more asset information. Unclaimed.org: Does someone owe you?Unclaimed.org

14. Political Information Voter registration: also county government level. Searchability will vary. –Durham County (NC): gives back addressesDurham County (NC) –Los Angeles County (CA): adds required fieldsLos Angeles County (CA) Campaign contributions –FEC SearchFEC Search –OpenSecretsOpenSecrets –State searches will vary

15. Professionals LinkedIn: some info publicly visibleLinkedIn Employer directories –Governments (may include salaries)salaries –Academic sector –Company information resources (3/26 workshop) usually include key personnel Presentations/activities (experts)

16. Bad Professionals Information on license status and disciplinary proceedings are generally kept at state government level. Doctors: State Medical Boards [NC]NC Lawyers: State Bar [NC]NC Electricians [NC]NC Plumbers [NC]NC

17. Brushes with the Law Current inmates (and some past) –Federal: Bureau of PrisonsFederal –State: Departments of Corrections [NC]NC Criminal history –CriminalSearches.com (limited info)CriminalSearches.com –Megan’s Law registries [NC]NC –Local papers may include police reports. [NY]NY Lawsuits –Docket & case research (3/29 workshop)

18. The Inevitable Death certificates are maintained at the county level. Social Security Death Index: Deaths reported to SSA.Social Security Death Index Obituaries can provide a wealth of information about a person– and their survivors. –America’s NewspapersAmerica’s Newspapers –Local papers, again

19. Pitfalls of People-Finding Privacy concerns –“Legitimate purpose” –Identity theft risks –Human-flesh search enginesHuman-flesh search engines Ethical concerns (pretexting) Data errors –Sound-alike names –Misspellings –Incorrect information – no warranties

21. Questions? Jennifer L. Behrens Reference Librarian behrens@law.duke.edu (919) 613-7198 Zimmerman’s Research Guide Directories of Courts & Judges Directories of Lawyers LexisNexis Westlaw

22. Upcoming Research Madness THIS WEEKNEXT WEEK MON.Finding & Backgrounding People Finding Forms, Court Rules, & Court Filings TUE.Course Selection & Career Planning (3043) Essential Elements of the 2L Job Search (12:15; rm 3041) WED.Free & Low-Cost Legal Research THU.Tackling Tax Research FRI.Business & Company Information