In the US it's pretty common for prospective employers to contact a candidate's previous employers to verify employment (dates and job title, at least). In the US, lawsuits are common enough that it's become customary for employers to say no more than is necessary -- it's harder to be successfully sued if you didn't say much. (Or so I was taught in hiring-related training at more than one company.)
My question is whether this kind of background check will typically reveal if a candidate was fired for cause. Does the investigator specifically need to ask that? Is this information routinely offered? Do employers answer if asked, or decline? Obviously there is some variance; I'm asking about what's typical -- if it matters, in the US for technology companies. This is not a legal question.
I'm aware of this related question, which focuses more about what an employee facing such firing should do at the termination meeting. I'm asking from the perspective of that guy's next potential employer -- are we likely to find out?