Library

A collection of online and offline articles and resources related to legal, financial, and corporate investigations.

Heartland Articles / White Papers

• Occupational fraud: Don’t let it drain your company by Abigail Grenfell, Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants (April 2011)
• Twin Cities investigation firms: Fraud’s silver lining, Star Tribune (April 5, 2010)
• Criminal Defense: How Could You Do That? by Jennifer Brown, PI Magazine, (September/October 2008)
• Undercover in Minnesota: Investigators play key role in uncovering patent and trademark laws, The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal (May 11, 2007)
• Two Mergers Create Midwestern Investigative Giant, Law Week Colorado (February 5, 2007)
• Investigating Catastrophic Events: The Minnesota Bridge Collapse by Paul Jaeb, PI Magazine (November/December 2007)
• Investigations of Alleged Child Sex Assaults; Defending the Wrongfully Accused by Jennifer L. Brown, JD, CLI, The Legal Investigator (Winter 2006)
• Patent and Infringement Cases Require Skill and Creativity by Jennifer Brown, The Legal Investigator (Fall 2006)
• Interviewing the EMT or Paramedic by Jennifer Brown, The Legal Investigator (Spring 2006)
• We’re All Vulnerable by Paul Jaeb, Viewpoints (June 5, 2005)
• Trust Us, Trust Nobody by Paul Jaeb, Minnesota Law & Politics (April/May 2005)
• Investigation of Crimes in the Bureau of Prisons by H. Ellis Armistead, CLI, The Legal Investigator (August 2003)
• Stranger Than Fiction: Digital tools make it easier and cheaper than ever to verify personal information. So why don’t more businesses use them? Star Tribune (November 8, 1999)
• Firms should be proactive in preventing fraud, espionage. Billions in losses could be avoided with background checks, protection of trade secrets. Star Tribune (February 9, 1998)

Heartland Confidential

• Heartland Confidential: Petters/Madoff (January 2009)
• Heartland Confidential: ACFE Fraud Report (November 2008)
• Heartland Confidential: Criminal Defense (November 2008)
• Heartland Confidential (September 2008)

Compliance Resources

• Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)
• Graham-Leach-Bliley Act – Title V: Privacy
• Notice To Users Of Consumer Reports: Obligations Of Users Under The FCRA
• Summary Of Your Rights Under The Fair Credit Reporting Act

Online Resources

• Fair Credit Reporting Act: The Fair Credit Reporting Act doesn’t just apply to credit agencies – it also sets the standard for employers who want to find out more about their current or prospective employees. Even if you don’t seek credit information, if you’re looking into a person’s “character, general reputation, personal characteristics or mode of living,” you or the people you contract to do background work must be FCRA compliant. Or you’re liable.
• Privacy Rights Foundation: Even the most basic personal “due diligence” carries some considerable legal obligation. Check out the laundry list of criteria at the Privacy Rights Foundation Website.
• The Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press: Sometimes it helps to record conversations so you have a permanent record. Statutes cover what you can and can’t tape and they vary from state to state. The Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press has a good summary on the organizations website.