From the Fayetteville Observer (4/7/12): Emails sent by employees at government agencies are usually open to public inspection and may be copied, forwarded or published by anyone.
But you wouldn’t know that by reading the warnings at the bottom of every email sent by spokeswomen for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Fayetteville Public Works Commission.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Tanna’s emails have this legal statement: “This email and any attached files are confidential and intended solely for the intended recipient(s). If you are not the named recipient you should not read, distribute, copy or alter this email.”
PWC spokeswoman Carolyn Hinson’s emails say they contain “privileged and confidential information” but include this unusual warning:
“Access to this communication by anyone else is unauthorized. If the reader is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.”