Posts Down

  Posts are down for a few days meaning that I am not posting on daily or less schedule.

Posts will go up more frequently in a few days.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Oklahoma Supreme Court Reverses Closing Court Records

  The Oklahoma Supreme Court issued an order last week that would have restricted access to on-line court records and would have required that most identifying information be redacted from court filings.  The order was intended to prevent “identify theft,” although most identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission, is not a result of accessing court records.  The Court’s rule required that Social Security Numbers, dates of birth and addresses be excluded from public court records.

In Oklahoma the public reaction to such a restrictive rule was immediate and in opposition to the new rule.  Yesterday the Court reversed the proposed rule for further consideration.  The Enid Oklahoma News summarized the story yesterday and stated that “It appears the court did not fully realize or understand the overwhelming use of these records by all citizens of Oklahoma.”

The article pointed out two good reasons for the Court to reconsider its rule:

1.)  It would have been a giant leap backward in providing access to the public, and;

2.) The records are needed “for many users of such court documents to have access to identifier information, primarily birth dates. We can understand restricting access to Social Security numbers, but taking out birth date information could have led to people being misidentified for public information purposes.”  Click Here to Read Story

One significant item mentioned above is the lack of information in court records leading to “people being misidentified for public information purposes.”  As noted in a previous post yesterday, Virginia Court Records, the ability to identify persons involved in public court records is essential for all investigators, whether law enforcement or private security/investigators.  There are many reasons identification is so essential, but a major one is the right to due process of law and a fair trial.  In a criminal prosecution, the prosecuting attorney and the law enforcement authorities have all of the identifying information needed to locate witnesses, to interview witness and to obtain all background information on the alleged defendant.  If public or court records do not contain certain identifying data, criminal defense attorneys and private investigators are hindered in properly representing an accused.

PIAVA encourages the Virginia Supreme Court to consider the proposed changes in Virginia’s rules to restrict information in public court records, and allow identifying data to be included in the court records and filings.  If such data is not available the result will be, as the Enid News said, “people being misidentified for public information purposes.”
 

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Targeted Search Engine–iSEEK

  This is a new search engine that has interesting possibilities iSEEK.

You can search terms, phrases or ask questions and results come in. On the left side of the screen there are links targeted information about your search.  Check this out and add to your list of search engines.

iSEEK says on its site:
“iSEEK analyzes your search results each time you do a query, identifying themes, topics, and more and organizing your results for you. Rather than wading through a mini-web of thousands of results, one by one, in some indiscernible order, you are guided to a specific set of relevant results with

Discover New and Useful Information with Intelligent

iSEEK brings results to life, letting them tell you what they are about. Analyzing every set of results on-the-fly, draw out topics, people, places, dates, and more from your results. You discover new facts and connections before even clicking a link.

Make Searching Simpler with Natural Language Queries.

In iSEEK, you can use natural language to do your searches. Instead of relying on keyword pattern matching and algorithms, iSEEK knows the meaning and concepts embedded in the questions you ask, so it understandswhat you are asking and retrieves relevant information. No more strategically selecting keywords then adding to them, revising them, and requerying them to get the results you want - simply ask questions and get answers.

With iSEEK Searchblades, you can cut through the riffraff when you are seeking high-quality, focused results. iSEEK’s expanding selection of Searchblades enables you to search within a professional field or domain of knowledge to find information that is reputable and authoritative in that area of expertise. More than mere collections of hand-picked sites, identify and search through relevant, trustworthy sources to bring you results that matter.”

Bill Lowrance
President PIAVA

Virginia Supreme Court Restricts Access To Court Records

  Recently (March 18, 2008), the Virginia Judicial Council sent a report to the Virginia Supreme Court on a proposed, formal set of Rules of Evidence and on proposed changes to Part Nine to the Supreme Court Rules that would regulate access to public court records. 

Virginia and Massachusetts are the only two states that do not have a formal evidence code.  According to the Virginia Lawyers Weekly, VLW Blog, Click Here, the new evidence code would be similar to the Federal Rules of Evidence, but would adopt most rule language from Virginia case law.  Read the proposed rules Click Here.

Proposed changes to Part Nine of the Supreme Court Rules address concerns of personal and private information being accessible in court records.  The proposed rule provides for sealing of court records, procedures to unseal records and limiting personal information in filings with the court.  Read the proposed changes Click Here

We initially wrote about this in a previous post last year Click Here.   While the Virginia Supreme Court did not act upon the first set of proposed rule changes for access to court records, the Court is considering the Judicial Council’s most recent set of proposed rules for access to public court records.  Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr. told the council that he expects the court to take some time before acting on the proposed rules.  Hopefully, the Supreme Court will consider public comments on the proposed rules.  We shall see.

Access to public court records is important to the legal and professional investigation industry.  Private investigators work for the public, businesses, law firms and attorneys.  In all cases, whether involving fraud, litigation, criminal trials or business due diligence, private investigators must be able to identify, verify and locate individuals referenced in public records.  Without the ability to gather this information, many investigations will fail or the costs will increase so that the public and others cannot afford to prepare their case or conduct due diligence or complete fraud investigations. 

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

RSS Feeds From Europe

  The European Journalism Centre provides RSS feeds from over 300 European news sources.  Many private investigation and private security companies must keep up with current events worldwide to provide security information to international clients.  At the site you will see various flags. Click on the flag to bring up the different news sources for headlines and stories.  Some are in English, some not. Click EUFeeds Here

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc.

McLean, VA

A Dead Fish A Rose–Origin Of Pellicano Case

  On June 20, 2002, journalist Anita Busch found a note saying “Stop” taped to her car, a fish and a rose in a tin tray on the hood of her car and a bullet-like hole in the windshield.  This incident started the long series of events that led to the federal investigation and prosecution of Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano.

Ms. Busch will testify in the ongoing Pellicano trial, but she has given her first interview since 2002 to the New York Times.  Read the interesting story Click here NY Times.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc.
McLean, VA

Proving Adultery In Virginia

  Fairfax County, VA, Circuit Court Judge Michael P. McWeeny issued an opinion letter granting a divorce in which one of the parties alleged the other party committed adultery.  Proving adultery in Virginia is not easy, and alleging adultery as a ground for divorce in Virginia is not common.

This published opinion letter, see VA Lawyers Weekly, was issued in December 2007.  The parties in the case had been married for 35 years and the husband and wife were 65 and 60, respectively.  The court found the evidence of adultery was supported by a private investigator’s testimony and surveillance video.  The evidence reflected that the husband was observed coming and going from the home of his “friend,” grocery shopping with her and remaining until late evening in her home.  There was no direct evidence of husband spending the night with his “friend,” nor were they ever observed making displays of public affection (often proof of adultery in Virginia).

The “killer” evidence was that husband was seen coming out of his “friend’s” home on two occasions in a “state of partial undress.”  One time he was seen in pants with no shirt.  Then, he was seen coming out of the house in only his tee-shirt and boxer-style underwear.  From all of the above circumstances, the court found that husband, indeed, did commit adultery.  Read the case Here VA Lawyers Weekly

PIAVA Meeting March 19

  PIAVA is having its monthly meeting March 19, 2008.  This is our usual monthly meeting always, well most always, held on the third Wednesday.  PIAVA always has interesting speakers and attending members/guests always learn something new about the private security and investigation industry.

  This month Fairfax County, VA, Board of Supervisors Chairman, Gerald Connolly, is our speaker (See Fairfax County Government).  Mr. Connolly and his family have resided in Fairfax County, VA, since 1979.  He was first elected Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2003.  He was re-elected to a second term this past November with nearly 60 percent of the countywide vote.  Previously, he served nine years as the Providence District Supervisor.  Mr. Connolly has been active in the Fairfax County community for many years and has vigorously represented Fairfax County’s citizens in addressing the many issues that impact our daily life.

Since we invited Mr. Connolly to be our speaker at our March meeting, he announced that he is running for Congress for the 11th District of Virginia.  See www.gerryconnolly.com 

Mr. Connolly will talk with PIAVA, informally, about the operation and organization of Fairfax County, VA, government.  Many of our members’ businesses are in Fairfax County, and I am sure there will be many questions about our county government. 

If anyone in the private security business is thinking about joining PIAVA and wants to attend one of our meetings, please contact me at the contact information in the upper left corner of this Blog.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Have Skype Vonnage? Security Issues

 Think about it. You have e-mail, IM, VOIP, like Skype, Vonnage.  Who is listening or monitoring your conversations? Most of us would say “No one monitors my communications because I am not saying or communicating anyone wants to know about.”

Well, some businesses or others may have communications that should remain private.  Some security experts recommend that you maintain a land line telephone for better security rather than using a VOIP like Skype, Vonnage or others.  VOIP, e-mail and IMs are subject to intercepts.  Here are two articles outlining security features and who and how can intercept your communications. 

VOIP News
Top Security Threats-2008

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Private Investigator Still Missing In Iran–Bob Levinson Find Him

    Bob Levinson lived in Florida and worked as a private investigator.  On March 9, 2007, he disappeared.  Bob was working on a cases that took him to the Iranian resort island of Kish.  On March 9th, Bob checked out of his hotel, and his wife and children have not heard from him since.

Bob retired from a career as a Special Agent with the FBI in 1998.  He ran a small private investigation firm, and he often had cases involving international work.  That is why Bob was in Iran.  He was investigating a case and following leads that took him there.  The US State Department and the FBI made official inquiries to the government of Iran, but the Iranian government says they do not know anything about Bob’s disappearance.  The State Department and the FBI continue on with their investigation, but they have developed no information about Bob’s disappearance or whereabouts. 

Christine Levinson, Bob’s spouse, and the oldest of their seven children travelled to Iran a few months ago looking for Bob.  They met with government officials, passed out fliers and talked with anyone who came into contact with Bob.  All was to no avail, however, Bob is still missing. 

If anyone has information about Bob Levinson, please call the nearest FBI office.

Details about Bob and the disappearance are on a web page Click Here helpboblevinson.com.

Latest news articles Click Here and Click Here

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Blackwater Security–Again

  The Washington Post has a story today about Blackwater Security and the Congressional investigation. Congressman Henry Waxman, House Oversight Committee Chairman, sent a letter to the IRS, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Labor requesting investigations into Blackwater’s employment practices, certifying itself a “small business” and withholding its employment records.  It seems that almost everyone of Blackwater’s “security persons” are not employed by Blackwater, but operate totally overseas as “independent contractors.”

Waxman says that “independent contractor” designation, which the government has questioned in the past, has allowed the company to obtain $144 million in contracts set aside for small businesses and to avoid paying as much as $50 million in withholding taxes under Department of State contracts.  Of course, Blackwater says that such allegations are “completely without merit.”  Oh, yawn, yawn, of course.

See Washington Post article

and see oversight-letter.pdf

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Need To Record Telephone Calls?

  Some people need to record telephone calls.  Private investigators, news reporters, attorneys, law enforcement and insurance companies are just a few of the type of people who may record telephone calls.  Of course, there are laws against recording calls when you do not have permission of the parties.  In some states, one person must consent to recording a call. In other states, all parties must consent to a recording.  The laws vary from federal jurisdiction to different state jurisdictions.  You can check all state and federal laws on recording phone calls Click Here.

So, how do you record telephone calls?  There are different methods for recording depending on whether you are wireless,VOIP, land-line or using some other system.  Check out this article for details:

how-to-recording-phone-calls

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

“Shut Up–I Like This Song, Too” Crash Davis

“Shut Up–I Like This Song.” Crash Davis

Colorado Private Investigator Arrested Using Tracking Device

  According to a news article in the Summit Daily News, a private investigator from Glenwood Springs, CO, was arrested Thursday after placing a tracking device on a car.  The tracking device was for a divorce case the investigator was working.  A witness saw the investigator crawl under an SUV and then drive away.  The witness called the police who found the device attached under the SUV. The police treated the unknown device as a bomb, evacuating the area and calling in the bomb squad.   Read the whole story Click Here See also Denver TV News

Some people use GPS tracking devices.  The devices are place in a concealed area of a vehicle.  The location of the vehicle is available via computer from a remote location–say in your office.  The use of these GPS tracking devices is questionable from a legal point of view.  PIAVA does not recommend using such devices; nor authorizes such use.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc. McLean, VA

More Horse Cruelty In Florida

  A few posts back, Click Here, we mentioned horse cruelty cases happening in Virginia. Horse cruelty is not unique to the Commonwealth. Florida Animal Law reports of an incident in Florida. The reason for the horse’s condition, according to the article, the high prices of feed, hay and gas.

See original article Sun-Sentinel news story

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc., McLean, VA

Competitive Intelligence–Get It Now

  Competitive intelligence (CI) is a term used to describe businesses gathering background information on competitors and other businesses in the trade. But, the techniques and resources for competitive intelligence work is suitable for almost any “due diligence” work or other background investigations.

Here is a great summary and starting point for CI resources from a good investigative Blog–The Confidential Resource, one of our Canadian friends Click here competitive-intelligence. Richard McEachin of McEachin & Associates Ltd. writes the posts on the Blog.

Most of the CI material came from www.bnet.com which has a lot of business news and management information.

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc., McLean, VA

Spammers Beware In Virginia-Case To US Supreme Court?

    The Virginia Supreme Court has upheld the country’s first felony spam conviction in a 4-3 ruling, holding that the state’s groundbreaking anti-spam law did not violate the First Amendment.

The majority rejected free speech arguments by Jeremy Jaynes, regarded as the world’s eighth most prolific spammer before he was sentenced to nine years in prison for violating the 2003 law, the Richmond Times Dispatch reports.

The opinion (PDF) said Jaynes was prosecuted for sending almost 46,500 spam e-mails within a three-day period that had disguised his identity as the sender.

See ABA Journal VA Supreme Court

But Jaynes’ attorney said he will ask the US Supreme Court to hear the case. 

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc.

McLean, VA

Traffic Cameras–See Where You Are Going

  If you have to travel, check out the traffic first. PIAVA member, Ed Leary of E.R. Leary & Associates LLC, Fairfax, VA, ER Leary & Assoc., sent in this great travel planning site for driving in your area. Thousands of traffic cameras are available to view road and freeway conditions in all states and the District of Columbia. You can select the state and cities to view. The traffic camera picture is update every 2 seconds. There is even a pay service that allows you to get the pictures and information on your cell phone or Blackberry device. This is great for efficiently driving about your local terrain. See TrafficLand

From the site:  “TrafficLand launched its public website on Monday, September 10, 2001, feeding video from 32 roadside cameras in Northern Virginia. The tragic events of the next day immediately made TrafficLand.com an invaluable tool for area residents seeking to evacuate the city after the attack on the Pentagon and local media seeking reliable information about ground conditions. The one day old TrafficLand public website met the challenge. The company has since built a record of success in each of its market segments and today provides live video from thousands of cameras worldwide.”

Drive carefully,

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc. 
McLean, VA

Latest Intrigue On Pellicano’s Trial

  The US Attorney’s office filed a pre-trial document on Friday in prelude to the Pellicano trial next week.  The LA Times ran this story Click her for story  and See latest March 19 story 

As you may remeber Pellicano is Hollywood’s PI who got into serious trouble for doing illegal wiretaps, threats, guns, explosives–you name it.  The indictment speakes for itself.  

Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc.
McLean, VA