_< Click Here > for the AFI-LLC newsletter for December is now online. News and information about our profession.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will soon be enjoying Christmas and Hanukkah.  With 2012 just around the corner, we want to extend our sincerest appreciation to our family, friends, colleagues and clients for a wonderful 2011!

Starting this month, our agency has launched a special referral program for our fellow investigators.  < Click Here > for more details.  Also this month, is Black Friday Month (because this special started on Black Friday, through Christmas) and Dean's 'Professional Locate Investigations' eBook is available for $10 and automatic download (eBook is regularly $15 and hardcopy is $25).  The download includes expanded and additional articles in preparation for a full 2012 revision (current purchasers will get a discount on the eBook only revision).

This is the time of year we see many charity drives - from food banks to toy collections.  Please take the time to drop a dollar here and there, pick up a children's toy and donate to the many causes.  For us, Childrens Hospitals and Ronald McDonald's House networks were life changing, and saving, to our family and extended family.  They hold a special place throughout the year in our charitable giving.

Remember to let us know about your interest in death investigation seminars.  We are planning for 2012 and are accepting sponsors.  Be sure and check out "Medicolegal Death Investigations for Private Investigators", a continuing education course at  www.PIEducation.com developed by us and based upon our education, training and experience.  < Click Here > for PI Education Course Details

AGENCY NEWS AND UPDATES
-- Now member of Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) -- Dean appointed as World Association of Detectives (WAD) North America Ambassador (west) 
-- Special for the holidays - 'Professional Locate Investigations' eBook 
-- Comments on the Wyoming Coroner Association Conference

In the News
-- DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated
-- Discovery Reforms Are Needed

Association News
-- Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
-- National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
-- National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
-- World Association of Detectives (WAD)

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

On October 1st we will celebrate 24 years!We have changed our agency name to 'Associates in Forensic Investigations' to better reflect 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. Visit our updated website at www.DeathCaseReview.com.  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 Office and (970) 480-7794 Fax.  Watch our newsletter the first few days of October for details and share with your office and colleagues.

Regards, Dean and Karen
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Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI
Board Certified Legal Investigator / Expert
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigators
Certified Death Investigators

Colorado, Rocky Mountain Western Region & National - 'Quaero Indicium - To Find the Evidence'

Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators of
Personal Injury, Negligence & Death - Civil, Criminal and Probate
Certified Death Investigators / former Deputy Coroners
author 'Practical Methods for Legal Investigations' and 'Professional Locate Investigations'
www.PracticalMethodsForLegalInvestigations.com ~ www.ProfessionalLocateInvestigations.com ~ CE www.MedicoLegalDeathInvestigations.com
Member:  PPIAC/Chairman, NALI/CLI (Region 6 CLI Committee), NCISS/Region 5A Director (CO, WY, NE & AZ), WAD, CDITC (Forensic Investigations Advisor), NAME and IAI-RMDIAI; Mensa USA