Now why would I want to dispute what the county web site tells me? They say the records provided online and those found at the courhouse are not the same. They tell me the web records are not reliable. AND they tell me the web sites are not intended to be used for professional research. You can't set aside the disclaimers Steve, you agreed to them when you  signed the TOS. But your insurance carrier didn' t and neither did your clients unless you let them know.

Do you tell your customers that you know more than your source about  the accuracy of their web sites? Do you tell your E&O carrier that  you are using a source that can not be held accountable for any errors in their index?

I think when push comes to shove both your carrier and customers will consider it an error on your part that you choose and a source that acknowledges it is not reliable.

Yes, I know it's easy to access these sites Steve. I've accessed hundreds of sites all over the U.S. and without exception have always found the same lack of accountability. How else do you think I found Colin Powell's SSN on a Virginia county site or Tom Delay's SSN on a site in Texas. I've found tens of thousands of SSN's on county websites all over the country. Your right, it is incredibly easy! Anyone can do it.  Stalkers, Identity thieves, and terrorists are all finding it incredibly easy to pick up from the web what some county officials so carelessly provide at taxpayer expense.

I know how the web sites work Steve. I've gone through the process and read their disclaimers. I stopped short of giving them any money for access to a database that is known to be unreliable and can not be used for legal research.

I've also read your synopsis of the so-called security proceedures required to gain access. It is easy to see the web sites security procedures are designed to protect the company's interest in collecting subscription fees and not the interests of taxpayers or subscribers.  There is just no getting around it Steve, the disclaimers and Terms of Service agreements found on these web sites say it all. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

But if you are going to rely on these web sites in spite of their disclaimers, you really should let your customers and insurance provider know the risk you are asking them to take. That way they could pass the same disclaimer and lack of accountability on to their customers. They can decide if they are willing to take that risk with you in return for a report derived from a source that by their own admission is  unaccountable, irresponsible, inaccurate and not intended for use in any professional report.