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CAP SUPPLEMENTAL DISCOVERY
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
HOW TO OBTAIN AND INTRODUCE INTO EVIDENCE PHONE RECORDS
WHEN ALL YOU HAVE IS THE PHONE NUMBER
by THOMAS M. LOEB
In 2011, the Michigan Supreme Court decided the case of People v
Armstrong, 490 Mich 281 (2011). In this unanimous opinion, the court held
that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel because he
failed to introduce into evidence the complainant’s cell phone record. This is
a wonderful case, and everyone should read it. It explains simply and
succinctly how the failure to introduce these records severely prejudiced the
defendant in a “he said - she said” criminal sexual conduct prosecution.
What do we do when all we have is a phone number, and we do not
even know the name of the account holder or account user of record, or the
name and address of the provider? Well, here’s how to find this out on your
own, for free, every time.
FIRST, take your 10 digit phone number and go to the website
www.freecarrierlookup.com
. This website “telephone number identification”
has a free phone look-up function on its home page. In the example we are
using, if you type in 248-224-2417 and hit “search” you will learn that the
current telephone company is Verizon Wireless.
SECOND, we need to find the address of the provider, Verizon Wireless.
On the internet, go to www.search.org.
This website advertises itself as “the
premier resource for collecting, sharing, and analyzing innovative and timely
knowledge, information, best practices, services and solutions for justice
information sharing.” On its homepage, in the lower right hand side of the
screen, under the heading “QUICK LINKS” you will find the ISP list. Click on
it. Once you do, you will see a screen listing various internet service and
telephone providers throughout the country. This website, by the way,
includes information well beyond just phone providers. For example, if you
need information from AIRB&B, INC., Adult Friend Finder, American Express,
American Savings Bank, Ally Bank (formerly GMAC), American Airlines,
eHarmony.com, and more, you will find it here. Under Verizon you will see
several entries. One entry is “Verizon Wireless Legal Compliance.” If you
click on it, it will give you the contact name, address, phone number and more