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Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
a Rocky Mountain West Agency www.DeathCaseReview.com
Wyoming (307) 222-0136 ~ Colorado (970) 480-7793
Quaero Indicium -'To Find the Evidence'
Please distribute to others that may have an interest
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We hope this finds each of you doing well and digging yourself out of the deep freezes that 49 of 50 states have experienced. Spring is just around the corner - although it seems that corner keeps getting pushed. Recently it was just below freezing and no coat was needed!
Currently a bill for mandatory licensing is again making its way through Colorado's legislature. Dean testified on behalf of our agency and various supportive associations. Since June 2012, when the new voluntary program became effective, our agency has been licensed. Our licenses expired, without renewal, effective March 1st. Why is this? It was not a matter of not desiring to renew, it was a matter of conflicting issues.
Concurrent with the proposed mandatory bill, there is a bill to repeal the voluntary licensing - which would become effective June 2014. That would make a one-year renewal only three months. But what if the mandatory bill passes? Within that bill is a clause to end voluntary upon enactment into law - also would be approximately June 2014. The implementation of mandatory would be June 2015. Our decision was to not renew for three months for an annual fee, and continue working to see passage of Colorado SB 133 Mandatory Licensure of Private Investigators. We continue to maintain our insurance and follow all the rules and ethics of licensure, as we have for over 25 years. It is our intent to be licensed again - either in Colorado and/or Cheyenne, WY.
Recently Dean, being on the licensing committee of PPIAC - one of the several invited stakeholders by the bill sponsors, testified at the first Senate hearing. The bill passed along party lines, 3-2, and will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on March 11th; Dean will again testify. At this first hearing the perpetual opponents returned. Here is one anonymous observer's comments - http://coloradoprivateinvestigator.wordpress.com. Although we have no idea who this blogger is, Dean also observed and shares the same observations. It should be noted that the bill sponsor and committee legislators, as well as the representative for the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), took full responsibility for not previously enacting a mandatory licensure program (as sought by PPIAC, DORA and the current bill sponsor, and reluctant voluntary co-sponsor of the time).
FEATURES AND NEWS YOU CAN USE:
-- New Case Study - Homicide or Justifiable Self-Defense?
-- Death in Ohio - Suicide or Homicide
-- Facts & Forensics pocast on GIMG.tv
-- Teen Suicide - a MUST read
-- Hit the Hill and NCISS
-- Association Conferences
-- Death Investigation - distance learning
-- NCISS Legislative Alerts and In the News
-- Quint-Essential Qualities of a Professional Investigator
-- Two special news items of our profession
-- AND MORE!
Together We're Better - We Make the Difference! Associates in Forensic Investigations LLC is owned by Colorado Licensed Private Investigators Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI.
We provide Expert Consultations and Legal Investigations of Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation. We are Subject Matter Experts in Equivocal Death Investigation and Analysis, and Injury Causation.
We are based in the Rocky Mountain West and provide expert consultations nationally. Learn details at www.DeathCaseReview.com
Here is a video explaining what we do and why - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgsvtbSk8fg
AFI-LLC - Our agency is called upon for many reasons - from investigations to consultations - and from finding the right investigator to the right expert. We have recently added to our case examples found at http://www.DeathCaseReview.com/sample-cases.html. |
Agency News and Updates
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New Case Study Posted - Homicide or Justifiable Self-Defense?
A new case study has been posted at http://www.deathcasereview.com/sample-cases.html
Wrongful Death - Homicide or Justifiable Self-Defense (Expert Consultation)
Our agency was retained by next-of-kin to review the official records, reports, photographs and additional evidentiary information into the shooting death of a relative. The decedent was found outside his residence, deceased, with two gunshot wounds. Responding family members found two neighbors approximate to the decedent. By report, the neighbors were returning to their home when observing the decedent being aggressive towards them. At that time one neighbor retrieved his firearm, discharging three times and striking the decedent twice; the first shot was reported to be a warning shot.
Continued at http://www.deathcasereview.com/sample-cases.html
Death in Ohio - Suicide or Accident?
Dean and Karen will briefly discuss this case on the next 'Facts & Forensics' podcast.
In Sandusky Ohio on March 02, 2012, 19 year-old Jacob Lamberios was reported dead due to a gunshot wound to the head. The county elected coroner, John Wukie, was called and certified the death based on verbal reports from on scene sheriff deputies. No scene response from the coroner or medicolegal death investigators. It was ruled a suicide. The evidence was later lost and the decedent buried. No autopsy. Learn more at http://www.deathcasereview.com/1/post/2014/02/death-in-ohio-suicide-or-accident1.html Global Investigators Media Group 
GIMG.tv Facts and Forensics debut podcast! Current president of the Florida Association of Licensed Private Investigators (FALI) Tim O'Rourke has launched a new media venue for professional investigators - Global Investigators Media Group at www.GIMG.tv. Under this umbrella will be a variety of investigator hosted shows via podcast. Tim has updated the show content with Dean's first podcast - 'Facts and Forensics' at http://gimg.tv/001-facts-forensics-w-dean-beers. Please take a listen and share your feedback, keeping in mind its a bit rough around the edges.
The show opens with an explanation of what Dean would like to do on Facts and Forensics. In the second half of the show Karen is interviewed about a project we have just completed. This month we will highlight a few equivocal death cases in the news and key points to consider. Future shows are planned to include short segments on a) tips and tricks for fact investigations b) short commentary with Karen on headlines of forensics c) profession and legislative news from NCISS and state associations. This will be followed by the second half-segment, a guest speaker to discuss something related to them and our profession.
I would like to hear from you with any input and information to include in the segments ideas for guests and topics.
BOOKS FOR INVESTIGATORS AFI-LLC has put together some of the best fiction and non-fiction books available from Amazon. These range from studying for certifications to best practices, and investigative fiction and non-fiction. Most of these are written by our friends and colleagues, including fellow CLIs and CCDIs. See the complete list of books at
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Our Expert Forensic Affiliations
|  We believe that medicolegal investigation and consultation is a team effort. Stephen Cina MD, Harold Schueler PhD, and our agency are affiliated as experts in our respective fields offering our clients comprehensive medicolegal services.
Dr. Cina is the Chief Medical Examiner of a large metropolitan area in the upper mid-west, and Dr. Schueler is currently is the Laboratory Director in a private laboratory in California, and has been a Chief Toxicologist for over 22 years at government laboratories in Cincinnati, Ohio and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Through Forensic Toxicology Consulting Services, he provides private consultations nationally.
Contact our office to consult on medicolegal death and injury causation. The CVs of both Dr. Cina and Dr. Schueler are available by contacting us.
We are proud of our working relationship with Dr. Cina, since 2002.
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Tidbits from AFI-LLC
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Teen Suicide - a MUST readWe saw this excellent op-ed from Coloradoan (newspaper) reader about teen suicide and prevention. MUST read and share... http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20140227/OPINION04/302270075/Soapbox--Parents--honor-others--grief-by-talking-to-your-kids-about-suicide
Special Offer - save $10 on 'The Case File for Investigators'
For all investigators and security personnel - private and public sector! The 'Case File for Investigators' Special offer - expires 03/31/2014. Purchase The Case File now and save $10 off the already low purchase price! Just use coupon code 697763720 when you check out at http://picasefile.privateinvestigations.org Hit the Hill - National Council of Investigation & Security Services ( www.NCISS.org) The current NCISS eReport - Hit the Hill and Investigative / Security News - January / February 2014 is available online. This issue has important information about the upcoming Hit the Hill, you are invited to join NCISS at this important annual event. In addition, important legislative updates and regional news are shared by NCISS members.
The current and archived eReports and Legislative Alerts are at - http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1116293242743.html National Defender Investigator Association (www.NDIA.net) This year's national conference is in New Orleans LA, from April 23rd to April 25th.
Florida Association of Licensed Investigators - 20th Anniversary Conference http://www.fali.org/?page=FALICONFERENCE Dean is returning to join his friends and colleagues in FALI to speak at the special celebration conference from May 1st-3rd in Tampa Bay, FL. He will be speaking on The Autopsy - Protocols, and Reviewing and Comprehending Autopsy Reports. Colorado - Workplace Investigations training (www.PPIAC.org) Iowa Association of Private Investigators 2014 Conference Dean will be a featured speaker at this conference, from July 24th-25th in Des Moines IA. His topics are The Process of Injury Causation, Death Investigation and Autopsies. Investigators will learn the concepts and protocols of investigating injury causation and death, and protocols of the forensic autopsy and findings of the autopsy in the final report. This will be an information packed and fast paced series of presentations. If you are involved in legal investigations of civil, criminal or probate litigation, this will be a valuable half-day training session. Rocky Mountain Investigators Conference (www.PPIAC.org) http://ppiac.org/ai1ec_event/2014-rocky-mountain-private-investigators-conference?instance_id=122 Dean and Karen will be speaking and demonstrating hands-on death and injury causation at this conference, being held from October 3rd-4th at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk, CO. Investigators of the west, don't miss out on this opportunity to take advantage of some of the most respected and experienced instructors and investigators the profession has to offer! theInvestigators - a listserv for and by professional investigators
Are you looking for a networking group via the traditional email listserves? Consider 'theInvestigators' at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theInvestigators/join
Death Investigation - Distance Learning for Private Investigators
We are pleased and excited to announce that this distance learning course has been adapted by several professional associations - National Defender Investigator Association, Criminal Defense Investigator Training Council, New Jersey Private Investigator Association and several more are reviewing to offer as a benefit to their members. In addition, this is approved by the Arizona funeral directors licensing board.
These associations offer course discounts to their members and receive a donated portion of the proceeds. Please contact these associations for membership details and course discounts. If your association is interested, please have them contact us - there is no cost or obligation to add this valuable member benefit and revenue sharing opportunity. This is also available to individual investigators through a revenue sharing affiliate program. Contact our agency for details. Course details are at www.MedicolegalDeathInvestigations.com and includes an opportunity for continuing education approved in 17 states through PIEducation.com.A Survivors' Guide to Understanding Death Investigations
We are
pleased to announce the release of "A Survivors' Guide to Understanding Death Investigations" - a book developed to help those who have lost a loved one to understand the maze, complexities and protocols of official death investigations.
We often hear from families, attorneys, investigators and funeral homes representing families, looking for where to turn in understanding how the death of a loved one was (or should have been) investigated. They seek closure through answers.
Learn more at www.understandingdeathinvestigations.com
Beers With Our Founding Fathers
Dean's book at www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com is now available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon. Details at http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/order.html
Letters From Yesteryear
Karen's book is now available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon. The book is a collection of actual letters she transcribed from the late 1800's.One of the best ways to learn about history is from people who actually lived and documented what they experienced. Letters From Yesteryear is a collection of letters written between the years 1879 and 1900. Letters From Yesteryear, a book by Karen Beers - www.LettersFromYesteryear.com
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Associations and News of Our Profession
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Professional Private investigations Association of Colorado (www.PPIAC.org)
Monthly meetings are the first Wednesday of each month, usually in the Denver metro area. Visit the PPIAC website for details. Please see the information in this newsletter for the PPIAC annual fall conference. PPIAC has been asked by state Sen. Linda Newell and state Rep. Jovan Melton to materially participate in a renewed effort to pass recently introduced legislation for mandatory licensing of private investigators in Colorado. Dean remains on the PPIAC licensing committee. For information and to lend your support, please contact Dean or any PPIAC board member.
NALI is the premier association for legal investigators for civil plaintiff and criminal defense, and oversees the prestigious Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) program. Experience is required to join and all members are subject to a background check.
NALI will be holding its annual conference and elections in Denver, CO this June. Stay tuned to this newsletter and www.NALI.com for conference details as they become available.
The current issue of NALI's official journal - The Legal Investigator - is now available online at http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/repo25/14458/192722/f5a2329bb0361e63f7ee6960bfc97723107a9092.pdf
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (www.NCISS.org)
NCISS will be holding the annual Hit the Hill meeting with our Senators and Representatives from 04/06-04/08. NCISS will be rolling out the new SAAB / SLAM Program - State Association Advisory Board and State Legislative Alert Monitoring, as well as a luncheon with the decision makers of Capitol Hill inside the Capitol building. Join us in advocating for your profession and meeting your elected officials. Details at http://www.nciss.org/news-and-events/the-full-event.php?eid=13
NCISS is the voice of investigators and security personnel at the federal level. The primary mission of NCISS is to watch federal legislation and work with members to take appropriate action to support beneficial, or oppose harmful, legislation in the course of performing their professional services. Members of NCISS receive a copy of the twice-yearly published 'The Report' has just been posted online at http://www.nciss.org/documents/The_Report_Fall_2013.pdf. The bi-monthly eReport newsletter is also available online. The Summer issue will have a pull-out directory of all NCISS members. The January / February eReport is at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1116293242743.html.
What are some benefits of being part of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services? Please visit http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs052/1102296473151/archive/1110377933456.html.
World Association of Detectives (www.WAD.net)
The value of networking extends beyond your local clients, and should include statewide, nationally and internationally. This should include your state association, NALI, NCISS and of course WAD for international camaraderie. You can contact us for membership information for any of these associations. As the WAD Governor of the Americas (USA, Canada, Central America, Caribbean and Argentina), Dean is interested in answering your WAD membership questions. You can also contact any of the WAD Ambassadors. The WAD magazine, Beyond Global, is available online at http://www.wad.net/page/newsletter.aspx.
Additional memberships include FALI, TALI and CALI state associations
-- (FALI) The Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (www.FALI.org) will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary at its 2014 Conference in Tampa from 05/01-05/03. Dean will be speaking on Autopsy Protocols and Reviewing Autopsy Reports.
http://www.fali.org/?page=FALICONFERENCE
If your association has news, please send it to us for inclusion.
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In the News
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News happens fast, please visit our agency blog for daily and weekly posts on news of interest - www.MedicolegalPI.com or our business Facebook page at www.facebook.com/4N6Associates
NCISS Legislative Alerts Legislative Watch - The most important function of NCISS is to monitor and direct federal legislation. NCISS plays an important role in acting as a conduit for state legislative information. Be sure and check the current and past issues Legislative Alerts - click here.
Here are the most recent Legislative Alerts:
-- FCRA Suit: Actual Harm Not Required for Standing The United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, ruled that a man who filed a lawsuit against Spokeo does not have to prove that he actually suffered specific economic harm under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Read this alert here: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1116523131203.html -- 9th Circuit Strikes Down "Good Cause" Requirement for CCWs California has long standing law requiring the applicant show good cause for a concealed weapon carry permit - called a "may issue". Read this alert here: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1116550649150.html Presently NCISS is watching these activities, and will keep our members and profession advised of any progress and concerns. Archived NCISS Legislative Alerts are at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs052/1102296473151/archive/1110377933456.html
EvidenceTechnology Magazine New issue of Evidence Technology Magazine is online or your mail (free). Some interesting articles - whether you are involved in civil or criminal investigations, or expert consultations and scene investigations. Articles on identifying remains and mobile apps, computer forensics, NAMUS for missing persons, detecting and aging bloodstains, and more... http://www.evidencemagazine.com/v12n1.htm
Harris Investigations, LLC (Lansdale, PA and surrounding states) Nice write up and pointing out the elements of professionalism that makes you successful. http://www.thereporteronline.com/business/20140220/harris-investigations-offers-a-full-range-of-services
Investigation Books - fiction and non-fiction - for every PI AFI-LLC has compiled some of the leading books for private investigators, by private investigators, including those for specialized certifications. Many of the authors are also friends of AFI-LLC. Included are fiction and non-fiction novels. You can find these books and order direct from Amazon at http://amazon.privateinvestigations.org Do you have a book to be reviewed or special announcement? Let us know! If you want to send a complimentary copy, we will gladly review it for you and also provide a customized press release and distribution. |
| The Quint-Essential Qualities of a Professional Investigator... | Skills Appropriate for the Assignment
Law firms and medical offices specialize - Professional Investigators also specialize. Their casework and continuing education should also be in your specialized areas.
Experience and Knowledge
Professional Investigators strive to maintain and further these. All professions have requirements of continuing education. The CLI program requires extensive compliance with continuing education.
Responsible and Ethical Conduct
Every component of the investigation has evidentiary considerations. Professional Investigators hold themselves to a higher standard and leaves no question as to the admissibility of their evidence. Information without ethics is not evidence.
Effective Communication
Professional Investigators maintain communication with the attorney, client, witnesses, and other key persons in the investigation. Moreover, reports are the product of an organized investigation and should reflect the work product you expect.
Keyword - 'Professional'
Honesty, Integrity & Intelligence. These define Professional Investigators and gives you the confidence that your case is in competent and skilled hands.
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In Closing...
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We would like to present two interesting items of news for our profession
What is the value of expert forensic consultations in criminal defense? It could be the difference between justice and injustice...
In 1985, a manager was shot to death during a robbery of his restaurant. In the following months, a second manager was murdered and another survived similar robberies. In each restaurant, the robber fired two .38 caliber bullets; all six bullets were recovered. The survivor, Smotherman, described his assailant and picked Hinton's picture out of a photographic array. The police arrested Hinton and recovered from his house a .38 caliber revolver belonging to his mother, who shared the house. Hinton's attorney obtained a grant of $1,000 to hire an expert to challenge that evidence and did not request more funding, nor correct the judge's mistaken belief that a $1,000 limit applied. Under that mistaken belief, Hinton's attorney found only one person who was willing to testify. The jury convicted Hinton; the court imposed a death sentence. In state post-conviction proceedings, Hinton alleged ineffective assistance and produced three highly credible experts, who testified that they could not conclude that any of the bullets had been fired from the Hinton revolver. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated and remanded.
On February 24th, the United States Supreme Court issued a per curiam reversal in the case of Alabama death row inmate Anthony Ray Hinton. Applying "a straightforward application of [its] ineffective-assistance-of-counsel precedents," the Court held that "it was unreasonable for Hinton's lawyer to fail to seek additional funds to hire [a forensic] expert where that failure was based not on any strategic choice but on a mistaken belief that available funding was capped at $1,000."
The Cause and Manner of Death can have various impacts - from civil and criminal charges to hereditary issues. It may even have unintended consequences.
In Colorado, a recent revelation that the coroner's report has now been modified [amended from 'Homicide' to 'Undetermined'] does little immediately to change Montour's conviction for murdering his daughter in 1998, but the former prosecutor stated he relied "almost exclusively" on medical reports that have now come into question.
Montour's defense believes Taylor Montour died not as a result of abuse, but due to brittle-bone disease. "Today, there are four pathologists from the largest jurisdictions in the state," read Tuesday's motion, "who all agree the cause of death is undetermined."
Our agency principals were trained and experienced with infant death investigations based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control. There are specific multi-investigator and multi-jurisdictional protocols that should be followed. Medical records play a primary and important function in the investigation. However, all death investigations are empirical - medical records alone are insufficient.
Our agency provides expert consultations - including the investigative protocols - in all types of deaths, including infant deaths.
Don't forget to share our newsletters. If you are receiving this from a friend < subscribe here >Expert Consultants and Legal Investigators
Personal Injury, Negligence & Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation.
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Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
 | | Dean and Karen Beers |
Specializes in the Expert Consultations and Legal Investigations of Personal Injuries, Negligence and Death in Civil, Criminal and Probate litigation.
We provide investigations and consultations of any death or injury causation case from any location with the conveniences of modern technology and assistance of our local professional friends and colleagues.
Call us today, we're glad to help!
We are the PRIDE of Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC - Professional Reliable Investigators Defining Excellence in every assignment.
Thank You. Please contact us with any questions or for additional information on these topics and our related services.
Sincerely,
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI (beersda@DeathCaseReview.com)
Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI (beersks@DeathCaseReview.com)
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Office: (970) 480-7793 (Dean x1 and Karen x2) ~ Fax: (970) 480-7794 |
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Newsletter and Press Release Archives from July 2010
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Download our Agency Information and Case Request Packetclick here
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 | | Flat Fee Equivocal Death Analysis |
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Featured Articles
Dean and Karen have several articles published, some are available for reprint.
For details email:
Associates@Forensic-Investigators.com
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Find Us at:
 | | Find us and 'Like' us! |
Dean is at:
Karen is at:
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Professional Associations
Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
World Association of Detectives (WAD) Criminal Defense Investigation Council (CDITC) National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI) Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) International Association for Identification (IAI) and (RMDIAI) |
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Do you want to learn death and injury causation
and accept these cases with expert consultations?
The Process of Injury Causation, Death Investigation and Autopsies!
Learn the concepts and protocols of investigating injury causation and death, and protocols of the forensic autopsy and findings of the autopsy in the final report. This will be an information packed and fast paced series of presentations. This distance learning course provides the insight necessary to understanding the importance of injury causation to the death investigation. This will transition into the reviewing and comprehending the autopsy findings presented in the final autopsy report.
If you are involved in legal investigations of civil, criminal or probate litigation, this is a valuable course.
Warning: includes graphic images
Here is what one colleague recently said about our Death Investigation for Private Investigators distance learning course:
"I just finished your medicolegal death investigations for private investigators course. I must admit it was one of the best written courses I have taken in a long time. Not sure what I got on the test but I did get a certificate of completion. I truly enjoyed the content and managed to learn quite a bit as well. As far as the usefulness of the information I have already found two of my current cases that parts of the course provided me additional information as well as different routes of investigation that I may not have thought of or been aware of. Please accept my thanks and appreciation for your course. Thanks" (Curtis Burkett - Curtis Burkett & Associates Investigations)
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