GILBERTSONInvestigations Inc. (239) 571-1840
Use of Force
Self-Defense
False Arrest & Search
Criminal-Defense Support
Police Misconduct
Deficient Investigations
Failure to Train & Monell
Agency Training
From the record $640,000 jury verdict, with the jury crediting the expert testimony. Hunter v. City of Federal Way, W.D. Wash.
Retention $8,000–$9,000 retainer · 29–33 hours at $275/hr Full case history For Retaining Counsel
Gilbertson Investigations Inc. · Deficient Police Investigations

The Investigation
That Failed

Witnesses · Evidence · Crime scenes · Convictions

Some cases are lost before they are filed, in investigations that missed witnesses, mishandled evidence, and never questioned their first theory. This practice reconstructs what a standardized investigation required, and documents where the real one fell short.

Discuss a matter Call (239) 571-1840

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only

Practice areasUse of ForceFalse Arrest & SearchPolice MisconductFailure to Train & MonellDeficient InvestigationsSelf-DefenseCriminal-Defense SupportAgency Training
The Scope

What the analysis covers.

Individual engagements are scoped with counsel. Go deeper: Missed Witnesses & Evidence · Video & Timeline Reconciliation · Wrongful-Conviction Review.

Witnesses and evidence

  • Missed or unlocated witnesses
  • Inadequate witness canvassing
  • Ignored or mishandled evidence
  • Chain-of-custody practices
  • Failure to preserve exculpatory evidence

Scenes and records

  • Crime-scene security, preservation and documentation
  • Officer and civilian interview procedures
  • Statement inconsistencies, report omissions and contradictions
  • Body-camera, surveillance and report reconciliation
  • CAD and dispatch-timeline reconciliation

Case reviews

  • Investigative bias and tunnel vision
  • Failure to consider alternative suspects
  • Homicide-investigation review
  • Shooting-investigation review
  • Serious-felony investigation review
  • Internal use-of-force investigation review
  • Wrongful-conviction and post-conviction case review

Reviews serve both civil matters and criminal defense, through post-conviction.

The Engagement

Same discipline, every case.

01 · Conflicts & scope

Conflict check and a written scope with retaining counsel before substantive discussion.

02 · Retention

Retainer of $8,000–$9,000 covering 29–33 hours at $275 per hour.

03 · Record & report

The complete record against national standards; most reports finish within the retainer.

04 · Testimony

Deposition, hearings and trial, nationwide from RSW.

Full fee schedule and counsel FAQ: For Retaining Counsel →

From the Record

Related casework.

Criminal defense

State v. Clark

Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon

Self-defense testimony for the defense; not guilty on all counts.

Open the case files

Case accounts as published by retaining counsel. Outcomes depend on their facts; no result is promised for any other matter.

The judge mentioned the credibility of his report in hearings. Highly effective in securing a dismissal with prejudice for our client.
Dr. Stephen Pidgeon, Ph.D., Attorney at Law · Everett, WA
Questions

Asked before the record is sent.

What does a deficient-investigation review produce?
A record-grounded comparison between what standardized investigative procedure required and what the investigation actually did: witnesses, evidence handling, scene work, interviews, documentation, and the reconciliation of video, CAD and reports.
Does the practice take wrongful-conviction matters?
Yes. Wrongful-conviction and post-conviction case review, including homicide, shooting and serious-felony investigations.
What does retention cost?
A non-refundable retainer of $8,000–$9,000 covering 29–33 hours of discovery review, report writing and conferences at $275 per hour. Most reports are completed within the retainer. The full published schedule is on the For Counsel page.
Retain

Send the investigation file.

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.

Deficient investigation inquiry

For counsel examining how an investigation was conducted.

Inquiry sent.

You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.