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Don't forget that today, April 26 is Administrative Professionals Day, when we should take time to recognize and express gratitude to those in our offices whose efforts are so essential to serving our clientele.
Call us at
713/781-9040 to learn how we can teach you ways to ensure investigations add value to your case, through a convenient 1-hour presentation, in your office, of our continuing legal education (CLE) program, approved by the State Bar of Texas.
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Next Edition Topics:
Closure: Helping interested parties fill in the blanks in official death investigations (J. Binford)
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In this month's installment of
VantagePoints, we discuss certification and temptation.
Certification and advanced training can separate those investigators who are truly dedicated to increasing their knowledge and expertise, and should serve as an important consideration for attorneys involved in matters in which the product of investigations might come under close scrutiny by opponents.
Temptation - specifically that to take money to perform an unlawful act - is something that most investigators will face at some point in their career. Such enticements, however, gain no traction when offered to those of us who abide by an unwavering commitment to legal and ethical behavior.
The specialists of ResultQuest® routinely apply their advanced expertise and high ethical standards to our work process and the work product. Call us at 713/781-9040 to learn more about how we can help you gain
Knowledge for Informed Decisions®.
Thank you for your continued response to VantagePoints. We welcome your suggestions for topics of interest, which can be sent to
[email protected]. We also hope you will recommend our newsletter to those in your professional circle.
J.R.Skaggs
Founder, Owner, and Manager
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Certifiable: Does your investigator have advanced training or hold professional certifications?
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he decision to hire a private investigator is often made in conjunction with contentious litigation in which the investigator's work product is likely to fall under scrutiny by the opposition. The investigation results are important; however, the credentials of the investigator can also play an important role in establishing the credibility of information.
A demonstrable history of investigative experience is the primary consideration concerning the background of the investigator whose work product is under analysis. Being able to document a proven track record, especially pertaining to the subject matter, is highly advantageous. But an added and potentially valuable endorsement to the investigator's credibility lies in advanced training and certification.
In addition to specialized, advanced training courses, there are a number of quality certifications offered by reputable investigative organizations. The most highly regarded among these requires a vast degree of experience, successful completion of a rigorous examination procedure, a peer-reviewed "white paper," and demanding continuing education requirements. Some certifications subscribing to such demanding standards include:
- Texas Certified Investigator (TCI) - Administered by the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI), an organization formed in 1971; www.tali.org
- Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) - Overseen by the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI), founded in 1967; http://nalionline.org/
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) - Governed by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (AFCE), organized in 1988; www.acfe.com.
- Board Accredited Investigator (BAI) - Administered by the International Intelligence Network (Intellenet), founded in 1983; www.baipi.org .
When you retain the professionals at ResultQuest®, be assured that the work will be done by professionals with advanced training and/or certification. It's Your Move - Make it Count®. Call us at 713/781-9040 when credentials matter.
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Carte Blanche: Avoiding illicit inquiries on behalf of deep-pocketed clients
A number of times over the years, ResultQuest® and their professional associates have received requests from individuals desiring information that could not be acquired through legal means. In the vast majority of instances, the requestor was simply not aware of the applicable regulations and accepted a polite refusal with a sense of gratitude.
However, on a handful of occasions the response was met by a voiced, or perceived willingness to violate the law - usually accompanied by an offer of a sizable sum of money. In one instance, when a wealthy litigant was informed that the installation of an electronic vehicle tracking device would be illegal, he expressed a willingness to pay handsomely to do it anyway - just so he could personally monitor the movements around the clock.
What this individual refused to accept was that the information he needed could have been obtained through physical surveillance. Because of his unwarranted desire to learn much more than he needed, and to break the law in order to do so, the task was refused and his attorney was notified.
It is often said, "Everyone has their price," and for some that is true. But no amount of money could restore the damage that could result from the discovery of an illegal tracking device - one's professional reputation and respect would lie in ruin. Not to mention the enormous financial impact the loss of license would cause.
ResultQuest® will always adhere to an uncompromising commitment to the highest standards of legal and ethical behavior. Call us at 713/781-9040 whenever you need principled professionals to help you Achieve a Superior Position®.
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