This is the final installment in a three-part series authored by noted private investigator David Cook. In this segment Mr. Cook discusses electronic privacy issues, concerns related to PIs conducting interviews and surveillance. The way in which a PI conducts an interview is as important as the information learned from the interviewee. It is also a good indication of the PI's sensitivity to ethical issues. PIs commiserate that for the most part their mission in civil litigation is to conduct public records research and locate witnesses for the client's lawyers to depose.
Cases where interviewing skills come into full play are rare.
Unfortunately for the modern PI, this approach enjoys an extremely high rate of success in Hollywood and it's made believable because the investigator's verbal acumen is typically accompanied by some good old-fashioned physical intimidation. In today's world the team-interviewing model is employed mostly to assure accuracy and thoroughness of the interview and to substantiate the account of a witness should they later recant. Another reason is to increase the chance that the witnesses may take to the chemistry of one of two interviewer's personalities. In cases where the attorney client has confidence in the PI to collect information through direct interviews and it has been determined which witnesses are fair game, it is important to be sure that everyone is clear on the parameters of the proposed interviews. After making certain not to contact an opposing party for an interview, other minefields remain.