It is important to understand in medicolegal death investigation what 'homicide' is.  From our book and course: "Death resulting from intentional harm (explicit or implicit) of one person by another, or by grossly reckless behavior." - In death investigation, homicide is the medical determination.  Without making any judgment on this case, this demonstrates that it is important in both civil and criminal, and even probate cases, the value of understanding the autopsy, process, rulings and criteria.

It is also important to understand that the difference between a fatality and serious bodily injury is often only a series of events or fractions of an inch.  Autopsy means "to see with one's own eyes", which a trained medicolegal death investigator and forensic pathologist can assist with in serious bodily injury cases.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19168983

Autopsies are not conducted in every death, it is not possible due to limited forensic pathologists and funding, nor is it necessary.  However, in all motor vehicle crashes an autopsy should be done.  Why?  Because it cannot be assumed that the person died due to the crash, but their death may have caused the crash.  This story from Colorado demonstrates why.  These are tragic events, something we do our best to help families work through.  This was tragic - a small community and community leader killed, along with five children while driving them to school.  Today the autopsy report has been released and indicates the driver had 80% heart blockage - a deadly medical condition (cholesterol).  It was undetermined if this was directly contributory, but considering the other circumstances (i.e. did not slow down and impacted a semi-trailer at full speed) strongly support this possibility.

< Read the full story here >

We are pleased to announce our membership with the National Defender Investigators Association.  This is association focuses on criminal defense and is primarily made up of federal and state public defender investigators, as well as private sector investigators.  More info at www.NDIA.net

The local newspaper did this business profile on us - published Monday 10/10/2011.  Although we did not choose the title, interestingly they chose to describe us as a 'team', our first emphasis, and 'pride', our second emphasis.  PRIDE is an acronym we use for Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20111010/BUSINESS/110100313/-1/

Explain what you do.Answer: We are expert consultants and legal investigators of personal injury, negligence and death in civil, criminal and probate litigation and related matters.

Q: Private investigators have been glamorized on television, movies and plays as masters of disguise and intrigue. What is it like in reality?

A: Particularly in our specialties, there is not much glamour - but there is satisfaction in helping those victimized and affected by traumatic, often fatal, events.

Q: What kind of investigations make up the bulk of your business?

A: Expert consultations in injuries, injury causation and death have become increasingly in demand.

These may be in civil or criminal cases, as well as what is referred to as equivocal death investigation - when there is a question as to the cause and manner of death, at least in the view of the family or their legal representative.

Civil investigations, from motor vehicle collisions to negligence of another, is the bulk of the legal investigative, followed by criminal defense.

Q: You have branched out into forensic investigations. What is the difference between that and private investigations?

A: We began forensic investigations in 2000 and now concentrate primarily in that area as it relates to our specialized services. Private investigators play an important role in our society and legal system - for the individual, business, insurance, attorney and others. Private investigators may provide surveillance, backgrounds, process service and other services in workplace, domestic and also civil and criminal cases.

Legal investigators focus on civil plaintiff (representing a person who is alleging to have been wronged by the actions of another) or criminal defense. Forensic investigations focuses on the facts and evidence necessary for our judicial system, particularly the judge and jury, to make informed decisions. We like to say that forensics represents Facts or Reasonable Evidence Necessitating Systematic Investigative and Critical Solutions.

Q: Generally speaking, what's been your most exciting case?A: Any case in which we have helped a client, victim or family member begin to find solutions and closure to a traumatic event. It is not possible to be in their position, but we feel with our help on their legal team, we can make their position better.

One memorable case involved extensive work for the victim of a motor vehicle collision who could not recall what happened. We were able to prove, through witnesses and scene investigation, what happened and that the responsible party's statements were false and not possible to have happened as they reported.

Another also involved a motor vehicle collision and being able to prove for the decedent's family that the responsible party, although in possession of a narcotic legally, had used it illegally just before the collision, proving his negligence and not that of the decedent.

Q: How did you get into the investigation business?

A: Dean worked for a local family-owned grocery store and began deciding a career change was necessary. Having long had an interest in investigations, he attempted to work for other investigators but none was hiring during a troubling economic time. Instead, he decided to form his own agency and teach himself what needed to be done. In 1996, Karen began expanding her knowledge and working cases.

Q: Tell our readers one thing that would surprise them about your business.

A: Private investigations has always been one of the fastest-growing small businesses in the U.S. It also has one of the lowest rates of survival in under five years. A recent study found that, just as with 20 years ago, there are as many new investigators (under two years) as veteran (over 15 years). Dean and Karen are also one of three husband and wife Certified Criminal Defense Investigator teams in the U.S. and Dean is one of fewer than 80 certified legal investigators worldwide.

DEAN AND KAREN BEERS » Ages: Average age is 49
» Occupation: Legal investigators
» Business: Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
» Business address: home-based business in LaPorte
» Business hours: Consultations are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday but work is literally 24/7.
» Business contact information: Office - (970) 480-7793; General email - Associates@ Forensic-Investigators.com; website: www.forensic-investigators.com

Well, fall is officially here and summer is gone...but I hope everyone had a great summer!  Look inside our newsletter to find out the joys of summer we had!

I'll bet you've noticed and heard about a few changes we have made with our agency - a new name, logo and contact information.  Our services remain the same - expert consultations and legal investigations of personal injury, negligence and death in civil, criminal and probate litigation through the US.  This better reflects our growing national footprint as Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators of Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. Our clients will remain attorneys and investigators representing families and victims of traumatic injuries and death.  This change also reflects our affiliation with experts in forensic pathology, forensic toxicology and a neurosurgeon (retired).

We also have new contact phone numbers:
(970) 480-7793 for our main number, and x1 for Dean and x2 for Karen
(970) 480-7794 is our new fax number

We have also completely redesigned our agency website, with updates still being developed.  As one of our specialties is death investigation and injury causation, visit www.DeathCaseReview.com for a look.

Each month our agency publishes an interactive and informative newsletter for clients and colleagues.  However, some groups strip out the html code - so we have created the following links.

The current issue is at < AFI-LLC Newsletter - October 2011 >
(please note - in our hurry to get the newsletter out before leaving for vacation - I did not put up the right banner or change the contact information.  This version is corrected).