Investigators: Bringing People Together

by admin_lauth | Dec 5, 2014 | Private Investigations News

Often when we think of private investigators, we think of missing assets, divorce proceedings, corporate corruption. However there remain occasions where using a private investigator can be cause for both parties to be exultant with the findings.

Emir Kamenica was a Bosnian refugee who escaped his war-torn homeland as a child and his family eventually settled in an Atlanta suburb.  Although Kamenica struggled as an ESL student, a caring teacher saw his potential. Ms. Ames saw that Kamenica was an extremely gifted individual whose potential might be wasted at his current school. She fought for Kamenica’s placement into an academically rigorous college prep school, which paved the way for his successful career in academia.

But, long after he last saw Ms. Ames, Kamenika found himself wishing he could thank her for all she had done. Armed with only a last name and basic location info, it became clear he would need professionals to have any hope of contacting his long lost teacher. He turned his search over to an investigation firm specializing in missing persons.

Building on the simple information he already had, the investigative team gained access to a list of teachers certified in the state of Georgia. This led to a joyous reunion that revived the events of so many years ago, and gave Emir the closure he so desired.

Though PI’s can’t traverse space and time to reunite lost loved ones, the outcome can be just as heartfelt.

Of course, not every case concludes as perfectly as Kamenika’s. Still, a private investigator can often provide answers to your lingering questions and help you find resolution for events long past.

The Truth About Accident Investigation

by admin_lauth | Dec 5, 2014 | Private Investigations News

In 2013, 2.35 million Americans were injured from automobile accidents.  This equates to a total of 230.6 billion dollars in medical and insurance costs. Regardless of the frequency and costs associated with car accidents, the vast majority of individuals in such scenarios will never think to utilize a third party resource like a private investigator.

In reality, using a private investigator (PI) can be beneficial for several kinds of accident cases.  For instance, if one party feels the accident report was insufficient, a PI could alleviate doubt by determining cause and circumstances.

Gathering impartial evidence that others may have missed is exactly what happened in this example from a recent International Counterintelligence Services (ICS) article.

“At a stop light, a driver was turning left at an intersection.  She was making the turn under common circumstances: oncoming traffic not stopping till the yellow has already turned red.  Because she was in the intersection she made the turn as is allowed.  While making the turn a speeding car went through the red light.  The client’s car was clipped while the driver running the red spun out across the intersection.  The police implicated both parties in the accident.”

Since police are often strictly looking to determine whether a driver has broken a law, instances like this can occur without malfeasance. In this particular case, the driver felt she was the wronged party regardless of the police officer’s findings. This led her to hire a private investigator, who found evidence indicating the client was not liable.

Of course, this is just one example from the myriad occasions in which hiring a PI can save you stress, time, and money when dealing with an accident.  Other instances that an investigator can be of service in may include:

• Collecting and affirming case details
• Determining neglect
• Fighting cases involving large settlements
• Disputing unsatisfactory evidence from lawyers
• Overcoming roadblocks in collecting insurance settlements

Though car accidents remain the most common occurrence, this is not the only area of expertise for most accident investigators.  Maritime and aviation accidents have also sought the help of an investigator.  Work related accidents should seek the help of an investigator which can make or break ones workers’ comp.

Hiring an investigator brings detailed accounts and facts to your case that you might not otherwise have.  At Lauth Investigations, you also get a professional team with decades of experience in getting to the bottom of every case.

Find Out More About Accident Investigation

• Do You Need An Accident Investigator? (PI Now)
• The Private Investigators Role in Accident Investigation (International Counterintelligence Services, Inc.)

Defamation: Why David Barnett Should Hire a Private Investigator

by admin_lauth | Nov 17, 2014 | Private Investigations News

Source: Daily Camera

David Barnett, a tenured professor of philosophy at University of Colorado (CU), has recently sued the university on grounds of defamation in regards to a sexual assault complaint that resulted in a board movement to terminate his contract.

According to the Daily Camera, Barnett claims Phil DiStefano, CU’s chancellor, made a false claim that Barnett retaliated against a student who stated she was sexually assaulted by a former student. In response to the claims, the CU Board of Regents moved to terminate Barnett, inciting him to seek $2 million dollar settlement for defamation.

Not only are education-related defamation suits rare, but they can be difficult to justify in court. The plaintiff must show both how the accuser defamed him or her and that it was done with actual malice, or intent to harm to one’s character. In addition, because the impetus for the Board’s actions was a $825,000 sexual assault settlement, the court maybe less sympathetic to Barnett and his monetary demands.

Utilizing a private investigator can provide assistance for either proving or disproving defamation.

When investigating a defamation case, professionals gather intelligence and additional witnesses that can support your position. In David Barnett’s case, an investigator would seek to find evidence that would prove these main points:

• Published – The defamatory statements must have reached an audience through slander (spoken) or libel (written). Investigators would proceed by looking into his wrongful termination, and the process in which this occurred. In this case, a video, as orated by DiStefano, was released to students and faculty to provide further explanation. By making this video available to the public, it could cause irreparable damage to his reputation.
• False – Defamatory statement needs to be incorrect or false to be proven as defamation. Here investigators would discretely question those close to the case, such as other professors or people within the philosophy department.
• Injurious – An investigator would gather evidence to prove Barnett’s damaged reputation. For instance Barnett is only one of three tenured professors who’ve been terminated during CU’s history.
• Unprivileged – A professional investigator would prove that no part of the defamatory statement would fall under privilege, or specific instances where a false statement couldn’t be used for a defamation suit.

Due to the complications and complexities of defamation, hiring a firm like Lauth Investigations could be an essential first step in finding peace of mind and reclaiming a tarnished reputation.