Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors
Should we give independent contractor's phone number to a process server that stopped by?
A process server (off-duty officer) wants the phone number of an independent contractor who has done work for us. Am I violating rights by giving it out? or am I required to give it out? Only qualified legal opinions please.
Public Comments
- You don't have to give the information and it is probably better if you don't get involved.
- It's entirely up to you. No law against withholding this information in a civil matter. You could be subpoened to provide this info which could result in having to make the disclosure unless the subpoena were quashed. If this were a criminal case, you may be required to give the info or you could be charged with impeding an investigation among other offenses.
- Not to criticize, but you do know that Y!Answers specifically disclaims that no answer given you can be taken as legal advice, right? And you also know that the only way to get a qualified legal opinion is to ask a lawyer in the jurisdiction you are under, right? But in any event, without giving where you are, how can anyone actually tell you what is legal in your area? My take would be that, if the number was publicly listed in the phone book you wouldn't be violating anything. Then again, the server could find that out himself if that were the case. There's also nothing keeping you from asking the server if he has a warrant or subpoena or consent for the release of that information from you. That puts the ball in his court to tell you that he is authorized to receive it, and a reasonable person would probably believe that. Good luck, though. I hope you get an answer that works for you!
