George:

You are right. Court reporters do not have a copyright on transcripts.

[www.ncra.org]


On the other hand, I have a clause in my contract that states:

3. All information acquired as a result of this contract will be considered confidential and will not be disclosed without prior permission of Client.


Further, as a licensed Florida PI, I am bound by statute to keep the contents of my files confidential. The statute reads:


"Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or other law, no licensee, or any employee of a licensee or licensed agency shall divulge or release to anyone other than her or his client or employer the contents of an investigative file acquired in the course of licensed investigative activity."

I’ll give up transcripts on my active cases, other than the one in question, when the judge says I must.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

John Lentini, CFI, D-ABC
Fire Investigation Consultant
Florida Keys
[www.firescientist.com]