Since 1996, Stop Loss, Inc. has been a State of Georgia private detective agency specializing in insurance related concerns. Our organization consists of seven private investigators serving the State of Georgia. Six investigators reside in the metro-Atlanta area and one resides in Albany, Georgia. The Georgia Private Detective license also permits our staff to investigate within Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama and Florida on a limited basis, via reciprocal licensing arrangements.
For the past eight years, Stop Loss, Inc. has been the primary detective agency assigned to investigate Workers' Compensation claims for the Georgia Municipal Association's 500-plus member cities. In 2007, Stop Loss, Inc. was awarded a three-year contract as the primary investigative vendor for DeKalb County, GA over an exceptionally qualified field of local, regional and national investigative agencies.
Since inception, Stop Loss, Inc. has averaged a growth rate of over 25% per year, due in large part to our focus on investigations within the State of Georgia, and our commitment to providing efficient, personalized local service, rather than regional or nationwide coverage, which most often results in the use of subcontractors.
Stop Loss, Inc. is locally owned and operated by Michael A. Connell and Andrew J. Bone, who both graduated with degrees in Finance from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Prior to starting Stop Loss, Inc. in 1996, both were employed by another Atlanta-based insurance investigative firm since 1992.
The two central Stop Loss, Inc. approaches to investigations are patience and persistence. As a company that has specialized in the investigation of Workers' Compensation for the past 10 years, we realize that the typical Workers' Compensation claim may take months or years to resolve, so patience and persistence cannot be understated. That being said, we understand the underlying factors that influence the claim process, and resolving a problematic or contentious claim in a professional and timely manner is always the most important objective.
Over the past 10 years we have developed a reliable method for investigating suspect Workers' Compensation claims, but our services can always be tailored to suit the individual needs of our clients.
Generally, our surveillance efforts consist of three parts. First, our investigative staff verifies all information obtained from our client, and develops background information on the claimant through employment sources identified by our client, and a variety of public, database and Internet resources.
Secondly, once a level of confidence is established about the information provided and developed, surveillance is initiated. A typical first day of surveillance will commence at 6:00 a.m. and last until 2:00 p.m., weather permitting.
In general, no contact is made with any neighbors, and no efforts are made to generate any leads on the first day of surveillance. If a claimant is working or active, it is generally found that they are working and active on a daily basis. As such, we resist efforts to determine claimant activity on our own, as this can compromise an investigation at an early stage.
Once surveillance is terminated on the first day, an in-person courthouse search is conducted, if necessary. Any information found will assist in the development of leads in regard to the claimant.
A second day of surveillance, either in the morning or afternoon, is usually conducted without attempting to develop additional information, other than what has been garnered via a court records search. Finally, after two days of surveillance, with the approval of our clients, indirect inquiries are usually conducted within the community in an effort to develop at least two contacts that can confirm whether a claimant is active, suspected of being employed, or is not active (convalescing or simply malingering). Often this community canvass will identify a neighborhood source that may be willing to assist in our investigation.
Verbal reports and e-mail updates will be furnished to the client during the course of the first day of investigation, and during subsequent days, or as often as requested. In the case of surveillance investigations, after each day of surveillance, a written update containing photos of the subject (if observed), residence, surroundings, and updated billing information can be provided. Supervisors are also in constant contact with field personnel to assist with the ever-changing climate of our surveillance efforts, so updates can be provided to clients in real-time.
Written reports will be furnished to clients within 48 hours of the completion of an assignment or as requested. All field personnel are provided with laptop computers and multimedia devices, which allow for the preparation of reports, photographs and videotapes/DVDs during the course of the investigation.
Atlanta area investigations, including compensability investigations and surveillances, are customarily assigned and commenced on the same day that the request is received. Efforts will always be made to accommodate rush, same day, weekend or holiday assignments.
Attempts are made to initiate surveillance as early as 6:00 a.m. the next business morning after an assignment is received. As indicated above, to assure accuracy and efficiency, all information provided to Stop Loss, Inc. is verified via database, Internet and public record resources, prior to initiating surveillance.
Stop Loss, Inc. strives to complete Compensability Investigations, Statements, Subrogation Investigations, Database Searches, Asset Searches, Education Verification, Employment History & Verification, Hospital & other medical facility canvasses, Locates and Record Retrievals within 48 hours, but our ultimate goal is same day or 24-hour turnaround. Any delay will be addressed with the client via e-mail or telephone contact. Our company has personnel dedicated to performing these types of investigations on a daily basis.
Credit, Motor Vehicle Records and Medical Records can be retrieved with a signed release from the party being investigated.
Assignments can be taken via telephone, fax, e-mail or by requesting that a Stop Loss, Inc. representative meet at the client's office.
Stop Loss, Inc. manages investigations through three supervisors: one for field investigations, one for inside/database investigations and one for overall quality control. Supervisors have over 40 collective years of experience in the investigations field. Each has been employed by Stop Loss, Inc. for a minimum of 8 years.
All supervisors are updated daily on each investigation being conducted by Stop Loss, Inc. As such, a level of familiarity regarding every investigation is maintained by the entire supervisory staff at all times.
The most common medium for documenting video evidence is the Mini-DV Video Camera, which the company provides to employees, but efforts are always being made to keep up with the latest state-of-the-art technology. Our investigative team also adapts covert video equipment for use on an individual case basis.
All Stop Loss, Inc. employees are required to sign a confidentiality agreement as a stipulation of employment.
Stop Loss, Inc. does not use subcontractors in any regard.
