From: Justice Diva

Sent: Monday, October 7, 2002 7:25 A.M. Pacific Time

To: GOON CEO BALONEY

Subject: Response to 9/30 Chairman's Message - Late Birthday Wish

Dear GOON CEO:

I'd like to take a few minutes to express how delighted I am to have the opportunity to work for your organization as a Field Investigator, as well as to discuss how this e-mail correspondence acknowledges several matters of importance that I feel needs to be addressed.

First of all, my employment at Goon Investigations has made an extraordinary difference in my career. I've acquired valuable skills, profound experiences, and unsurpassable knowledge that I will convey in every step I need to take to improve and strengthen my investigative talents that someday will be recognized and appreciated for the extra efforts I willingly exercise everyday. And so, I believed it was only right to let you know that your company is doing magnificent things for investigators like me who are exceedingly passionate about their careers in the field of investigations.

Moreover, because I value and care about my future, as well as the organization as a whole, today I felt that I had a moral obligation to address a corporate issue that has not only affected me, but my peers as well. I understand what I'm about to share with you could either help my career or even potentially hurt it, but I am willing to take that risk and deal with the consequences that could surface. I preface to say, my questions that I'm about to ask present no disrespect to you or this organization because as I said, GOON INVESTIGATIONS Inc. is a great empire that I'm proud to be a part of.

After conducting and completing numerous investigations with diligence, passion and experience  I acquired prior to joining the family of GOON Investigations, Inc. I can't understand, why the efforts I set forth in the high quality reports that I produce every night are not financially compensated by GOON Investigations, Inc., when it's required and visibly recognized as employee paid labor.

I am aware of the arguments that have been presented to the investigators and the corporate body that have been used to explain the company's decision not to pay investigators for their time spent on report writing. Repeatedly, I've been told that the Investigators are not compensated for report writing because we are expected to write our reports out in the field when the Subject or what we call CLAIMANT is inactive.

Perhaps, I am an exception to the norm, or an extremely advanced investigator who should be presented with the opportunity to be accepted into the FBI academy because approximately 75% to 80% of the time I spend in the field is active. My time spent is either conducting mobile surveillance, foot surveillance, physical or phone pre-texting, and gathering or collecting facts that make the case stronger and make GOON Investigations, Inc. look better. The remainder of my time spent is videoing CLAIMANT activity. In short, after a day's investigation, I have so much valuable information included in my reports, that there are many evenings and days-off that I spend a minimum of 3 hours to a maximum of 6 to 8 even 12 hours writing with no more than 3 hours rest each night. In short, I've done what I am expected to do as a Field Investigator. I even go beyond the call of duty that results in nothing but high quality investigative reports that Case Managers, Directors of Investigators (DOIS), Claims Adjusters and Examiners praised me for. I may not always come back with a tape full of CLAIMANT activity, but I never return empty-handed, like a series of Aliases, dual residential addresses, license plate numbers, properties, "cash under the table" employment ventures, and more…

The above testimony is by no means an embellishment or exaggeration of my efforts, by rather, it's factual, and it can be corroborated by the Case Managers who can attest to the million dollar reports I write everyday. The reports I've written have even documented efforts that you would personally and professionally find outstanding and quite compelling.

For example, over the weekend, I conducted a two 8-hour day investigation in Hemet, CA, which is a remote, rural community buried deep in the mountains in harsh terrain. The physical conditions were absolutely unfavorable, for a single Investigator to handle alone, especially for little me, a petite 5'3" 110 lbs. female who refuses to lose a battle, and has never lost one.

The above narrative is not to impress your mind, but rather to demonstrate one of hundreds and even thousands of unspoken examples of what me and my peer Investigators do every day.  We are Field Investigators. We investigate cases not to point fingers or to accuse an individual of participating in fraudulent activities, but rather, we are there to collect the facts. If it means that I need to sweet-talk a retiree working as golf marshal at a golf course, so I can get a lift in his golf cart to get the job done, I'll do it…and you know what? I have.

Mr. GOON CEO, the point of this correspondence is not to brag about my efforts, but rather to go directly to the source and inquire why Investigators are not compensated for writing their reports when they are required to work off the clock and not get paid for it. Truly, it breaks my heart that a man in your position and a company that I have much respect for cannot recognize that this is not only illegal, but morally wrong!

Unlike most Rookie Investigators, I've been blessed to have been mentored and groomed by federal agents, insurance adjusters, government officials who guided me in the right direction by introducing me to GOON Investigations, which has been an amazing, and probably the best professional move I  made since I graduated from college. With that said, when I finally admitted to my mentors and contacts that during this entire time of working long hours, and sacrificing weekends and days-off, I wasn't getting paid for earning an income of investigating and report investigative reports. Boy, was I embarrassed for myself because I should have known better that this is wrong rather than being submissive as to allow my time and intelligence to write outstanding reports that bring the company a percentage of the earned profits, when we, the Investigators, don't see a penny of it. If GOON Investigations, Inc. was financially in trouble, I could possibly accept an explanation, but the truth of the matter is, it's not. You, drive a Hummer! GOON Investigations, Inc. is definitely making enough money to pay us for report writing efforts.

Yes, I understand decisions are being made in the "Carolinas" in terms of what to do with this issue, but how difficult is it for the "decision-makers" of this company, GOON Investigations, Inc., to look at the Federal and State labor laws, and realize, "YES, we need to compensate our employees for their time writing investigative reports because it's the law."  We're not looking for a handsome high dollar hourly rate, but rather, something given to us for each  hour that we spend writing these reports that make GOON Investigations, Inc. look so damn good!

Mr. GOON CEO, if my arguments aren't good or valid enough to prove or demonstrate that Investigators just sit in their vehicles 80% of the time, which there is time to write reports, I would like to pose an invitation to you. The next time you visit us here in Southern California, pack your tennis shoes and shorts, and spend a full 3-day case with me in the field. In return, I promise you this, not only will you understand the intellectual and physical demands of a Fraud Investigator, but you'll also realize there isn't any time to write reports in the field. Furthermore, when you return to the "Carolinas," you'll share with your colleagues some of the best and most riveting stories full of adventure, excitement and exhaustion - all because there is never a dull moment when I'm out in the field.

With that said, I had no intentions of posing additional stress to you on now what's Monday morning. I was compelled to write to you at this hour because today or actually Sunday, October 6th, I realized how very wrong it is for Investigators like me to push aside our lives for reports that we are demanded and required to write without getting paid. It stuck me just how wrong it is because yesterday was my 31st birthday, my only day off. I didn't have a birthday cake, nor did I get to enjoy my special day because I LABORED on MY BIRTHDAY without being LEGALLY compensated for my efforts.

In closing, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express my thoughts and concerns.

Always,

Justice I. Diva