Would this help?
1. Ask the solicitor to send you five letters, one for each of the
witnesses, and each in a separate sealed envelope with the witness's name on
the front.
2. Send a letter to each witness enclosing the appropriate sealed envelope,
telling them you have not given their contact details to the solicitor, and
asking them to respond directly to the solicitor if they so wish.
3. Tell the solicitor you have done this and that they do not need to
contact you directly again.
By doing this you will preserve the former students' confidentiality, they
will only contact the solicitor if they want to be involved, and you will
have done something to help the student making the claim.
Regards
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Gwenan Owen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 20/02/2001 10:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: How much assistance to give Solicitors?!
Any comments appreciated!
With regard to a personal injury case involving one of our students (but
not involving the University in any way) a firm of Solicitors has written
asking us to provide them with the names, addresses, qualifications and
current employers (if known) of five witnesses to the accident. The case
is further complicated by the fact that these five witnesses have now
finished their courses and are resident outside the EU (and EEA).
Whilst wishing to assist this student with his claim the University
obviously does not want to give out information which would be contrary to
the DP Act. I have taken the view that, as we do not have consent from the
five witnesses, we should not pass on their details to these Solicitors.
The Solicitors also ask however whether we could pass on a contact name at
these students' sponsoring University abroad. I'm a little less clear what
would be the appropriate course of action here, obviously we do not have
consent from this person either - but would giving their name as a
'contact' only be appropriate? I'd welcome any comments.
Thanks
Gwenan
--
______________________________________________________________________
Gwenan Owen
Copyright/Data Protection Officer
Information Services, University of Wales Bangor,
Main Arts Library, College Road,
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, UK
tel: (01248) 382413
fax: (01248) 382979
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
______________________________________________________________________
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