What does a litigation support investigator do?
Daniel finds, documents and organizes the facts counsel needs, from before a petition is filed through trial and after judgment. Daniel works for one side in a matter and does the work personally.
| Stage | What Daniel does |
|---|---|
| Before suit | A pre-suit investigation, so counsel can decide whether and whom to sue. It confirms the right parties and entities from Secretary of State filings, their litigation history in public court records, and where each can be served. |
| During the case | Witness location and interviews, records research, surveillance where damages or activity are at issue, and service of process and subpoenas. |
| Trial preparation | Locating and serving trial witnesses, updated background research and exhibits of photographs and logs. |
| After judgment | Public-record signs of assets, for counsel to use in collection. |
Scenes, property and public online content are documented before they change. A defendant who is hard to serve is handled with a lawful locate and process serving under a court-issued license, with every step written down.
Who asks for civil litigation support?
Oklahoma civil attorneys and their paralegals, and business owners in a dispute whose attorney has asked them to find an investigator.
Daniel takes direction from counsel. The page for attorneys covers the other work Daniel does for counsel.
What is lawful in Oklahoma, and why does counsel direct the work?
Counsel directs the work because the attorney decides its scope and how the facts are used. Oklahoma's discovery code also has its own rule for documents prepared for a party's attorney. Subpoenas and discovery are counsel's tools: Daniel may serve a subpoena, and does not issue one.
Oklahoma's discovery code makes documents prepared in anticipation of litigation by or for a party's representative, including its attorney or consultant, discoverable only on a showing of substantial need. 12 O.S. § 3226(B)(3)(a)
How that applies to any document is counsel's decision. Daniel makes no promise that material will be protected.
A person may obtain a copy of that person's own previous statement about the action. 12 O.S. § 3226(B)(3)(c)
Statements are taken knowing the witness can ask for a copy, and counsel decides how each is taken.
If a defendant is not served within 180 days after the petition is filed, without good cause, the action is deemed dismissed as to that defendant without prejudice. 12 O.S. § 2004(I)
Service by publication requires a statement that service cannot be made with due diligence by any other method. 12 O.S. § 2004(C)(3)
Daniel keeps a written record of each locate step and service attempt, which counsel can draw on for that statement.
Federal law lets licensed investigative agencies use motor vehicle record information only for permitted purposes, such as litigation and service of process. 18 U.S.C. § 2721(b)
Getting someone's phone records by lying to a phone company is a federal crime. 18 U.S.C. § 1039
Getting someone's bank information through false statements is a federal crime, with a narrow exception for licensed investigators collecting court-ordered child support. 15 U.S.C. § 6821
Daniel does not obtain bank or phone records by pretext. Those records come through counsel's subpoenas and discovery.
Nothing on this site is legal advice. Ask your attorney how the law applies to your situation.
What will counsel receive?
- A written report of what was done and what was found, each fact with its source and date.
- Photographs and video from field work, with the original files preserved.
- Witness statements, taken as counsel directs.
- An affidavit of service for each paper Daniel serves.
- The written record of locate steps and service attempts.
- Daniel, available to testify about the work performed.
After judgment, Oklahoma lets a creditor seek a hearing on the debtor's assets and use subpoenas and discovery about property, income and liabilities (12 O.S. § 842). Public records can show signs of assets, such as property and business filings. They do not show bank balances.
How a report or an exhibit is used in court is counsel's decision.
What should counsel have ready?
The first consultation is free. Work begins only after a written agreement is signed and a retainer is paid, as how it works explains. For that first conversation, it helps to have:
- the case caption, or the names of every party, so a conflict can be ruled out;
- what counsel needs established;
- the deadlines, including the date the petition was filed;
- known addresses for the parties and witnesses.
What it costs depends on the number of tasks and how much field time they need, plus mileage, records fees and service attempts. All of it is set out in the written agreement before work begins. The cost guide explains what sets a price.
When should you call the police or 911 first?
If someone is in danger right now, call 911. Fuller Investigations is not an emergency service.
A civil dispute can turn dangerous. If a party or a witness has threatened anyone, call the police before you call an investigator. An investigation documents facts. It does not protect anyone.
Fuller Investigations declines any matter whose purpose appears to be to harass, threaten, stalk or harm someone.