1. Always check the whole email and annexures before sending
Earlier emails may be further down the page and you may not want them sent on. The topic may have changed completely from what originally was sent.
Attachments may contain material you do not want sent on.
2. Be very careful with the “BLIND CC” button
If you really want to keep recipients secret then send separate emails. This is a problem because some computers can read who the recipients of “blind ccs” are despite you never knowing that this has happened. Very embarrassing if you were trying to keep secret the fact that they had received a copy and even more disastrous if you have given away their email address when it was supposed to be confidential.
3. Scroll through the list of recipients before sending a “Reply to All” message
There may be more people’s addresses that have not appeared in the top line. You cannot see these until you scroll down. You may not want your reply to go to them all.
4. A Cautionary Tale
Four senior lawyers were involved in a major medical inquiry that because of its gruesome and dramatic circumstances was attracting considerable media interest.
On this particular occasion the defendants’ lawyers were endeavouring to reach consensus on a date for a settlement conference. One sent the following email “date proposed is okay with me but I haven’t heard anything from X (derogatory reference to plaintiff’s solicitor) who is quick to make demands with menaces and to insist on action at short notice but slow when it comes to performing“.
This email was intended for the defence lawyers only. Inadvertently the sender activated “reply to all” overlooking that the previous exchange had included the plaintiff’s lawyer. On receipt of the misguided email, the plaintiff’s lawyer understandably took offence. Goodwill evaporated and the planned settlement conference was at risk. There is anecdotal “gossip” that the insurance company client was extremely unhappy that its interests had been adversely affected in this way.
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