I’ve always suspected this about the legal disclaimers that are becoming ubiquitous at the bottom (and sometimes top) of email messages from companies that employ attorneys …

… they are mostly, legally speaking, pointless. Lawyers and experts on internet policy say no court case has ever turned on the presence or absence of such an automatic e-mail footer in America, the most litigious of rich countries.

http://www.economist.com/node/18529895

I kind of find it amusing when there is a disclaimer that reads …

This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named.

… and it’s sent to a public mailing list.