EAGLE STONE UNIVERSAL INVESTIGATIONS
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Investigative Services Agreement (“Agreement”) governs investigative services provided by Eagle Stone Universal Investigations (“Investigator”) to the individual or entity retaining such services (“Client”).
1. INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES
Client authorizes Eagle Stone Universal Investigations to perform lawful private investigative services requested or approved by Client. Services may include surveillance, background investigations, locate investigations, public-record and database research, social media and open-source research, vehicle and address research, interviews, photographic or video documentation, investigative reports, due diligence, and other lawful investigative services.
Investigative services will be performed by Eagle Stone Universal Investigations, California Private Investigator License No. 189688, or by other appropriately subcontracted, licensed California private investigators working on or assigned to the investigation.
The specific scope of an investigation may be established through communications between Client and Eagle Stone Universal Investigations, including email, text message, invoice, written quote, or other written communication.
2. RETAINER AND PAYMENT
Client agrees that an upfront retainer may be required before investigative services begin.
The applicable retainer, hourly rate, flat fee, or other pricing will be communicated to and agreed upon by Client before the applicable services are performed.
All investigative cases are subject to a minimum charge of five (5) hours, unless a different minimum or billing arrangement is agreed upon in advance between Client and Eagle Stone Universal Investigations.
Retainer funds may be applied toward investigative time and authorized case-related expenses. Eagle Stone Universal Investigations may require an additional retainer before continuing services if the existing retainer has been exhausted.
Client remains responsible for services performed and authorized expenses incurred on Client's behalf.
3. CANCELLATION AND SCHEDULING POLICY
Investigative assignments require advance scheduling and may require investigators to reserve specific dates and times exclusively for Client's investigation.
If Client cancels or reschedules a scheduled investigative assignment with less than 48 hours' notice, the cancellation or rescheduling may, and in most circumstances will, result in a cancellation fee equal to 50% of the amount that would have been charged for the scheduled workday.
Any applicable cancellation fee may be deducted from Client's retainer. Eagle Stone Universal Investigations may waive or reduce a cancellation fee at its discretion based upon the circumstances.
4. EXPENSES
Client may be responsible for reasonable expenses associated with the investigation, including mileage, travel, parking, tolls, database searches, public-record fees, lodging, airfare, subcontractor expenses, and other necessary case-related costs.
Significant or unusual expenses will be discussed with Client when reasonably practical.
5. CLIENT AUTHORIZATION AND LAWFUL PURPOSE
Client represents that the investigation is being requested for a lawful and legitimate purpose and authorizes Eagle Stone Universal Investigations and its investigators, employees, agents, and authorized subcontractors to perform lawful investigative activities reasonably necessary to provide the requested services.
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations will not knowingly engage in unlawful conduct and reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any requested activity it believes may be unlawful, unethical, unsafe, or outside the agreed scope of services.
6. NO GUARANTEE OF RESULTS
Client understands that investigative work is inherently uncertain and that no particular result is guaranteed.
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations does not guarantee that surveillance will document particular conduct, that a person or asset will be located, that specific evidence will be obtained, or that investigative findings will support Client's desired outcome.
Client is paying for professional investigative services, time, and authorized expenses rather than a guaranteed result.
7. INVESTIGATIVE DISCRETION
Investigative circumstances can change without notice. Eagle Stone Universal Investigations may exercise reasonable professional judgment regarding investigative methods, surveillance positioning, timing, safety, investigative strategy, and whether particular activities should be continued, modified, or discontinued.
Loss of visual contact with a surveillance subject, inability to access a location, changes in a subject's schedule, or similar circumstances do not constitute a failure to perform investigative services.
8. REPORTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEO AND INFORMATION
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations may provide Client with reports, photographs, video recordings, public records, database information, or other investigative materials.
Information obtained from third-party databases, public records, witnesses, or other outside sources may not always be independently verified. Eagle Stone Universal Investigations does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information originating from third-party sources.
9. CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations recognizes that investigative matters may involve confidential, private, proprietary, or sensitive information.
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations will use reasonable measures to maintain the confidentiality of information provided by Client and information developed during the investigation.
Investigative information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary to investigators, employees, authorized subcontractors, attorneys, experts, vendors, or other persons necessary to perform the requested services.
Information may also be disclosed when authorized by Client; required by law, subpoena, court order, regulation, or other legal process; necessary to respond to a complaint, chargeback, regulatory inquiry, claim, or lawsuit; or reasonably necessary to address suspected unlawful conduct or an immediate safety concern.
These confidentiality obligations survive completion or termination of investigative services.
10. INVESTIGATIVE METHODS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
Client acknowledges that Eagle Stone Universal Investigations' investigative techniques, research methods, internal procedures, databases, operational practices, pricing structures, investigator information, forms, and other non-public business information may constitute confidential or proprietary information.
Client agrees not to knowingly disclose or distribute such non-public proprietary information except when reasonably necessary for Client's legal matter or when required by law.
11. USE OF INVESTIGATIVE MATERIALS
Client agrees to use information, reports, photographs, video, and other investigative materials provided by Eagle Stone Universal Investigations only for lawful purposes.
Client accepts responsibility for Client's subsequent publication, distribution, disclosure, or use of investigative materials.
Client shall not alter or present investigative materials in a manner that falsely represents the observations, findings, or conclusions of Eagle Stone Universal Investigations.
12. CLIENT REPRESENTATIONS
Client represents that information provided to Eagle Stone Universal Investigations is accurate to the best of Client's knowledge.
Client agrees not to use investigative services or information obtained through Eagle Stone Universal Investigations to stalk, harass, threaten, intimidate, unlawfully discriminate against, or commit an unlawful act against another person.
Client agrees to disclose any known restraining orders, protective orders, credible threats, or significant safety concerns that may reasonably affect the investigation.
13. TERMINATION OF SERVICES
Either party may terminate investigative services.
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations may immediately discontinue services if continued work is reasonably believed to be unlawful, unsafe, unethical, impractical, outside the agreed scope, or if required payment or retainer funds have been exhausted.
Client remains responsible for services performed and authorized expenses incurred before termination.
14. COURT APPEARANCES AND TESTIMONY
Unless specifically included in the agreed scope of services, court appearances, depositions, testimony, declarations, evidence preparation, attorney conferences, subpoena compliance, and similar services are separate from the underlying investigation and may result in additional charges.
15. NO LEGAL ADVICE
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations provides investigative services and does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
Client should consult an attorney regarding legal rights, litigation strategy, admissibility of evidence, or other legal questions.
16. LIMITATION OF RESPONSIBILITY
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations will perform agreed investigative services in a professional manner consistent with applicable law.
Eagle Stone Universal Investigations is not responsible for circumstances outside its reasonable control, including actions of investigative subjects or third parties, inaccurate third-party information, loss of surveillance contact, changes in a subject's schedule, inability to obtain records or access locations, equipment or communication failures, or other circumstances that interfere with investigative objectives.
17. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California.
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain effective to the fullest extent permitted by law.
18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement, together with the scope of services and pricing agreed upon through written communications, invoices, quotes, or other written authorization, constitutes the agreement between Client and Eagle Stone Universal Investigations regarding the investigative services.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT
By signing this Agreement electronically, Client acknowledges that Client has read and understands this Agreement, agrees to be bound by its terms, authorizes Eagle Stone Universal Investigations to perform the requested investigative services, and understands that investigative results are not guaranteed.
