A Little Private Eye Trivia from Wikipedia
In the U.S., the Pinkerton National Detective Agency was a private detective agency established in 1850 by Allan Pinkerton. Pinkerton had become famous when he foiled a plot to assassinate then President-Elect Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton’s agents performed services which ranged from undercover investigations and detection of crimes to plant protection and armed security. It is sometimes claimed, probably with exaggeration, that at the height of its existence the Pinkerton National Detective Agency employed more agents than the United States Army. [1]
Pinkerton agents were also hired to track western outlaws Jesse James, the Reno brothers, and the Wild Bunch, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Pinkerton agency’s logo, an eye embellished with the words "We Never Sleep," inspired the term "private eye."[4]
It was not until the prosperity of the 1920s that the private investigator became a person accessible to the average American. With the wealth of the 1920s and the expanding of the middle class came the need of middle America for private investigators.[5]
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Is a Private Investigator an Asset to the Litigation Team?
As an investigator and a past litigation paralegal I think it is important for attorneys to consider if they are using all the resources they have to win a case(s).
I recently spoke to a group of trial attorneys about the importance of hiring a private investigator. The most common question was can’t my staff do the investigation in-house. Sure you can investigate your case yourself but that does not mean you should. Leave the investigation to the professional. Hire a licensed investigator with experience because they can be the most important asset to your case.
Investigators can help from the first client intake appointment to the final day of Trial. The investigator is trained to get a comprehensive history of the client’s life. Investigators can conduct interviews with the clients and witnesses in thier home at a time that is outside the usual 8 to 5 schedule. Interviews that take place at home during the evening or weekend create a more relaxed atmosphere which can lend to a much more productive interview. A good investigator knows how to read a witness, they are trained not only to listen to what is said but to also listen to what is not being said. A good investigator will pursue all possible leads because we know even the smallest detail can be valuable. Our skill set allows us to focus on the client, the case facts/details and the witnesses, while the attorney can focus on the legal aspect of the case. Hiring a private investigator is s cost that can be passed onto the client as a case preparation cost.
Considering hiring a private investigator for your next case, it could be the best money you spend.
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Archdiocese of Portland Bankruptcy
The Oregonian
April 13, 2007
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/04/key_players_moments_in_priest.html
Here are key players and developments in the priest sex-abuse cases against the Archdiocese of Portland:
1. Joe Elliott’s lawsuit in December 1999 started a flood of priest sex-abuse litigation against the Portland Archdiocese.
2. Elliott’s suit named the Rev. Maurice Grammond, a deceased priest accused of molesting about 60 boys between the 1950s and 1980s.
3. Attorneys Bill Barton (right) and David Slader were scheduled to go to trial in July 2004 in cases involving Grammond.
4. Archbishop John G. Vlazny’s precedent-setting decision to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection put a stop to the trial.
5. Lyle C. Velure, a Lane County circuit judge, was appointed one of two mediators in August 2006 — two years into a bankruptcy proceeding that was not progressing quickly.
6. U.S. District Judge Michael R. Hogan, Velure’s longtime mediation partner, helped broker a $75 million settlement announced in December 2006.
7. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth L. Perris ruled today that she plan meets the requirements with one small change; she is expected to issue her final order Tuesday.
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Am I an Investigator or a Trial Consultant….
Most of the time I blog about interviews or communication because that is the central part of my job as an investigator. Many of you may not know that Investigation is not my only talent. Because I understand the dynamics of sex abuse claims so well I am always thinking of the case in the big picture sence. I work my cases as if they are going to trial tomorrow. I work the investigation in sections: 1) interview and evaluate wwitnesses, 2) locate evidence, and 3)I formulate how the story will be told. I suggest that the attorney use a combination of pPowerPoint presentations, large board exhibits (graphs, maps and photographs) and live testimony. It takes an intuitive sense of the case: history, case specific details, client personality combined with visual evidence and expert witnesses to really grab a jury. I understand this process. So the whole time I am in the field I am always thinking about how this process will formulate for the current case.
This past weekend while I was out interviewing people for my case it hit me, I need to find a way for the jury to see the size and scope of this case and not just hear it. The fact is this case starts in a neighborhood and the size of this neighborhood is small but the amount of victims is large. The families all lived within a 1/2 mile radius of the pedophile who abused their children. I mapped out the neighborhood and went back to all the homes and photographed them. All this can be set up within a PowerPoint presentation with a map to show the jury the numbers vs the size. This can be very powerful. This information may not get used but it is something the attorney may need and they may not even know it. I gather all the information I can, suggest the many ways it can be used and the rest is up to the attorney. I do know they hire me for a reason and the reason is I am an expert in this type of litigation.
Topics: Sex Abuse Work | 2 Comments »
Life of Private Eye -
Sometimes my job takes me to other locations for work. When that opportunity presents itself I use it to work and network. Yesterday I left messages for two law firms that specialize in sex abuse litigation, hopefully they will take me up on my offer to buy them a cup of coffee. I also introduced my self to a local investigator in town Neal Custer. I may not always be able to get to the town I am working in so it is vital to my profession that I make good contacts.
Secondly, it is important to scope out he area. It is important to know the following: local library is for research, courthouse, police station and most importantly coffee shops with wifi. with all these things in place I can accomplish just about anything on a case.
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Valentine Day Blog – Part 1
20 yrs today my day was all planned out; cookies to deliver, a job to get too and a boyfriend to see. I dressed in red; I looked fabulous. I delivered cookies to my Grandparents who I adored beyond words. I arrived on time at work hoping to sneak out early. At some point my Mom needed a ride to something and my boyfriend called to say he would be late for dinner so off I went to get my Mom.
During the drive a woman in a big old chevy nova crossed 4 lanes of traffic, she hit me head-on. Yikes, the damage one car can do to another is not something you can even fathom, I didn
Topics: Current Affairs | 2 Comments »
SNAP- The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest
SNAP Mission Statement
Our most powerful tool is the light of truth.
Through our actions, we bring
healing and justice.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is a volunteer self-help organization of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters.
We work to end the cycle of abuse in two ways:
- By supporting one another in personal healing;
- By pursuing justice and institutional change by holding individual perpetrators responsible and the church accountable.
Our most powerful tool is the light of truth. Through our stories and our actions, we bring healing and justice.
Specifically, we:
- Reach out to survivors, their families, and supporters;
- Build mechanisms to support our life-long journey of personal healing including individual contact, peer counseling, support groups, written and web-based information and materials;
- Work through education and persuasion to change the structure and culture of abuse in the church and society at large.
Topics: Sex Abuse Work | No Comments »
Remembrance
Sometimes in my work I get good news and some times I get really bad news. This week brought bad news. Michael, one of my past clients died this weekend. He had been abused as a young boy by clergy, that abuse was so powerful that even in his 40s he could never escape the pain of his nightmare. That nightmare became so unbearable that he took his life.
Michael was a handsome, bright, creative, loving person. He was also a lost child searching for peace. His devoted companion, a loving dog was his angel on his worst days. He told me once she always gave him something to live for. He loved his family, his parents and his friends and he tried to hang on for those people. It is a tragic day when an abuse survivor gives up, but the loss of Michael is even more profound knowing how truly loved he was by so many.
I am grateful for knowing Michael and I am grateful for the trust he placed in me while I worked with him during a difficult time. I know he finally has the peace that he has longed for in his life. Michael we will all miss your smile and we will especially miss seeing you walk into a room with your beloved dog. I smile knowing you are that beautiful young boy again surrounded by angels. Rest in Peace my friend!
Topics: Sex Abuse Work | 6 Comments »
Peace -
"It does not seem to be in a place where there is not noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart!"
Author Unknown
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6 Reason you should hire a private investigator
You want to conduct an investigation for a case or need to conduct surveillance, but you don
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