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Surveillance Investigations
Lawful, discreet observation documented to evidentiary standard, anywhere in Florida.
What surveillance investigation is
Surveillance (often called sub rosa investigation in litigation) is the lawful observation and documentation of a subject’s activity in public view: time-stamped video, photographs, and a contemporaneous activity log of what was observed, when, and from where. It is the most direct way to compare claimed limitations with documented daily routine.
When counsel orders surveillance
- Before an independent medical examination or deposition, to document actual function around the event
- In disputed bodily injury, disability, and workers’ compensation claims where reported limitations are central to value
- Before mediation, when the file is thin on independent facts
- When observed routine, whatever it shows, would change how the claim is evaluated
Timing matters more than most files account for. Routines shift once litigation matures, and the most informative observation windows close early.
How we conduct it
Static and mobile surveillance, conducted from public vantage points, without trespass and without audio interception, scoped against Chapter 493, Florida Statutes. Every hour on post is logged contemporaneously: time-stamped, GPS-referenced entries from arrival to departure, matched to the video and to the invoice. Our investigators work natively in English and Spanish.
Findings are reported as observed, whether they corroborate the claimed limitations or contradict them. That impartiality is what makes the record usable.
What you receive
Time-stamped video with originals preserved and hashed, the full activity log, a written report with a clean chronology and no editorializing, a documented chain of custody, and an investigator prepared to testify to all of it.
Common questions
Is surveillance legal in Florida?
Yes, when conducted lawfully. Licensed investigators may observe and document activity from public vantage points, without trespass and without audio interception. Every APB operation is reviewed for acquisition risk before anyone deploys.
Will the video be admissible in court?
Admissibility is decided by the court, so we document to that standard from the first hour: lawful acquisition, preserved chain of custody, contemporaneous logs, and an investigator available to testify. The record around the video is built to survive the challenge.
How many hours of surveillance do I need?
It depends on the claim. Patterns documented across multiple days are generally more informative than a single long session, so most operations are scoped as blocks across separate dates. We scope it with counsel against the question the file needs answered.
Can you schedule surveillance around an IME or deposition?
Yes. Observation timed around examinations and testimony is common, and we coordinate those windows directly with counsel.
Related: Claims Investigation Courtroom-Ready Documentation · All services
Scope a surveillance operation.
Describe the matter in general terms. We respond within one business day, in confidence.