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. · Training · Supervision · Organizational Practices

The Failure Behind
the Failure

Training · Supervision · Discipline · Monell

Individual misconduct usually has organizational fingerprints on it. This practice examines how the agency trained, supervised, disciplined and retained its officers, and whether written policy matched actual practice, in support of pattern, practice and custom analysis.

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: Supervision & Discipline · Monell Pattern & Practice · Hiring & Retention.

Organizational analysis

  • Failure-to-train analysis
  • Failure-to-supervise analysis
  • Failure-to-discipline analysis
  • Policy adequacy and written policy versus actual practice
  • Municipal and Monell-related police-practices support
  • Pattern, practice or custom analysis

Personnel systems

  • Officer hiring and background screening
  • Negligent officer retention
  • Prior complaints and disciplinary history
  • Early-warning systems
  • Command review and corrective action
  • Internal-affairs procedures
  • Officer accountability systems

Training practices

  • Police academy training practices
  • Officer report-writing practices
  • Officer use-of-force training analysis

Opinions address police practices and standards; ultimate legal conclusions on liability remain for the court.

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.

Federal civil rights

Alvarez v. King County

No. C16-0721RAJ (W.D. Wash.)

Police practices analysis in federal civil rights litigation.

Open the case files

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

Questions

Asked before the record is sent.

What is failure-to-train analysis?
A record-based examination of what the agency trained, when, and against which standards, compared with what its officers actually did, covering supervision, discipline, retention, early-warning systems, and the gap between written policy and practice.
Does this support Monell claims?
The analysis provides municipal and Monell-related police-practices support: pattern, practice and custom review grounded in agency records, training files, complaint histories, and national standards. Legal conclusions remain counsel's domain.
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 a training and supervision record.

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

Failure to train & Monell inquiry

For counsel building or defending a municipal-liability claim.

Inquiry sent.

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