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.

Contact Us

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.

Contact Us

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

Contact Us

FMLA Fraud | FMLA Folly

FMLA Fraud | FMLA Folly

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Case Studies

Case Study | FMLA Fraud | FMLA Folly

FMLA Fraud | FMLA Folly

Ensuring that employees do not abuse FMLA leave is paramount to preserving the integrity of these protections.

Lauth Investigations International was contacted by a Client representing a manufacturer that received an FMLA request from one of its employees. The Subject claimed that he required leave because he had worsening fibromyalgia, and possible rheumatoid arthritis that was currently being evaluated by his physician.

The Investigation

Lauth investigators used thorough due-diligence and intelligence gathering to determine whether or not the Subject’s FMLA claim was fraudulent.

Lauth investigators positioned themselves outside of Subject’s residence, ready to document any physicality on behalf of the Subject that would contradict his request for FMLA leave. Lauth investigators also conducted surveillance at the home of subject’s mother, but Subject was never observed at the residence. Surveillance conducted at the Subject’s home revealed that Subject’s wife was the individual coming and going from the house the most often, as well as a handful of unidentified females who would arrive at the residence and stay a short while before leaving the neighborhood again. Investigators were also able to observe a motorcycle parked in the garage of the Subject’s residence. Over the course of surveillance, Lauth investigators were only able to document a single instance of Subject exerting significant physicality when he unloaded an SUV that included heavy boxes and totes.

The Solution

Lauth provided the Client with all documentation of the Subject’s observable movements, including photographs, video, and case notes from surveillance investigators. The Client elected not to pursue the matter further.

Contact Us

Non-Compete Violation | Spastic Plastics

Non-Compete Violation | Spastic Plastics

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Case Studies, non-compete violation

Case Study | Non-Compete Violation | Spastic Plastics

Non-Compete Violation | Spastic Plastics

Training and mentoring employees in your business can be a wonderful investment for your corporate future, but what happens when your mentee leaves the company, taking valuable clients and industry secrets with them?

Lauth Investigations was contacted by a Client who represented a plastics company. The owner had been grooming one of his employees to take the business over when it was time to retire. However, the Subject had left the plastics company and the Client believed he subsequently started his own business with an identical business model in violation of the non-compete violation. The Client also believed that Subject was receiving funding from a third-party in order to start his business.

The Investigation

Lauth conducted interviews with Client and relevant personnel within the plastics company in order to build a background on subject, including relevant information for surveillance and other forms of intelligence gathering.

Lauth successfully attempted to implant an undercover operative within the Subject’s new business with the intent to successfully document his breach of the non-compete agreement and connect his business with his alleged investors. When the Subject advised his business was not currently hiring, investigators began conducting surveillance on the investors. The investors were observed meeting with Subject regarding the business and finances both onsite at the new business and off. Lauth investigators were able to document the Subject’s admission that these alleged investors had financed his business venture in breach of his non-compete agreement.

The Solution

Lauth compiled a report containing all surveillance intelligence and open-source intelligence gathered during the investigation. These reports were passed along to the Client, who had success in subsequent legal action against the Subject.

Contact Us

Theft | Deal or No Deal

Theft | Deal or No Deal

by | Mar 8, 2020 | Background Checks, Case Studies

Case Study | Theft | Deal or No Deal

Theft | Deal or No Deal

Sometimes a deal is too good to be true—and sometimes a qualified buyer can be too good to be true.

Lauth Investigations International was contacted by a client who represented a local car dealership. The Subject in this case was a customer who had provided a fake social security number in order to get a better purchase price for a vehicle with no money down. The Subject drove off the car lot with the vehicle in question, and all attempts to contact her for payment following the initial contract were unsuccessful.

The Investigation

After conducting initial interviews and reviewing the contract documents, Lauth began an online search for Subject.

After locating her social media, Lauth was able to pull photos from her accounts that contained images of the vehicle in question. Using EXIF data embedded in the photos, investigators were able to determine where the photo was taken and track the Subject’s movements. The Subject was moving from state to state, which made it difficult for the dealership to find her. Subject had a history in vehicle theft was certainly a risk at the time of the contract.

The Solution

Using the GPS location information included in the EXIF data, the investigator was able to locate the vehicle and take possession.

Vehicle was returned to the client and was traded to another dealership. Lauth recommended the dealership improve their verification process regarding sensitive customer information.

Contact Us