Touch nothing by default
Taking custody creates a preservation duty that did not otherwise exist, and a vendor's failure to preserve is imputed to the client. Declining to pick things up is not caution; it is the control.
SCENE INVESTIGATION
Document the scene before it changes.
A scene service focused on conditions, geometry, imagery, notes, measurements, and preservation-aware documentation—separate from witness canvassing and its different legal controls.
AVAILABILITYLicensed jurisdictions provided on request.
MODLAN Systems, Inc. performs regulated investigative services only in jurisdictions where it holds the required licences. Inquiries from other jurisdictions are referred.
WHEN THIS IS THE RIGHT ENGAGEMENT
Where it fits
- The physical scene may change, be repaired, cleared, weathered, or altered.
- Geometry, sightlines, damage patterns, conditions, or physical context need documentation.
- The matter may proceed to reconstruction, technical review, subrogation, or litigation.
- An adverse party may need notice before alteration, testing, or removal.
MODLAN STANDARDS
How we work
These apply to every engagement, in every jurisdiction.
- Recorded consent, everywhereWe obtain recorded consent from every party to every recorded statement, in every jurisdiction, regardless of which state rule applies.
- Lawful vantageObservation is conducted from publicly accessible vantage points. We do not enter private property, observe into areas where privacy is reasonably expected, or place concealed or unattended recording devices.
- No pretextInvestigators identify themselves where identification is appropriate. We do not use fictitious identities, misrepresent our purpose, or obtain information under false pretences.
- Documented permissible useInformation from restricted sources is accessed only for the permitted purpose of the matter it was obtained for, and that purpose is documented for every search.
- Represented partiesWhere a party is represented, we proceed only on documented instruction from counsel.
- Aerial for property, not peopleAerial documentation is used for property, scene, and loss documentation. We do not use aircraft to observe individuals.
- Public sources, unauthenticatedDigital collection is performed from publicly accessible sources without logging in to any account.
YOUR GUIDELINESScope, coverage, reporting format, documentation requirements, and turnaround are performed to your guidelines and the assignment instructions for each matter. Requirements differ by carrier and by jurisdiction, and we work to yours.
DOCUMENT IN PLACE
Preserve what the scene can still prove.
Document in place. We do not take custody of physical evidence unless the engagement expressly authorizes collection.
Before alteration
Where a scene or component will be altered, moved or repaired, identified adverse parties are notified and invited to inspect. Accepted or declined, the invitation is recorded.
Another practitioner can evaluate it
Documentation is complete enough that another practitioner could independently evaluate the work.
Observation stays separate
Observations are stated separately from analysis, and analysis separately from any opinion.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
The deliverable
- Contemporaneous scene notes and orientation record.
- Overall, mid-range, and close-up imagery with acquisition information.
- Diagrams and measurements with scale status stated explicitly.
- A preservation/escalation record identifying what was documented in place and what requires specialist handling.
WHAT WE DO NOT DO
- Move, stage, disassemble, or destructively test items as part of ordinary scene documentation.
- Enter private property without documented authority.
- Represent a diagram as a professional land survey.
- Promise custody or preservation beyond the accepted scope.
- Obtain information under a false identity or false pretences.
- Enter private property or observe into areas where privacy is reasonably expected.
- Contact a represented party except on documented instruction from counsel.
- Guarantee that any item will be admitted by a court.
QUESTIONS
Common questions
Do you collect physical evidence automatically?
No. The default posture is document in place. Custody is accepted only when the engagement expressly authorizes collection and the preservation obligations are understood.
Can MODLAN conduct destructive testing?
Not as ordinary scene investigation. Destructive examination belongs to an appropriately retained expert with the required notice and authority.
Is this the same as a neighborhood canvass?
No. Scene investigation and scene canvass are separate services because their legal risks, clocks, methods, and deliverables differ.
Can this support later technical analysis?
Yes. The goal is to create a source-attributed scene record another qualified practitioner can independently evaluate.
CONTROLLED INTAKE
Discuss the assignment without transmitting sensitive evidence.
Public consultation channels are for business-purpose intake only. Claim files, medical records, credentials, claimant-identifying data, and evidence belong in an approved secure workflow.