Jardine: Your life's an open Web page nowadays

By Jeff Jardine

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

One of my co-workers is a real technology fan who is fascinated by what she finds on the Internet.

The other day, she tried out a relatively new online tool: the Stanislaus County Superior Court's case index Web site. The site lists cases by number or the defendant's name, including every civil, criminal, traffic or family law case over the past decade.

She searched for her last name, expecting to find some cases involving people with the same last name. As expected, she came up clean.

CHECK IT OUT
- To check the state's unclaimed property site, go to scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP.
- To search the Superior Court's site, go to caseindex.stanct.org.
- To search for recent home sales in your neighborhood, go to www.modbee.com/housing.
- To check for bankruptcies, call McVCIS toll-free at 866-222-8029 or visit the U.S. Eastern District Bankruptcy Court, 1130 12th St., Modesto.

But one name in particular leapt out at her from the screen: her son's, including his first, last and middle names. The case involved a traffic infraction — one he'd never mentioned.

So she clicked on the case number and found not only the violation — the registration sticker wasn't placed properly on the license plate — but also that he'd failed to appear in traffic court.

What the heck?

So she called him — as in immediately — and the third-degree grilling began.

When did you get that ticket? Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you deal with it? And what's this failure-to- appear garbage?

The son, a twentysomething college graduate who lives elsewhere, was blindsided and dumbfounded.

What ticket? What was she talking about? He wasn't even in Modesto on Sept. 19, 2008 — the date the officer issued the citation.

So he called the court to find out what was going on. After a few minutes, a clerk eased his mind.

Turns out the case involved another person with the exact first, last and middle names, but with a different driver's license and date of birth. The culprit also drove a different make and model of vehicle. It doesn't appear to be a case of identity theft, or the son's own information would have appeared.

Whew!

All that stated, it's a reminder that your life is an open Web page in this era of instant, at-your- fingertips information.

Think not? Type in your own name on Yahoo, Google or subscription search sites and see what comes up. If you've been listed on any kind of document that is publicly available, chances are you'll surface.

Every year, the state posts the top 250 business and individual tax delinquents, and Stanislaus County lists those who are in jeopardy of losing their property because of unpaid taxes.

You can see how much your new neighbors paid for their home, using online search available through modbee.com.

Whenever a company owes you a settlement or refund and can't find you, the state holds the sum in its unclaimed properties fund. You can check online to see who is owed how much.

The Superior Court's Web site, however, is intriguing because of the nature of the information. In essence, it gives you the ability to do cursory background checks on anyone from your neighbor to the young man who wants to date your daughter (gee, he seemed like such a good catch — until you discover that the cops have apprehended him several times in the past and that two ex-girlfriends are suing him for child support).

Considering entering a joint business venture? Seems to me you'd want to know your potential partner has sued 10 people and been sued by 20 others over the past decade. Or that the person applying for a job at your store didn't check the "Have you been convicted of a felony with the past seven years" box on the application because his case still is working its way through the court system.

Same goes for a landlord checking potential renters. An applicant who is a defendant in multiple civil or small claims cases might have a history of stiffing landlords.

Bankruptcy filings are available online to specific kinds of users who establish accounts, including attorneys and the media. But anyone can go into the U.S. Bankruptcy Court lobby on 12th Street and use court computers to research a person or case. Or they can call the court's multicourt voice case information system at 866-222-8029 to obtain specific case information.

All of this valuable information comes with a caveat: Before you jump to any conclusions, go check the physical files.

As my co-worker found out, it could simply be someone else with the exact same name.

Jeff Jardine's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in Local News. He can be reached at 578-2383 or jjardine@modbee.com.