Gradoni & Associates
2024 surveilance success
Can’t work anymore!
Our firm was hired by a Civil Defense firm to surveil a Plaintiff who claimed that as a result of a slip and fall accident, they were unable to work as a result of their injury. During the course of our surveillance, Investigator Hodge was able to obtain video of the Plaintiff on numerous occasions, leaving their residence, grocery shopping, loading groceries in their car and doing yard work, which in general negated her claim of physical injuries.
My Neck, My back!
Our firm was hired by a Civil Defense firm to surveil a Plaintiff who claimed to have sustained neck, low back, and left knee injuries from a slip and fall accident. Investigator Hodge was able to capture footage of the Plaintiff repeatedly climbing in and out of a large pickup truck without showing any noticeable impairments. She was also filmed bending over to clean her apartment balcony and carrying trash to the dumpster.
During a visit to a local Target store, the Plaintiff was observed taking items from the shelves and attempting to exchange them for a cash refund.
Injunction Violation
Our Client was involved in a custody dispute with his ex-wife. There was an injunction in place stating that the ex-wife could not drink alcohol in front of the child, since it was alleged she had a drinking problem. On two separate occasions, Investigator Kelli South was able to film mom at her favorite restaurant drinking margaritas with her daughter and other relatives.
During the course of one of the investigations, the mother was overheard using the F-bomb, frequently, in front of her 9 year old daughter. The film of those infractions closed the deal for our client.
Can’t Drive Anymore
Our firm was hired by a Civil Defense firm to surveil a Plaintiff who claimed that as a result of her injury, she was suffering from serious mental health issues and could no longer drive a vehicle.
During the course of our surveillance, Investigator Kelli South obtained video footage of the Plaintiff shopping and making decisions about what to place in her cart, operating her rental business, and driving her car for extended periods of time, even capturing footage of her switching
Traveling Cheater
Our firm was contacted by another Investigative firm in Washington DC, who were working a divorce case involving infidelity. Their client believed that her husband was traveling to Houston to have a romantic weekend with his ex-wife.
We were asked to partner with the Washington investigators to confirm the illicit weekend on the Houston end.
Investigator Rudy Olivo conducted some preliminary work, which enabled us to identify the ex-wife’s place of employment, residence, and the vehicle that she drove. This information was essential to the investigation since the terminal at the airport was under construction, and cars were not allowed to sit and wait to pick up arriving passengers.
Our partner investigative firm placed an investigator on the flight with the male, who was able to take a number of pictures as he entered his ex-wife’s vehicle upon exiting the front door of the terminal. Investigators Kucifer and Olivo had followed the woman from her home to a staging area near the airport terminal. The cars waited at this location for the planes to arrive.
They were called by their friends to come pick them up at the exit door of the terminal when they were ready. Investigator Olivo was able to obtain footage of our wayward husband getting into the ex-wife’s car. The investigation continued throughout the weekend. The pair were filmed at the motel they were staying at, along with visiting restaurants in public view, where they displayed signs of affection.
At some point, I’m sure our client’s husband will find out his wife knew he really didn't attend a weekend training program.
Do I Really need my cane?
Our firm was hired by a law firm in Florida who requested we surveil an injury claimant who resided in the Houston area.
The Claimant came to the depositions utilizing a cane and giving the impression she had a great deal of difficulty sitting, standing, and walking.
Kelli South surveilled this individual on 8 different days, documenting her activity. The Claimant drove for long periods of time, went shopping frequently, loaded groceries in carts, picked up the grocery bags, and placed them in her vehicle. She did all this without the aid of any device, showing that she had no physical difficulties on a daily basis.
I guess the cane is only useful on depo days.
Too Hurt To Work
Our firm was hired by a Civil Defense firm to surveil a 68-year-old female who claimed that as a result of her injuries, she could no longer work because her physical ability to walk and move was severely limited.
The female lived in a rural area outside of Houston and was captured on film by Investigator Hodge, cutting the grass on a large field using a riding lawn mower.
After taking a break, she returned outside to do some cleanup raking, filling trash bags, and dragging them to the street for pickup.I’m sure she will have some tough questions to answer during her deposition.
Aggravated Assault
Our client, attorney Jack Carroll, represented an individual who was charged with assault. The complainant in the case claimed injuries that were so severe he had to use a walker. Driving and anything physical were certainly not feasible. The complainant even filed a civil suit for damages against the defendant.
Investigator Alyssa Keller conducted surveillance on the complainant five days before the criminal trial was to start. She captured the complainant on video without a walker, driving, lifting boxes, and doing yard work.
The criminal case was dismissed and it does not look like he will do well in the civil case either.
I will never be able to work again
Our firm was hired by a Civil Defense firm to surveil an individual who claimed the injuries he received in an automobile wreck were preventing him from ever working again.
Investigator Rudy Olivo surveilled the Plaintiff on 5 different occasions. He was filmed working in his yard, raking the grass and cleaning up leaves, placing them in garbage bags. On one occasion, he drove to Galveston and spent the day at the beach. On the final day he was surveilled, he went to a local gym and played basketball for over an hour.
I guess the real title of this story is: I don’t ever want to work again. I’m sure his attorney will be happy to see all the video we were able to obtain.
Travel Restriction
Our Client had engaged in a custodial agreement that before they traveled with their 10-year-old daughter on any trip, they must inform the other parent of the identity and information of any adults accompanying them.
Our Client believed that the child’s father would be taking a trip with his girlfriend and requested that we surveil the group of travelers when they leave on their flight from Houston International to Cancun.
In order to have access to the terminal gate when the group flight was scheduled to leave, Investigators had to purchase a ticket for the same destination.
Investigator Kelli South was able to obtain photographs of our client’s daughter, biological father, and the girlfriend. The adults were drinking alcoholic beverages at the bar, with the child accompanying them. Investigator South also obtained pictures of everyone as they boarded the plane.
At the end of the day, this is what is called “undeniable proof” of a violation of their custody agreement.
Overnight Companion
Our firm was retained by a father who was separated from his wife because she was having an affair with a coworker.
The couple had two small children who lived with the biological mother after the separation. The court ordered that the mother was not to have any male visitors in her residence between the hours of 9:00pm and 7:00am each day.
Investigator Alyssa Keller followed the mother from work on 5 different occasions. After she picked up her children from daycare, she drove directly to the boyfriend’s residence each and every time and spent the night with the children in violation of the order.
During the course of the surveillance, when the boyfriend wasn't home upon her arrival, it was noted that she had a garage door opener, which allowed her access to the boyfriend’s residence.