Publications by Inner Circle Members

J. W. Harbert, CLI, FCI

John “Jack” W. Murray Jr., CLI

Robert L. Parke, CLI, FCI

COMPLEX CIVIL INVESTIGATIONS by James W. Harbert CLI, FCI

Introduction By Jack Murray, CLI, CFE, CCDI: I have been involved in the field of civil and criminal investigation for over 30 years. During that time, I have truly been blessed to have achieved a certain modicum of success. A large part of my success has come from being a vociferous reader of journals and books that pertain to my field.During this time, I have on numerous occasions, found materials written by Jim Harbert to be among the most literate and technically correct information available. During my tenure as Chairman of the prestigious Editor-Publisher Awards Committee of the National Association of Legal Investigators, it was my pleasure to present their annual award to Jim Harbert, for material he had published in "The Legal Investigator."In recent years, there have been a plethora of books written in this field. Some of them are very good and some are not. This book is in my humble opinion is outstanding. Harbert possesses a unique combination of in depth technical knowledge and an ability to pass that information along to others in a clear, concise, easy to understand manner. This is not a skill that is easily acquired and there are few writers today that are blessed with it.In this book, you will not find "war stories," written to enhance the image of the author. Instead you will find a gold mine of down to earth, practical applications and explanations of relatively complex ideas.Today's investigators walk through legal land mine fields all the time. Changing technology and court decisions demand that to be successful, you must stay on top of the latest developments in the field. Court decisions, such as Daubert, have set new standards for admission of expert testimony and scientific evidence.Jim Harbert has been a national leader in examining cutting edge technology in the field of both civil and criminal forensics. The book became available January 2004 and the price is $65.00: P.I. Mall.com

Specialized Investigative Programs and Continuing Education Seminars by James W. Harbert CLI, FCI

Crane Accident Investigation and Litgation....Click here to purchase this mini-seminar

This instructive CD on crane investigations is availalble through Thomas Investigative Publications "http://www.pimall.com/nais/craneaccidents.html/ in a single CD as a Continuing education seminar titled Crane Investigations. The CD contains a complete booklet on the investigations with checklists, a power point program complete with many photogrpahs of cranes and accidents and a test that can be taken for CEU credit. Among the topics discussed is crane electocutions, one of the biggest hazards in operating a crane. A successful lift takes into account power lines, their location, their height and the relationship of the lines to the lift. Every time a crane operator or rigger is electrocuted in a crane/power line accident, someone screwed up. Whose fault was it? Your first tendency is to think it is all the operators’ fault, but don't. Many others can be more guilty than the operator. For great information on insulating links for cranes go to www.insulatus.com.

Machine Guarding Investigations....Click here to purchase this mini-seminar

This instructive CD on Machine Guarding is availalble through Thomas Investigative Publications "http://www.pimall.com/nais/machineguarding.html/ in a single CD as a Continuing education seminar titled Machine Guarding: 2004. The CD contains a complete booklet on the investigations with checklists, a power point program complete with many photogrpahs of different guarding situations including in running nip points, rotating shafts, etc. Many workplace accidents are caused by poor, inadequate or non-existent machine guards. Because accidents involving unguarded equipment are so common, plaintiff's investigators and attorneys should have a basic familiarity with the principles of machine guarding. The principles of machine guarding go back to before the beginning of the century. During the industrial revolution, employees were cheap. Employers could afford to lose a few. With no workman's compensation and a plentiful work force, spending money to protect employees was way down on the priority list. Workmen's Compensation and technology had a large impact on the employers thinking in this regard. Trained employees became more valuable, and more costly to mend, so as a result employers started to devise methods of keeping their employees out of the moving parts of their manufacturing machines.

Wooden Pole Investigations....Click here to purchase this mini-seminar

This instructive CD on Wood Pole Investigations is availalble through Thomas Investigative Publications "http://www.pimall.com/nais/woodenpoleinvestigations.html/ in a single CD as a Continuing education seminar titled Wooden Pole Investigations. The CD contains a complete booklet on the investigations with checklists, a power point program complete with many photogrpahs detailing a power pole accident. Most investigators have never heard of a wooden pole case and probably have not heard of a pole falling. Occasionally they fall, and when they do, they can cause severe injuries. While wood poles are subject to stringent standards for treatment, inspection, and replacement they still become old, their anti-rot treatment dissipates and they deteriorate. If they are not properly inspected and replaced within the proper guidelines, they will become a hazard.

Trial Preparation and Presentation for Investigators and Paralegals....click here to purchase this mini-seminar

This instructive CD on Trial Preparation is availalble through Thomas Investigative Publications "http://www.pimall.com/nais/trialpresentation.html/ in a single CD as a Continuing education seminar titled Trial Preparation: Exhibits, Files, Models, Focus Groups and Logistics. The CD contains a complete booklet on preparing for trials with checklists, a power point program complete with many photographs of trial exhibits, etc. This program includes a separate power point program on the anatomy of a real trial showing the use of exhibits through out the trial. Law firms have different methods of preparing for trial. Some have in-house investigators that assist in the entire process, some use paralegals or secretaries, some hire outside contractors such as Dr. Phil (See New Directions in Legal Investigation). For twenty-five years I have played a large role in doing trial preparation. It is not the custom in most firms, but, if you think about it, it does make sense. This short course explains methods of trial preparation that a paralegal, investigator or attorney might find useful. Included in this package is the story of Dr. Mike Kerrigan, one of the true creative spirits of Personal Injury law. Most of us know the names and faces of the big-time criminal defense and civil attorneys. They appear on TV, and in magazines, all of the time. The faces that we don’t see are the people behind the scenes who do the really innovative work. They are the artists, thinkers, and creative people who shun the spotlight for substance. They make the successful lawyers successful. In most cases you will never hear about the Dr. Kerrigans of the legal world

Digital Photography for Investigators....click here to purchase this Mini-Seminar

The question most investigators ask me is "Would you go back to film after having used digital". The answer is no. I will never use film again. I can do things with digital that I have never done with film. " Was digital easy to get into" No. No one told me how to set up the equipment, what software to buy, and how and what to use. It was all magazine research and trial and error. "Is Digital cheaper than film" No. The cost of paper and ink are about the same as film and processing. There are exceptions to this. When you get into really large images digital can be much cheaper. The equipment is the expense and the equipment changes often. The digital photographer must keep up with what's new in the industry.

Legal Photography for Investigators and Paralegals....Click here to purchase this mini-seminar

These instructive CDs on Digital Photography and Legal Photography for Investigators are availalble through Thomas Investigative Publications "http://www.pimall.com/nais/digitalphotography.html/ in a single CD (each topic) as Continuing education seminars. The CDs contain complete booklets on the the topics with checklists, power point programs that are complete with many photogrpahs relating to digital photography and Legal Photography.

Crash Data Recorders in Vehicles....Click here to purchase this mini-seminar

This instructive CD on Crash Data Recorders is availalble through Thomas Investigative Publications "http://www.pimall.com/nais/cdr.html/ in a single CD as a Continuing education seminar. The CD contains a complete booklet on CDR's complete with photographs, checklists, a 22 minute video that is complete with many photographs of the equipment, and the process of downloading data from vehicle Sensor Data Modules. Most vehicles record data in their air bag sensor modules. The National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have both recommended that the automobile manufacturers facilitate the availability of basic crash information available from these sensors. GM has been involved in this for years through a company called Vetronix. Vetronix assisted GM in developing a system that will store and remove data from the seat belt and air bag sensors for use in crash analysis. The SDM (Sensor Data Module or air bag sensor) records the information only after the event starts. When the initial crush starts it awakens the algorithm in the Sensor Module. It's purpose is to fire the air bags, seat belt slack removers and make other decisions about safety equipment. The device in automobiles, depending on the make and model of car, records a limited amount of data relating to the air bags, the deployment of the air bags and seat belts. In GM vehicles the SDM (Sensory data module) also records other data valuable to accident reconstructionists such as vehicle speed, engine speed, throttle position, brake status (all of these 5 seconds before impact), seatbelt usage, passenger airbag enabled or disabled, Delta V (change in velocity, the crash pulse is the change in velocity with respect to time) and more.

Air bags, how do they work? by Richard White. Air bags are synthetic plastic balls that deploy from different locations in the vehicle in an effort to prevent damage to the occupants in a crash by preventing (primarily) head impact during the deceleration caused by impact of the moving vehicle with another object. The bags are deployed through the means of a controlled explosion of sodium azide, during which the azide undergoes rapid conversion from solid to gas. The gas stream is filtered and cooled and directed into the bag to inflate the bag into position to cushion or prevent driver/passenger impact with hard vehicle components. The bag must inflate at the proper moment and then deflate quickly so that vision is not impaired and the driver can continue to control the vehicle.

Slip and Fall Investigations...Click here to purchase this mini-seminar

In twenty-five years of investigating slip and fall accidents here is what I have learned. They don't settle quickly and they do need investigation. For those lawyers who think they are small cases that will eventually pay out, forget it. You are doing your client a disservice. In order to settle a slip and fall the attorney must have witnesses, photographs and standards that have been violated. The witness can be an engineer, the photos can be after the fact but they must illustrate the location and the hazard; the hazard must be covered by a standard that requires that the hazard be identified or eliminated.