Hollywood’s Private Investigators: How PI Scandals Entrap Lawyers, PI Law 101

• The relationship between attorney and investigator is critical. Not only the fate of the case, but the reputations, careers and futures of both lawyer and investigator can hinge on the most seemingly insignificant acts or omissions.
• The investigator must understand what the lawyer requires and must be well-versed in the increasingly complex menagerie of applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations defining the boundaries of private sector investigative activities.
• The lawyer must adequately inform the investigator of all relevant circumstances and review both the information required and how it will be obtained.

Can lawyers be held liable for the actions of private investigators engaged by the law firm? In one famous example, Harvey Weinstein directed his lawyers to hire a PI firm to gather dirt on actor Rose McGowan who had accused him of sexual misconduct. After it was revealed that the PI firm had staged an elaborate ruse designed to gain Ms. McGowan’s trust, can Weinstein’s lawyers be held liable for the actions of the PI firm? Peter Afrasiabi answers this and other key questions for lawyers while reviewing the myriad federal, state, criminal and civil laws that govern the conduct of private investigators. Don’t hire a private investigator without watching this program!

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