Litigation Support for Attorneys
Investigative support from first evaluation through trial.
Civil rights attorneys work against well-funded government defendants. Doug Roberts provides the investigative support those cases demand, working at the attorney's direction from intake to verdict.
Before the complaint is filed
The strongest civil rights complaints are specific. They plead facts that anticipate a qualified immunity defense and support a municipal claim. Investigation before filing gives the attorney those facts, and helps the attorney decide whether a case should be brought at all.
Working at the attorney's direction
Investigation for litigation is carried out at the direction of counsel. The attorney decides what is needed and how it will be used, and receives reports, statements, and evidence in a form suited to pleadings, discovery, summary judgment, and trial.
During discovery
Discovery produces thousands of pages and many hours of recordings. Investigative support during discovery includes reviewing what the defendants produce, identifying what is missing, locating witnesses named in the documents, and preparing background on defense witnesses.
At trial
An investigator who gathered the evidence can testify to how it was found, lay the foundation for photographs and diagrams, and ensure that witnesses are located and available when they are needed.
What the work includes
Litigation Support for Attorneys
Case evaluation
An early assessment of what evidence exists and what can be obtained.
Investigative reports
Clear written reports with sources for every finding.
Exhibits
Photographs, diagrams, and timelines prepared for court.
Witness coordination
Locating witnesses and keeping contact through trial.
Discovery support
Review of produced documents and video for gaps and leads.
Testimony
Testimony about the investigation and the evidence gathered.
Questions
Common questions
Do you work with attorneys outside Wyoming?
Yes. Doug Roberts is based in Sheridan, Wyoming, and accepts civil rights investigations for attorneys nationwide.
Do you take cases other than civil rights cases?
No. The practice is limited to civil rights investigations and matters brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
Related services
Often used together with this service
Witness Location & Interviews
Finding the people who saw what happened, including those the official report left out, and recording what they know while they still remember it.
Learn morePattern, Policy & Practice Evidence
Evidence that a violation was no accident: prior similar incidents, written policies, training gaps, and customs that support a claim against the agency itself.
Learn moreIndependent Case Review & Reinvestigation
A second, independent look at the official investigation: what was done, what was left undone, and where the report and the evidence disagree.
Learn more