Assemblyman Ash Kalra
Assemblyman Kalra referred to the process service industry as engaging in systemic fraud or "sewer service". I conduct difficult service of process when process servers are unable to complete service. In doing so, I have always taken cell phone photos or video with Date & Time Stamp (imposed on the image), when conducting service of process so the service cannot be denied.
Liquid-burning firepits behind 2 deaths, dozens of injuries
By Kate Gibson
CBS News
December 19, 2024
Americans are being urged not to buy or use liquid-burning portable firepits sold for tabletops and other uses following the deaths of two people and dozens of injuries.
Sold as tabletop firepits, firepots, miniature fireplaces or portable fires for indoor use, "these firepits are extremely dangerous and have been associated with two deaths and at least 60 injuries since 2019," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday in issuing a consumer alert. "Consumers should immediately stop using and dispose of these products. Sellers should stop selling these products," the agency stated.
The warning follows the June deaths of an elderly couple, .....
LINK TO ARTICLE
Liquid-burning firepits behind 2 deaths, dozens of injuries
LSIS Case Study: Flame Jetting Hazard Phenomenon
Randall Alexander
Licensed Investigator
/ Paralegal
September 8, 2023
A couple years ago, I had an investigation where family and friends were having a great time (no alcohol), gathered around a dinner table. Located on top and center of the table was a product commonly referred to as a "fire pot". Fire pots come in various shapes, sizes, manufacturers, as well as fuel sources. The smaller, “safe for indoor use” fire pots are generally used for ambience, some even use for cooking a marshmallow.
The particular model in question used Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol, which contains over a 90% alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol generally burns fairly clear, but is also highly flammable.
As the fire pot on the dinner table appeared to run out of fuel, one family member decided to refill the small fire pot reservoir. What the person did not realize was that there was still a tiny ember or flame at the bottom of the fuel reservoir.
CPSC Urges Consumers to Stop Using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces Due to Flame Jetting and Fire Hazards; Two Deaths and Serious Burn Injuries Reported
Name of Product:
FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces
Hazard: Using alcohol-fueled FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces can cause uncontrollable pool fires in which flames burn across the surface of pooled or spilled alcohol, as well as flame jetting from fuel containers, resulting in serious or fatal burns.
Consumer Action: Consumers should immediately stop using and dispose of these dangerous products.
Product Safety Warning Date: December 19, 2024
SB 1454, authored by Member Ashby and signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 22, 2024, extends the sunset date for the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (Bureau) until January 1, 2029, extends the ability for alarm companies and private investigators to form limited liability companies through January 1, 2030, and introduces several important changes to Practice Acts regulated by the Bureau.
The provisions of this bill will take effect on January 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified.
WHAT
IS EYEWITNESS PERSPECTIVE?
DSLR
Photographic Evidence
Randall Alexander
State Licensed Investigator
February 26, 2023
INTRODUCTION
Since
1999, when I obtained my investigator’s license I have witnessed (like many of
you) technology rapidly change and advance.
I was routinely upgrading camcorders and cameras, going through various
recording formats from 8mm to disc, then to CFI cards, SD and micro SD, etc.
Through this rapid technology change to auto-tech convenience, and the advent of high quality cell phone cameras, many have forgotten or never learned a couple fundamentals of basic forensic photography. The one aspect I want to address is developing Eyewitness Perspective, or what someone saw with their naked eye.
Eyewitness Perspective is when a photographer can stand in the same spot where a witness previously stood, and capture an image with the same depth of field and perspective as the witness’ naked eye view.
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Randall Alexander
Licensed Investigator
August 17, 2023
INTRODUCTION
In the 1992 comedy My Cousin
Vinny, the criminal defense attorney played by Joe Pecsci has the
insurmountable task of raising doubt before the jury in what appears to be
solid eye witness accounts, linking the defendants to the crime scene.
With one witness in particular, Cousin Vinny is showing the witness photographs, and asks on cross examination, “So Mr. Crane, you can positively identify the defendants for a moment of two seconds, looking through this dirty window, this crud covered screen, these trees, with all these leaves on them, and I don’t know how many bushes…”
As comical as the entire
exchange was, there is an element of relevance to be taken away.
In your investigation, what could a witness actually see from their perspective at the time of the incident? And ... how can we replicate these conditions in an court approved evidentiary manner?
Factors that come into play are obstructions, lighting conditions, distance, weather, etc.
I hope you find the article informative!
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Capturing Eyewitness Perspective
SURVEILLANCE: PHOTOGRAPHING
MINORS
IN LITIGATED MATTERS
Randall Alexander
Legal Investigator
December 7, 2024
INTRODUCTION
There are many aspects
of privacy laws that govern our investigative industry. This article is
intended to address only one; surveillance video / photographing minors in
public, whether intentional or incidental.
Specializing in Civil Litigation and Family Law Litigation for the past twenty-five years as a licensed investigator, there has been a handful of times while under oath that I have been asked by opposing counsel, “Why did you illegally record my client’s child”?
If you are not prepared to answer this question, it could reflect poorly on your professional knowledge, competency, and possibly tarnish your investigation as well as your client’s case.
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DIFFICULT SERVICE OF PROCESS
Requiring a Licensed Investigator
Randall Alexander
Legal Investigator
April 1, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Service of process is traditionally handled by individual registered
process servers and attorney document services.
Generally, they offer affordability, often $150 for three attempts by
relying on bulk workload where the process server will have numerous cases to
attempt service every day. While a registered process server’s role is pretty
clearly defined, it is also limited. Their brevity at each stop-and-knock location
when attempting to complete service is frequently hit or miss.
Under these circumstances, a law firm may resort to contracting a licensed investigator to complete a “Difficult Service of Process”.
One problem encountered when being asked what an investigator charges
for Service of Process is the attorney may have an unrealistic expectation of
cost, assuming that licensed investigators will charge similarly to an attorney
service. It usually requires a detailed
explanation based on our professional knowledge and experience, so the attorney
/ client understands the potential costs BEFORE engaging an investigator.
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COHABITATION
INVESTIGATIONS
Family Law Litigation
10-30-2020
Randall
Alexander
Licensed
Investigator / Paralegal
I
was in Family Law Litigation course in college when I was given a fact pattern
to research and determine if there was codified law or case law to support a
modification for alimony based on a reduced need due to cohabitation. Little
did I know, I would become an investigator after college and utilize these many
legal lessons I learned in my business practice.
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California Cohabitation Investigations
