BBI Frequently Asked Questions Page

1. Who are Berger & Berger Investigations? How long have they been around?

Berger & Berger Investigations Inc. (BBI) has been in business in the private sector since 1979. Except for a short stint in the criminal investigation arena, we have been serving the the insurance community for all that time. Joe Berger, a partner, has been involved in intensive investigations since 1960 and worked for 17 years for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in the major crimes bureau. The majority of Joe's investigative experience was involving the under-cover investigation of organized crime figures and their relation to the cargo theft and maritime fraud problem in the tri-county area of Southern California. Mary June Berger, Joe's wife and partner, has been with the firm from it's inception and joined the firm actively, as a manager and Investigator, in 1987, becoming a licensed Investigator in 1993. Mary June's background is accounting and compliments the needs of the corporation in critical areas of both investigation and management.

2. What is a Marine Investigator?

A Marine Investigator is usually licensed and insured and possesses a knowledge of the special problems that are presented the unique medium of the Recreational Marine Industry or the Intermodal Transportation Industry, with regard to the investigation of losses or thefts associated with those mediums. He must have a working relationship with local law enforcement and have the necessary electronic ability to communicate with them on a large scale basis, especially in matters of vessel or cargo theft. But more importantly, he must have an understanding of the investigative methodology necessary to recoup, when possible, valuable stolen property or ascertain the subtleties involved with fraudulent claims or claims that are tainted by unapparent employee involvement that may nullify an insurance carriers liability

Much of the marine industry's liability emanate from crew and passenger claims, therefore the Marine Investigator must be proficient in not only penetrating investigation of factual circumstances, but provide the necessary empathy, in matters of Maritime Personal Injuries, to truly injured persons . He must also support for their medical needs so they don't feel the necessity for obtrusive legal representation. While overseeing the investigation of crew or passenger injuries, the Marine Investigator applies his or her special talents for uncovering fraudulent claims or those that may be drastically overstated

3. How are Marine surveyors or insurance adjusters, different from Marine Investigators? Why not just hire one of them, rather than the Marine Investigator?

To quote a close friend and colleague, " if you had your car stolen,who would you call to find it? Your mechanic or an Investigator?" There is a tremendous philosophical gap between the approach that a Marine surveyor, who's primary function is assessing hull or cargo damage, or an insurance adjustor, who looks at a given loss in terms of how much a given claim is going to cost to resolve. The Marine Investigator looks at a claim investigation from the standpoint of: a) fraud or misrepresentation of the facts; b) liability and lastly, c) third party or collateral defendants to share liability. The issue of how much it's going to cost the carrier is not addressed, as it is presumed that the carrier's claims specialist can competently address that issue.

Marine Investigators are a resource to be utilized in matters where there is some doubt regarding the facts of a claim, the absence of which could cost the carrier or other professional, thousands or even millions of unnecessary claims dollars. If you have a claim that you don't have all the information necessary to position yourself advantageously, then E-mail us or call the toll free number indicated at our page, (800)876-2873. You can also just fill out the case assignment form on our home page and it will be electronically forwarded to us for QUICK action from our West Coast office centrally located in the Sacramento Valley of California. To access the case assignments forms, just click that button on the very first page of this site or click here.

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