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Case Studies Northwood & Associates is recognized by the legal community, insurers and corporations both nationally and internationally as a leader in the investigation industry. We have provided clients with important and time sensitive information since 1988. We have related a number of examples illustrating the effectiveness of our involvement below: Property & Casualty Accident Benefit Claims Undercover Assignment / Labour Dispute Patent and Trademark Infringements Property and Casualty Accident Benefit ClaimsInsurers Exposure Reduced:Northwood & Associates was assigned to reduce the exposure faced by an insurer resulting from a motor vehicle accident involving two automobiles. Each vehicle was occupied by multiple persons. Our client was faced with five separate claims from the occupants of one vehicle. Each passenger was investigated independently to determine if they possessed their own automobile insurance. Principal insurers were identified for two out of the four passengers within 48 hours of receipt of the assignment. Further inquiries were conducted on the two remaining passengers with their landlords, employers, and neighbours, ultimately uncovering separate principal insurance carriers for them. The timely delivery of this information to our client saved the principal Insurer considerable exposure and the adjuster countless work hours to adjust these wrongfully placed claims. So Called "Strangers" Revealed as Co-Conspirators to Defraud Insurance Company:Northwood & Associates was contacted by the Special Investigations Unit of a major insurer in the Toronto area. We were instructed to investigate the validity of a motor vehicle accident that occurred in a remote area on a Sunday afternoon. The occupants of both vehicles stated they did not know each other and had just met through these unfortunate circumstances. Using our internal database compiled from 16 years of insurance claims investigations, we initially were able to draw a connection between the drivers of both vehicles as demonstrated from previous investigated claims. The database information provided a foundation for correlating details on both drivers. It showed that they had prior knowledge of one another, through shared employment experiences, and co-ownership of real estate. When our investigators pursued the matter, both drivers were found to be brothers-in-law in their country of origin. This information was utilized by the insurance company and in conjunction with an Accident Reconstructionist Report allowed the adjuster to deny the claim. Caregiver/Housekeeper Trumps Up Fees and Services:An insurer was faced with an escalating claim for housekeeping and care-giving services, and retained Northwood & Associates to investigate. Our investigation was two-fold: a face-to-face interview with the housekeeper/caregiver resulted in a lengthy written statement that reflected several discrepancies with the original story that the claimant had provided his insurer. Secondly, surveillance was co-ordinated to identify the service provider's daily activities. This approach confirmed that the housekeeper/caregiver maintained a full-time weekday commitment with a part-time evening job. Both employments were not related to the alleged care-giving and housekeeping services provided to the claimant. Investigators had further determined that the service provider's full-time job had spanned the last five years and the part-time commitment commenced without interruption a year and a half prior to allegedly offering services to the claimant. When confronted with this information, the adjuster denied the claim for services and reported the offending party to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Fraud Department. Auto Insurance - Surveillance: An insurer had retained Northwood & Associates to conduct surveillance on a middle-aged gentleman reporting soft tissue injuries to the neck and back regions. Within one week of receiving this assignment, the claimant's residential area received a significant snowfall and an investigator was dispatched to document the individual responsible for removing the snow from the driveway and walkways associated with the claimant's property. When the claimant made an appearance outdoors he did so wearing a cervical collar and utilizing a standard walking cane. Our investigator adopted a very discreet surveillance position to document the subject removing the accumulated snow from the property's driveway and walkways for ninety minutes. Interestingly, during this time frame the claimant was observed dropping the snow shovel and standing motionless in the driveway each time a vehicle passed his house. Once the passing motorist was no longer in view, he continued to shovel his driveway clear of snow. Once this activity was completed, the individual attempted to start his automobile parked in the driveway without success. The subject proceeded to lift the hood of his vehicle and then keenly viewed his surroundings before he removed the cervical collar and conducted minor maintenance on the vehicle. The video documentation of the subject's activities was of great advantage to the insurer when settling the claim. Life and Health Claims - Surveillance "Disabled" Claimant Found to be Working - Benefit Discontinued: Many of our Life and Health clientele have found it useful to coordinate surveillance in conjunction with a scheduled claimant interview. Our Head Office was presented with an assignment involving a claimant on a Long Term Disability Claim who was unable to return to her sedentary office administration position. Several attempts were made to arrange a scheduled visit and interview with the claimant; however, the claimant was unavailable and failed to return repeated messages. Surveillance was promptly undertaken and revealed that the claimant was involved in a home-based ceramic novelty enterprise. The claimant made ceramic gifts and small novelty items in the garage of her home. During surveillance, the claimant was physically involved in the production of each item inside her garage during a warm summer week. We were permitted to lawfully document this activity because the claimant left her garage door open in full view of all pedestrians. In total, four consecutive weekday surveillances were completed each demonstrating the claimant involved in home-based self-employment activities. Further discreet and tactful inquiries led us to develop the name of the claimant's business and the locations where she sold her products. Before co-ordinating additional surveillance at these points of sale, the client instructed us to continue with our efforts to arrange a claimant interview visit. During our renewed efforts to interview the claimant, we were successful in meeting with the claimant at her residence. During the interview, the claimant presented herself as a lethargic, pain focused individual. She even went so far as to admit to her "hobby" of ceramic making; nevertheless, she stated that she was unable to continue this activity post-disability. Of her own volition, the claimant provided the interviewer a view of her garage where she claimed that she used to be able to make her items. Much to our surprise, the interior of the garage was vacant of all the recent materials, supplies and finished products we had seen stored there during surveillance conducted the week prior. Subsequent surveillance illustrated the claimant selling her products at local flea markets and fairs. Based on the surveillance and claimant interview, the adjudicator discontinued benefits. DNA Solves Paternity Issue: A successful middle-aged investment broker in Toronto retained Northwood & Associates to assist in his defence of a paternity claim made against him, alleging that he was the father of a young teenager. The claims for compensation made in the Plaintiff's Statement of Claim confirmed that our client was facing considerable expenses. It was agreed that the best tact in this case was to arrange for surveillance of the young teenager to collect a DNA sample. This required two bouts of surveillance that eventually allowed us to retrieve a beverage can disgarded by the teenager. DNA evidence was then found on this can. A voluntary cheek swab was taken from our client and compared with the DNA sample from the soda pop can. It was determined that our client was not the father of this teenage boy. Our involvement saved the client considerable sums of money and respect with his family and business circles. Undercover Assignment/Labour Dispute Northwood & Associates has serviced numerous corporate and industrial clientele over the years. One such example involved a high profile corporation inserting a Northwood & Associates undercover operative into a unionized work place for several weeks while negotiations between the Union and Management were being held. This action was implemented to gauge the temperament of the employment staff at this particular site and to thwart any potential destructive, intimidating, or illegal tactics. The client was provided with timely reports allowing them to act accordingly, and concentrate their attention on the Labour negotiations without being sidetracked by delaying or intimidating methods created by disillusioned employees. A national car rental company retained Northwood & Associates to investigate the theft of monies from one of their branch offices. Management and employees alleged that the theft had been conducted by a customer. Northwood & Associates. commenced the investigation by obtaining written statements compiled by each employee. Using statement analysis techniques, the investigation then centred on the Branch Manager. Proceeding with interviews and having the Manager undergo a voluntary polygraph examination, it was found that the Branch Manager was responsible for the theft. The client terminated that individual's employment with cause. Patent and Trademark Infringements A pharmaceutical company retained Northwood & Associates to investigate whether a competitor was infringing on its intellectual property. Using a cover company, investigators of Northwood & Associates posed as entrepreneurs and successfully purchased samples of the suspect product. The product was later found through the client's Research and Development department to be infringing on their patent. As a result of the investigation, the client was able to successfully litigate against the competitor. Beneficiary - Life Insurance (1): A beneficiary of a life insurance policy launched a claim against an insurer, claiming that her husband had died in Jamaica. Investigation by Northwood & Associates revealed multiple policies totalling over $2 million, one of which was actually paid out by another Insurer. Extensive investigation occurred both in Canada and in Jamaica with the investigator traveling to that country and it was found that the claim was fraudulent. It was determined the insured did not exist and that his identity had been formulated for the purposes of conducting insurance fraud. Charges were laid by the police against all relevant parties and convictions secured. Beneficiary - Life Insurance (2): A claim was initiated by the beneficiary of a life insurance policy who claimed that his friend, the Insured, had died in Haiti. The insurance company retained Northwood & Associates and an investigator traveled to Haiti and determined that the claim was fraudulent. While in Haiti the investigator, in order to show the client how extensive fraud is in that country, secured his own "legitimate" birth and death certificates. It was found through investigation that the insured and the beneficiary were the same person. This individual was charged and subsequently convicted. |
