Experienced Legal Investigations
The facts are the foundation.
The best advocates want to know ALL the facts in preparing for negotiation or trial. Be equipped with not only helpful information, but also about any unhelpful evidence (in a privileged report) that could destroy a case if not stick-handled in advance.
Evidence from independent witnesses and other sources is far more convincing than relying on only the client, who is always seen as biased, and may not know what’s important.
ER founder Jamie Bowman’s background is journalism, and that’s the way we practice our trade — the the facts, with integrity. We’re not ex-police.
We bring those journalism techniques to our legal work:
- understanding the file,
- establishing rapport with a witness,
- interviewing with respect and detail, and
- obtaining agreement to sign off on a statement.
We specialize in making witnesses comfortable, to speak with candour, usually by phone in their own homes. Senior litigators, such as AW McGarvey, Johnston Franklin Bishop, and Holness Law Group, rely on our reports and statements, carefully crafted for best effect.
Contact us for a free consultation on how we can build your file, and for samples of our work.
Some Areas We Explore …
How did it happen? Witnesses are carefully interviewed to lock down all the circumstances, with an eye to attaching liability. Statements are crafted to be most effective, but additional information from the witness, i.e. credibility, background, etc., is contained in a report.
More than anything else, documenting income loss can significantly boost the value of a claim. Managers, co-workers, etc. can talk about the possibilities for advancement/pay increases that were lost for the victim, due to the injury. Charting the rise of a comparable co-worker, who went on to increase earnings, job security, and promotions, can be a useful tool to illustrate potential earnings lost.
Co-workers, family members, friends – the people around an injury victim can talk about the changes they observed in the person, particularly around loss of income. Anecdotes flesh out the story, drawing a descriptive picture. All that can be captured in a statement or report.
With decades of experience, Elemental Research has covered almost every imaginable litigation scenario – leaking basement walls, trees cut, loose cows, mining claims, etc. We document the loss – how it could have been foreseen/prevented, who knew, what went wrong, and what were the losses? We also search out other available information, like building plans, mapping, measured distances, regulations, etc.
Visual reconstruction can be a critically important and compelling tool in presenting a case, helping a judge, adjuster or Crown understand. Aerials, maps, injuries at various stages of healing, structural defects, intersection configuration, uneven sidewalks, deteriorated railings, poor markings, and what should have been be visible in night lighting – just a few examples of our photo documentation that have made the case.
Why pay an engineer to attend, when we can photograph and measure every detail for them, to prepare a report from their office? If you don’t already have a favourite engineer, we are connected with the best.
Not every relative leaves a forwarding address.
When due diligence requires that you notify missing heirs or individuals, who could challenge the provisions of a will, we can help find them.
We are dogged and determined, plus we have access to information brokers and other sources.
If they can’t be found, we can provide an Affidavit for use in demonstrating to the court that reasonable steps were taken to locate the individual.
Leave it to us.
