Is surveillance legal?

Surveillance is legal in the State of Texas when conducted by a Licensed State of Texas Private Investigator who conducts the surveillance from a position where he has a legal right to be.

How is a surveillance case documented?

The client will receive a detailed report with photographs, along with a video, which is court ready should the case be litigated.

How much does surveillance cost?

Every surveillance case is unique to itself, in which the investigation is tailored to determine answers to the client’s questions. In the Houston area, cost varies from $85 to $120 per hour. The cost is affected by geographic locations, time the surveillance takes place, and the number of Investigators involved.

How long does surveillance last?

Surveillances are tailored to the client’s needs and budget. A cheating spouse, or custody case usually has at least 3 days of surveillance. There is no standard norm, a case can last anywhere from one week to one month.

Are Investigators able to obtain video inside restaurants, bars, gyms, and retail establishments?

Houston Professional Investigators have special equipment which will allow them to obtain covert video at all these locations.

Who will know about the surveillance?

The confidential report is only provided to the client and his attorney if there is an attorney involved.

Do Investigators testify in court?

All of our Surveillance Investigators have court experience in testifying about their surveillance efforts as detailed in their confidential report.

Can I tape record a conversation without my girlfriend or spouse knowing?

The State of Texas only allows a conversation to be tape recorded if one party or more is aware that the conversation is being taped.

Can I place a tracker on my spouse or girlfriend’s car?

There is a State Statute that allows an individual or company to place a tracker on a vehicle for monitoring by a State Licensed Investigator. This can be accomplished if the specifics of the case meet the Statute’s requirements.

PRIVATE EYES OF TEXAS

May of 2002 Edition

A Message from J.J.,

CONGRATULATIONS TO GEORGE PARNHAM & WENDELL ODOM, ATTORNEYS OF THE YEAR

All of us at Gradoni & Associates would like to congratulate George Parnham and Wendell Odom, two of our favorite clients, for being selected as Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers of the Year for their representation of Andrea Yates.

Having had the privilege to work with both attorneys on the Yates case, we certainly know first hand all of the time, money and energy expended by both George, Wendell and their staff in Andrea’s defense.

I can certainly attest that both George and Wendell poured their hearts and souls into this case.

The case was certainly an uphill battle, which left all of the defense team with newfound knowledge about mental illness, hospitals that provide mental care and psychiatric services.

Andrea Yates’ journey from school valedictorian, college graduate, clinical nurse, home schooling mother to a lifetime sentence in TDC was one that I know the staff at Gradoni & Associates will never forget. Your continued support and business is greatly appreciated. J.J. Gradoni

NEW STAFF MEMBERS

Yvonne Parks, a graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in Political Science has recently joined our staff. Yvonne will be handling case work in the Fort Bend County area.

Yvonne hails from Fort Bend County and has worked with a number of Fort Bend County attorneys working in criminal and civil practices. Yvonne is working on her Masters Degree in Criminal Justice.

Terrance Levi, a graduate of SW Louisiana College with a Criminal Justice degree has recently joined our staff working in the surveillance unit. Terrance has over 17 years of experience in mobile video surveillance undercover corporate investigations. Terrance is an expert in the covert work of identifying theft rings, fraud and drugs in the work place.

Both are welcomed additions to our staff.

INVESTIGATOR PROFILE…

Clay Buckner is our profiled Investigator in this issue. Clay is recognized as a valuable team member of Gradoni & Associates because of his versatile abilities.

Clay is the mainstay of our surveillance team, but also has a great deal of experience in interviewing witnesses and conducting background investigations.

Clay grew up in the Houston area, attending Cy-Creek High School. Clay joined our firm in January 1992 after his Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corp, serving in Desert Storm.

Clay has been responsible for many surveillance successes, which has included filming suspected fraud, workman’s compensation claimants from heavy brush in full camouflage attire, filming people who claim they are unable to drive while following behind them at high rates of speed and utilizing our undercover camera to catch individuals claiming disability at work.

Clay returned to college on a part time basis in order to complete his degree program. Clay is currently a senior at the University of Houston, majoring in computer science and mathematics. Clay’s work ethic and attitude embodies our core function to provide the best possible work product for all of our clients.

We are proud to have Clay as a member of our team.

GOODBYE & GOOD LUCK

Everyone on the staff at Gradoni & Associates would like to say goodbye and good luck to Elizabeth Congos, our lead word processor who has been with our firm since August of 1992. We will miss Elizabeth, who is moving to Dallas to further her education.

Elizabeth is a typing wizard, who can type over 110 words per minute. We will probably have to hire two replacements in order to not lose the pace Elizabeth provides on our work product.

RUSTY DUNCAN…

For all of our friends in the Criminal Defense arena, we will again be attending the upcoming Rusty Duncan Seminar in San Antonio on June 6th and 7th as an exhibitor. We look forward to seeing many of you. Please stop and say hello.