Attorney Support | Stubborn Spouse

Attorney Support | Stubborn Spouse

by | Mar 18, 2020 | Case Studies

Case Study | Attorney Support | Stubborn Spouse

Attorney Support | Stubborn Spouse

The legal system relies heavily on human participation to keep the wheels turning, so what’s to be done when a litigant is uncooperative?

Lauth investigators were contacted by an attorney representing their client in a divorce against their estranged spouse. The attorney, our Client, wanted to officially serve divorce papers and a court summons to the opposing party in the case.

The Investigation

Since their estrangement, the spouse in this case, the Subject, had become evasive following discussions of divorce. 

Lauth’s private investigators ran a comprehensive background check on the subject and discovered a history of violence and other run-ins with the law. At the onset of the investigation, after investigators had discovered the Subject’s address, investigators made several attempts to service the court documents with no success. Vehicles could not be observed outside the residence, and investigators were unable to lock down a timeline for his daily movements. Investigators eventually had to develop a phone ruse, in which the Subject was contacted by the investigator, and by means of deception, the investigator confirmed with the Subject a time he would be available at his home. When the Subject finally opened the door to the private investigator, he became agitated, and advised that all court documents must be forwarded to his attorney. The Subject provided the address and contact information for the attorney and slammed the door.

The Solution

Following the service of court documents to the Subject’s attorney, the Client advised that opposing counsel had everything they needed, and the investigation was formally closed.

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Worker’s Compensation Fraud | Limping Lawsuit

Worker’s Compensation Fraud | Limping Lawsuit

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Case Studies, FMLA Investigations, Worker's Compensation

Case Study | Worker’s Compensation Fraud | Limping Lawsuit

Worker’s Compensation Fraud | Limping Lawsuit

Lauth Investigations was contacted by an insurance respresentative regarding a personal injury lawsuit that had been filed by one of their insured’s employees.

The Subject had alleged that while performing his work duties, he had sustained injuries such as a fractured hip, fractured knee, sternal fractures, broken ribs, and nerve damage in his foot.

The Investigation

Lauth began by conducting surveillance at the Subject’s residence. Subject was observed at the residence letting the dog out.

Subject appeared to walk with a limp and had to use the pillar on his front porch for support several times. An unidentified female would often arrive in a vehicle and drive the Subject around to do errands, as he reportedly could not drive his own vehicle. Subject was observed at one time carrying a rolled up 16×9 rug from the front door of his residence to the rear of his vehicle under one arm, still walking with a limp, but not appearing to struggle under the weight of the rug.

The Solution

After four days of surveillance, Lauth compiled a comprehensive report of their surveillance findings, denoting the Subject’s limp and difficulty with balance.

Lauth provided photographs and video documenting his movements, as well as Subject carrying the run to his vehicle. This report was passed along to the Client for their purposes in processing the claim.

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Skip Trace | Callous Corporation

Skip Trace | Callous Corporation

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Case Studies, Case Study Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Persons

Case Study | Skip Trace | Callous Corporation

Skip Trace | Callous Corporation

Lauth Investigations was contacted by a lawyer, the Client, who was representing a man who had recently been in an automobile accident.

A forwarded report indicated that the driver of the other vehicle, a driver for a local freight service, was at fault for the accident. The injured driver remained unconscious in a coma following the accident and the Client had reached out to the freight service provider to let them know their insurance carrier must contact him. Having received no answer from the freight service, the Client reached out to Lauth, interested in locating the driver of the vehicle to serve him with a letter while he waited for a response from the insurance company.

The Investigation

Lauth conducted interviews with the Client, gathering all relevant information available regarding the driver, the freight service, and available documentation from the state.

Once a background narrative was begun on the driver, the Subject, Lauth began combing verified databases in search of address history for the Subject. The Subject’s address was located, and investigators began doing spot checks at the residence to piece together the movements of the individuals who resided there.

The Solution

Lauth was able to confirm that the Subject lived at the residence from speaking to neighbors, but were not able to observe the Subject at home to serve the letter.

Lauth compiled his background narrative and location information in a report, passing it along to the client for litigative purposes. Client advised that the insurance company had returned his letter, and had agreed to pay. No more surveillance was necessary.

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Child Custody | Vacant Visitation

Child Custody | Vacant Visitation

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Case Studies, Child Custody, Child Custody Case Study

Case Study | Child Custody | Vacant Visitation

Child Custody | Vacant Visitation

Lauth Investigations was contacted by a concerned grandmother regarding her minor grandchildren.

The Client’s son was divorced from the child’s mother, the Subject, who had begun seeing a boyfriend who was a convicted child molester. The Subject had visitation with the children, and the Client wanted to know if the boyfriend was staying at the house during the day or overnight.

The Investigation

Lauth investigators spoke with the Client and her son about what the children have stated regarding their mother’s boyfriend and how often he is present. The children informed them that the Subject usually stayed at the boyfriend’s residence.

Investigators stationed themselves outside the Subject’s residence to see if the boyfriend made an appearance at the residence while the children were present. After a few sessions of surveillance, neither the Subject nor the boyfriend’s vehicle was observed at the residence. The boyfriend lived in a trailer park, where there were no sufficient places to conduct inconspicuous surveillance and neighbors were vigilant of activity outside their homes. After much surveillance, it was determined that the boyfriend did not spend time at the Subject’s home, but that the Subject spent most of her time at the boyfriend’s trailer. It was determined that the boyfriend was not around the children. However, it was also concluded by the investigator that when the children were dropped off for visitation with their mother, the Subject would leave the children with her mother, and spend visitation time with the boyfriend instead.

The Solution

Lauth investigators compiled a report of their logged surveillance on the subject, including the findings that although the boyfriend was not around the children, the Subject was not spending visitation time with the children. This report was passed along to the Client, who advised they would be using this report in their upcoming hearing regarding sole custody of the children to the children’s father.

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Non-Compete Violation | False Fitness

Non-Compete Violation | False Fitness

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Case Studies

Case Study | Non-Compete Violation | False Fitness

Non-Compete Violation | False Fitness

Franchises let corporations expand the reach of their business throughout the country, but sometimes the misbehavior of the franchisees can lead to disastrous results.

Lauth was contacted by a fitness conglomerate based in Massachusetts who had suspicions that their franchise, branding, and business model had been compromised by one of their franchisees, the Subject, local to the area. She claimed that she had sold her franchise to another owner and was only communicating with the new owner as a consultant, but the Client believed she still owned it, and had simply put her sister’s name on the LLC document.

The Investigation

Lauth reviewed court complaints and documents against the Subject, claiming that she had infringed upon a non-compete agreement that she signed when she agreed to be a franchisee.

Lauth investigators spoke to the Client, gathered information about the fitness studio, their business model, and the branding and markings associated with the franchise. The Client wished to have an investigator infiltrate the business as a customer, document the interior of the studio, learn about the employees, and what the Subject’s involvement was in daily operations. Lauth sent in an undercover operative to speak to the Subject about membership fees and programs, but the Subject was deliberately evasive. Investigators photographed the inside of the studio and confirmed that the Subject was still heavily involved in the daily operations of the studio.

The Solution

Lauth compiled a report containing an undercover investigation narrative, including comprehensive notes about the studio, its trainers, and the interior of the studio. It was Lauth’s conclusion that the Subject was still heavily involved in the business, down to the level of meal planning with members. This information was passed along to the Client for their legal purposes

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