A solicitor approached our firm for assistance in establishing the postal addresses of witnesses in a case involving compensation for an injury arising in the workplace. A key challenge was the lack of co-operation from the workplace, which consistently refused to provide the contact details of its employees, hiding behind data protection legislation.
Witnesses, although willing to testify, were under pressure from the employer, who suggested potential professional consequences for their involvement in the case. All correspondence addressed to employees at the company’s address was returned with the notation ‘incorrect address’, further complicating the lawyer’s situation.
The court, in response to the situation, obliged the lawyer to provide the correct addresses for serving summonses on witnesses. Otherwise, it threatened to end the trial without hearing the witnesses, which could significantly affect the outcome of the case.
Problem to be solved
The main problem in this case was to establish the current home addresses of the witnesses, with only very limited information available. The legal adviser only had the basic data at his disposal – the first name, surname and place of work of each person. In the context of a situation in which the workplace deliberately obstructed access to additional contact details, this task required the use of sophisticated information search methods.
Another equally important aspect was to confirm that the individuals actually resided at the addresses identified. This was crucial for two reasons. Firstly, only a correctly delivered subpoena guaranteed that the witnesses could be heard, which was fundamental for the further course of the trial. Secondly, in a situation where witnesses evaded receipt of correspondence, it was necessary to have evidence that the correspondence had been addressed to the correct address – the detective report could, in such circumstances, serve as a basis for stronger action by the court, including bringing witnesses in for questioning.
Resolving these issues was crucial to the smooth running of the trial and allowing the client to continue to seek justice.
Activities carried out
Once the basic information was received, our team of specialists proceeded with search activities using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) methods. By analysing available sources, such as social media, public records and other databases, it was possible to identify potential witnesses’ residential addresses.
The next step was to carry out detective work to verify the accuracy of these addresses. Through observation and field visits, we gathered irrefutable evidence that the identified witnesses actually reside at the identified addresses. The detective report documenting these activities was crucial, especially in situations of potential evasion of witnesses from receiving correspondence.
Result
As a result of our activities, the correct residential addresses of five witnesses were established and confirmed. The information obtained allowed the lawyer to successfully deliver subpoenas to the court. As a result, the trial was able to continue and the witnesses gave evidence in favour of the victim.
Conclusions
This case highlights the importance of using specialised tools and methods in legal processes, especially in situations where key information is deliberately withheld. Thanks to our services, it was possible not only to break the stalemate, but also to significantly influence the positive course of the case
Key benefits for the client:
- Establishing missing contact details of key witnesses for the trial.
- Acquisition of data in accordance with data protection legislation.
- Support in the preparation of evidence that could be used for court purposes.
Our experience and commitment allowed for a successful resolution, enabling the lawyer to defend his client’s interests.
Author: Detective
*Client data has been anonymised prior to publication.
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