|
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The Hawkins Group is a Private Investigation
Agency that is licensed and bonded by the State of Washington under Washington License Number: 1361. As such, The Hawkins
Group is permitted to engage in lawful investigative activities on behalf of its clientele.
The Hawkins Group is a
separate entity and retains all of the rights and privileges of an independent contractor, including the right to refuse to
engage in or participate in investigations and/or investigative activities that it may deem to be unsuitable. Under no circumstances
will The Hawkins Group abdicate its control or place itself or any of its employees under the direct control of a client.
The Hawkins Group recognizes the desire and needs of its clientele to retain privacy and confidentiality of all communications
and of the work product itself. It must be noted however, that the courts may not recognize any sort of Investigator-Client
privilege and may compel such communications and/or work product to be disclosed. This may be avoided by having The Hawkins
Group employed by the client's attorney to assist him/her in the handling of the client's case. In this manner, the investigative
service will fall under the Attorney-Client privilege and will be protected against forced disclosure.
The Hawkins
Group is a finder/verifier of facts. It does not render generalized opinions but will provide a client with an evaluation
of the facts that it uncovers whether those facts are favorable or unfavorable to the client. At no time, will The Hawkins
Group destroy, conceal, fabricate or otherwise deal with facts in an unethical or illegal manner. It will, as stated above,
seek to retain all confidences and privileges wherever and whenever possible.
The Hawkins Group often utilizes the
services of various information brokers and services in its efforts to accomplish the wishes and goals of the client. These
services often require payment immediately upon rendering their services. The Hawkins Group whenever possible, wiill make
all reasonable efforts to advise the client of estimated expected costs and expenses prior to incurring such costs and/or
expenses. However any failure or inability to do so will in no way reduce or eliminate the client's obligation to pay for
those services.
The Hawkins Group charges for its services and not for the results of those services. Services are
billed at an agreed upon hourly rate, plus all costs and expenses incurred. The Hawkins Group requires an initial retainer
from the client prior to instigating any services on the client's behalf or at the client's request.
1. The hourly
rate is based upon per man-hour activities on the client's behalf. Such services may include, but are not limited to, surveillance
activities, interviews, record checks, case preparation, meetings with clients/attorneys, attendance at depositions and providing
testimony before courts, mediators, arbitrators, panels, and administrative or regulatory bodies.
2. Actual costs
incurred on behalf of the client include, but are not limited to phone calls, mileage (computed at the current government
rate) or other travel expenses, copies and reproduction costs, postage or other delivery costs, payments to informants, costs
of utilization information sources and brokers and all other such expenses incurred during, or as the result of, the conduct
of the client's investigation or on behalf of the client.
3. Upon acceptance of an investigative assignment, The Hawkins
Group requires a client to pay a non-refundable retainer in the amount to be agreed upon by the parties and based on the nature
and type of the requested investigation.
4. The Hawkins Group will provide the client with monthly billings which
will reflect the actual number of man-hours spent investigating the client's case and the amount of monies expended on behalf
of the client or incurred as the result of the client's case. Any payments made during the month will be reflected as a deduction
from the amount due and owing. All billings are done on a Net 10 basis.
5. Any bill or monies due that are not paid
within the time frames above set forth, will accrue interest at the rate of one and one-half (1.5%) per cent per month on
the unpaid balance, until paid in full. The client will also be responsible for any and all collection costs, including reasonable
attorney fees and court costs incurred by The Hawkins Group taking action to collect on any account that is thirty (30) days
or more past due.
The Hawkins Group makes no warranties, either express or implied, as to what the results of any
investigation may be. As stated above, the client is purchasing an investigative service and not the results of an investigation.
The Hawkins Group is the sole owner of its work product and will only provide the results to a client upon receipt of payment
in full for all rendered services and incurred expenses.
|
