Civil Case Studies

Investigation Saves Company Over Two Million Dollars

In a medical related claim, a female plaintiff, JONES, alleged that a drug she had taken caused her a severe heart problem that required open heart surgery. The company had authorized a multi-million dollar settlement be offered to JONES. Before the settlement offer was made the company’s litigation counsel asked us to perform a routine background investigation. Our investigation uncovered some minor drug use in JONES’s background but nothing significant. On a hunch, we asked the lawyers to allow us to probe further. This additional investigation found an ex-husband of JONES who not only confirmed more serious drug use, but suggested JONES had a congenital heart condition, the same condition she claimed in the lawsuit. We were able to track down her doctor, who had retired, and obtain her archived medical records. Result: When the opposing council was presented with the information we discovered, JONES agreed to abandon the claim. A take nothing order was entered in the case saving the company over two million dollars.

Good Rapport with Witness Results in Multi Million Dollar Settlement

A young family’s vehicle collided with a street sweeper working on a public roadway. The father and one child died and the remaining occupants suffered significant injuries. The cause of the accident appeared to be a large dust cloud created by the machine that obscured it from the view of the family’s car. The lawyer brought us into the case immediately and we began our investigation. Through our work we located and developed a rapport with a former employee of the company who suggested that the company had been hiding or tampering with evidence. Our Client noticed the deposition of the former employee to be held at the office of the defense counsel. The witness was asked to come in early so that the attorneys for the company could discuss the content of her testimony. During this conversation they learned of the damaging information she had concerning the company’s cover-up. Prior to our client’s arrival, the witness was told that the deposition had been canceled and she could go home. As soon as she left the building she called us for an explanation. She told us what had occurred and we contacted our clients at the deposition. They were told the witness did not show up. An affidavit was obtained from the witness and the company was confronted with the incident at mediation. Result: When the insurance carrier learned of the company’s outrageous actions they agreed to confidentially settle the case for multi-millions of dollars.

Millions Saved When Investigator Finds Missing Puzzle Piece

Historic flooding caused the rupture of an underground pipeline that further resulted in a major fire. The area of the fire was blanketed in thick smoke, and as a result, residents in nearby neighborhoods complained of respiratory problems. A group of these residents filed a lawsuit against the pipeline company.  Public meetings with lawyers developed thousands of additional plaintiffs, all claiming some kind of medical or physical damages. The first group of Plaintiff’s went to trial in a jurisdiction notorious for large verdicts for plaintiffs. One of the plaintiff’s claiming he was injured as a result of the fire was JOHNSON. JOHNSON was placed in the first group to be tried because he was thought to be a model plaintiff. Because we had been investigating the plaintiffs, we knew that JOHNSON could not have been injured as a result of this disaster. Our investigation discovered JOHNSON was in prison, hundreds of miles away, at the time of the fire. When this information was presented at trial, the jury soured on the claims made by the other plaintiffs and awarded zero damages to all plaintiff’s involved in this group. This verdict significantly devalued the other claims and lawyers representing other plaintiffs rushed to settle their cases. Result: This small investigation ultimately saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in potential payouts.

Multi-Million Dollar Settlement Awarded Due to Rapport Built

A young lady was held captive and sexually assaulted by another resident of her apartment complex. Ultimately the perpetrator was caught and convicted of the crime. The rapist did not testify at trial and would not admit his guilt. Our client sued the apartment complex on behalf of the victim and asked us to help in the investigation.   We were able to identify and locate another young girl, from the same complex, who was attacked by the same rapist. She was able to escape and never filed a police report. Even with this information, the litigation stalled and the client was concerned their case may not be strong enough to take to a jury. They needed the cooperation of the rapist. We were asked to go to the prison where the rapist was being held and make the case for cooperation. The rapist continued to deny his guilt and refused to cooperate with us in any way. We made three other visits to the prison and ultimately developed a rapport with the rapist—ultimately gaining his trust. On our last visit the rapist agreed to help. Result: His cooperation opened the door to a multi-million dollar settlement in favor of the deserving Plaintiff.