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First Friday this week! Hope to see you there!

Denise Rock — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:26:00 GMT

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First Friday this week! Hope to see you there!

Denise Rock — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:36:15 GMT

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First Friday this week! Hope to see you there!

Denise Rock — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:42:00 GMT

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FBI warns of new variation on telephone collection scam related to delinquent payday loans

Denise Rock — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:51:00 GMT

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) continues to receive complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams.

The typical payday loan scam involves a caller who claims the victim is delinquent on a payday loan and must make payment to avoid legal consequences. Callers pose as representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies, and claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, or other Internet check-cashing services. The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim's home, cell phone, and place of employment in attempts to obtain payment. The callers refuse to provide information regarding the alleged payday loan, provide any documentation, and become abusive when questioned.

The IC3 has recently observed a variation of this scam in which the caller tells the victim there are outstanding warrants for their arrest for non-payment and hacking into a named business with the intent of obtaining customer information. During the perpetration of this crime, the caller demands payment via debit/credit card; in other cases, the caller further instructs victims to obtain a prepaid card to cover the payment.

The high-pressure collection tactics used by the fraudsters have also evolved. In one recent complaint, a person posing as a process server actually made a personal appearance at the victim's place of employment. In another instance a fake process server came to victim's home. In both cases, after claiming to be serving the victim with a court summons, the alleged process server indicated the victim could avoid going to court if the victim provided a debit card number for repayment of the loan.

If you are contacted by someone who is trying to collect a debt that you do not owe, you should:

•Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger;

•Contact your bank(s) and credit card companies;

•Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file;

•If you have received a legitimate loan and want to verify that you do not have any outstanding obligation, contact the loan company directly;

•File a complaint at www.IC3.gov

www.yourhoustonnews.com

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Rock Legal's Annual Holiday Party

Denise Rock — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:37:00 GMT

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First Friday this week! Hope to see you there!

Denise Rock — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:02:00 GMT

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First Friday this week! Hope to see you there!

Denise Rock — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:45:12 GMT

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How a Private Investigator Can Help Build Your Personal Injury Case with Witness Statements

Denise Rock — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:18:41 GMT

How Can a Private Investigator Help Build Your Personal Injury Case?

By: Denise Rock

While attorneys have many tools to build a winning case, a skilled investigator can be one of your firm’s most valuable assets. Investigators are in the business of obtaining information and evidence. A skilled investigator can help you find people and information; assets, find witnesses, photographs crash scenes, testify in court, and help you settle or win your case. Investigators thrive on answering the seemingly unanswerable question and solving the problem no one else has yet to resolve.

Witness Statements - An investigator can also look for witnesses, someone who may live or work in the area and was there at the time of the crash and may have information or evidence as to what happened. Sometimes witnesses are identified poorly on the crash report or the information is incomplete. It’s crucial to follow-up on witness statements as quickly as possible to get a fresh perspective and possible evidence. Also, it is a good idea to obtain the police transcription of the 911 call and speak with the 911 caller. Too often the 911 caller is the best and, or only witness. There have been too many cases where the individual drives away without the officer documenting the witness’s contact information on the crash report. Many people have cell phones capable of recording video and audio and often videotape incidents and are willing to share the video if it may help someone.

When tracking down a witness time is not on your side. Speaking to a witness early in the investigation is key to preserving vital information. Very often witnesses forget the details critical to the case, or they unintentionally alter facts after talking to friends or family about the incident. If too much time elapses between the incident and the interview, you may find yourself spending time searching for a witness who has disappeared or relocated, or worse case scenario, passed away.

Also, when you interview a witness, always ask them who is their emergency contact, someone who will always know where they are. Too often witnesses move or change their cell phone numbers. Having the witness’s emergency contact information enables you to have a method of tracking your important witness even after they have changed their number or address.

Taking a witness statement in a personal injury case is very different from a criminal case. Defense attorneys typically will not permit a recorded statement while personal injury attorneys prefer it. Look for an investigator who is capable of asking in-depth questions in an informal, non-threatening manner that will likely determine the credibility of a witness and the complexity of the facts as well as someone who has experience in taking a plaintiff friendly statement.

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First Friday this week! Hope to see you there!

Denise Rock — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:04:55 GMT

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Investigator Provides Tips on how to Prevent your Cell Phone from being Hacked.

Denise Rock — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:15:00 GMT

The questions typically asked are along the line of how do I protect myself, my cell phone from being hacked?

The truth is you do not have to be a celebrity or a CEO to be a target. The world around us has changed dramatically and knowledge is power and if you have it, it’s likely somebody wants it.

The days of wiretapping when one could eavesdrop on a telephone conversation has now been surpassed by cell phone spying tools that enable virtually anyone who is willing to pay for the software to monitor texts and record personal conversations. One can even set up systems that will alert when a specific number is dialed and permit one to listen to the conversation.

A simple internet search will guide you through the process of hacking into a cell phone.

What is perhaps even more disturbing is there are services that allow the use of data from cell phone towers and GPS systems to target exactly where someone is at anytime and their cell phone doesn’t even have to be turned on the person just has to be carrying it with them. Of course this is ILLEGAL but the software is still sold because it carries a disclaimer advising it does not endorse illegal use.

If you seem to have trouble turning your cell phone off, or it stays lit up after you’ve powered down. Or if your cell phone sometimes lights up when you aren’t placing or receiving a call, or using any other of the phone’s functions. Or you regularly hear clicks or odd background noises when you’re on the phone you may have a problem. The best way to find out if your phone is being hacked is to take it to your provider and have them restore the factory settings and clear out any hidden software that’s running on your phone.

As of this blog there isn’t much you can do to safeguard your cell but it is only a matter of time before the technology is in place. In the meantime don’t accept Bluetooth connections unless you know what they are and don’t allow anyone you do not trust 100 percent access to your cell phone.

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Don't forget about First Friday this week!

Denise Rock — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:45:59 GMT

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How a Private Investigator Can Help Build Your Personal Injury Case with Crash Scene Photographs

Denise Rock — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:37:38 GMT

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The Importance of an Investigator Obtaining Reliable Witness Statements

Denise Rock — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:55:00 GMT

There are many types of statements; whether it is an audio recorded statement, a sworn statement where the investigator who is also a notary obtains a signature swearing or affirming to the facts or an affidavit which is a handwritten statement provided by the witness. Each statement plays a key role in the preservation of witness information, the impeachment of an uncooperative or hostile witness and the possible settlement of a case.

There was America’s Most Wanted and there is America’s Wrongly Convicted. Eyewitness identification is the leading cause of wrongful convictions. Just like Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption where a woman identified her rapist and he was wrongfully convicted and spent a number of years in prison, years later through DNA evidence, it was learned that he was not man who committed the crime.

Just a small example of why it is so important to speak with all witnesses and really listen to them. If they are a witness to an automobile crash for example, ask what caused you to notice the crash. You might just be shocked at how many people say the noise of the vehicles colliding was what caused them to look which really means, they didn’t see the crash or what lead up to the crash and perhaps are not really that good of a witness at all.

According to the Innocence project, the first DNA exoneration in the U.S. took place in 1989. Exonerations have been won in 34 states. Since 2000, there have been 192 exonerations.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement now has new standards designed to ensure consistency, impartiality and neutrality when taking eyewitness statements, approved by The Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association. State Attorney Michael McAuliffe and Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw developed a policy and encouraged other law enforcement agencies to do the same after the Palm Beach Post published an investigation in January. The Post investigation revealed the majority of South Florida police agencies had no eyewitness policy in place even though the U.S. Department of Justice recommended reform more than a dozen years ago, after several misidentified men were exonerated by DNA evidence.

Now law enforcement agencies from Key West to the Panhandle have been asked to voluntarily implement policies by November 1^st. The legislature is expected to pass legislation setting uniform statewide minimum requirements for eyewitness identification, including the neutral administration of police lineups.

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The Best Defense...

Denise Rock — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:22:57 GMT

It seems the common belief is that big money will buy freedom. Though that was not the case here.

Casey Anthony could not afford to assemble a dream team of legal eagles to help her beat the wrap. Chief Attorney Jose Baez was court appointed along with defense attorney Cheney Mason and perhaps that’s why so many ‘court observers’ believed she would be found guilty of killing her two year old daughter.

In this case it was a well executed defense that garnered a not guilty verdict. While the rest of the world may focus on Casey getting away with murder, I would like to tip my hat to a great defense team for a job well done. Though Casey certainly knows something by not reporting her daughter missing for 31 days, as a defense lawyer, you had a job to do and you went in and did it exceptionally.

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Don't forget about First Friday this week!

Denise Rock — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:52:47 GMT

Come and help kick off the holiday weekend by joining us at Rock Legal for our First Friday Happy Hour on July 1, 2011 from 5:00pm – 9:00pm!

THIS EVENT IS FREE TO ALL AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

ALL DONATIONS MADE AT FIRST FRIDAYS BENEFIT THE

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.

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How a Private Investigator Can Help Build Your Personal Injury Case with Insurance Information

Denise Rock — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:27:00 GMT

How Can a Private Investigator Help Build Your Personal Injury Case?

By: Denise Rock

While attorneys have many tools to build a winning case, a skilled investigator can be one of your firm’s most valuable assets. Investigators are in the business of obtaining information and evidence. A skilled investigator can help you find people and information; assets, find witnesses, photographs crash scenes, testify in court, and help you settle or win your case. Investigators thrive on answering the seemingly unanswerable question and solving the problem no one else has yet to resolve.

Insurance information - When insurance information is incomplete or dated on a crash report it slows down the process of moving a new client’s case forward. One way an outside investigator can help you is by obtaining the insurance information directly from the Department of Motor Vehicles. This is a real time search based on a tag or VIN number that provides the current insurance information on vehicles to confirm personal injury and property damage coverage. These reports are an excellent way to immediately obtain insurance information should it be missing from a report.

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How a Private Investigator Can Help Build Your Personal Injury Case with Bank Locates

Denise Rock — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:59:00 GMT

How Can a Private Investigator Help Build Your Personal Injury Case?

By: Denise Rock

Bank locates may be best suited when you are trying to recover an excess judgment from the Defendant. They are conducted using two methods that are lawful under Federal Law. Federal Trust Laws prohibit account numbers from being provided. Bank accounts are considered “hits” on any open account regardless of the balance in that account, which includes checking, savings, IRA’s, trust accounts, and business accounts located under the subject’s social security number. Searches reveal ALL open accounts within the state(s) requested along with the banks name or stock/bond company name, address, type of account and balance.

Additionally, under the recent FCRA (Federal Credit Reports Act) and FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Act) and GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Biley Act,) also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, a permissible purpose is required to conduct a search. The most common objective is to collect a debt, a judgment, restitution, a court order, a contractual obligation, unpaid child support, spousal support order, a pending business relationship or other circumstances where a creditor/debtor or other bonafide relationship and/or a business connection exists between the parties involved.

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Don't forget about Friday this week!

Denise Rock — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:21:00 GMT

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Investigator dramatic hair cut for an investigative assignment or Locks of Love?

Denise Rock — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:43:56 GMT

Yes, that’s right, I’ve got a new look. Some say I went overboard on my new investigative assignment dubbed “operation bob girl” but when I walked into Moda salon and sat down in front of Michael, my trusted stylist, the truth of the matter is I was ready to say farewell to 10 inches…and I was doing it for a very good cause. Locks of Love, the non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss needed my hair, how could I refuse? My trusted stylist braided my beloved, straight cascading hair, secured it with a rubber band and snip, snip, within seconds he handed me the valued remains to donate. I have to admit, it felt good. It felt good to be charitable and it felt good to have a new doo…a bob.

Haircuts can be traumatic. When I was eight years old and Dorothy Hamill was gliding her way across the ice to Olympic stardom in Innsbruck, Austria, my mother was insisting I get a bob cut just like America’s camel spinning sweetheart. If you know my mother you know I didn’t stand a chance, so I relented.

It’s been more than three decades since I have allowed someone get close to my chestnut locks with a sharp object, but time does heal most wounds and I’ve learned hair or at least my hair, definitely grows back.

Before I could surprise my Reggie with my new look, my 17-year son Anthony posted my picture on Facebook soliciting reaction from the masses. So far 47 followers have commented, I never thought my hair was such an interesting topic and am truly flattered.

An Asian friend said the best Feng shui haircut is considered to be a bob, just like America's camel spinning sweetheart and I shared to many years ago. The bob, my bob is a soft and rounded haircut, most of my hair is one length (not like the Threee Stooges) but spunky, trendy, easy to maintain and like Feng shui, I hope the hair cut gives my life the perfect balance.

Before During After

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