The MCLE certification paved the way for Digital Evidence to assist law firms, and other legal professionals with continuing legal education in the areas of litigation support, strategic audio and video evidence applications and admissibility protocols in the high stakes litigation arena.

“Given the changes in electronic discovery rules, and the frequency of utilizing audio and video evidence in litigation today, we view our seminars as an opportunity for attorneys, and other legal professionals to advance their comprehension of the technology and its applications. Our objective is to arm seminar attendees with the most current and relevant information concerning electronic discovery, and the strategic advantages of utilizing audio and video evidence during mediation and in court,” Jones said from his Woodland Hills, California office.

Jones’ multi-media CLE seminars, entitled, “The High-Tech Universe of Litigation,” and “Discovery In The High- Tech Legal Arena,” offer legal professionals 1.00 to 4.00 total CLE credit hours. The forum is interactive, with an emphasis on the pros and cons of utilizing high-tech discovery techniques during civil litigation and criminal matters. “Our seminars cover a broad range of discovery applications, such as; witness preparation, identifying positive and negative bias during video depositions, arguments for or against audio/visual evidence, equipment protocols, and other innovative forms of electronic discovery to assist attorneys with obtaining justice for their clients. Our ultimate goal is to enhance the attendees’ retention through interaction,” Jones said.

Robert Taylor (not his real name) is a free man as a direct result of Digital Evidence Legal Video Services’ forensic video analysis and presentation of the evidence to the District Attorney.

“To see the joy on Mr. Taylor’s face, and the faces of his family members upon hearing the Judge announce Mr. Taylor’s release made the time and effort to investigate this incident extremely rewarding,” said Board Certified Legal Video Specialist, Michael Jones, owner of Digital Evidence Legal Video Services.

Additionally, Mr. Jones said he made a rare exception to waive his normal fee for testifying as an expert witness in Mr. Taylor’s case, because the financial hardship placed upon Mr. Taylor’s family was overwhelming. Due to his imprisonment, Mr. Taylor's employment was terminated and he was denied the opportunity to witness the birth of his child, which is a moment in time that he will never recapture. Jones said he could not tolerate knowing an innocent man was incarcerated.

Video Evidence Analysis Made the Difference

“Fortunately, there was video evidence of this incident or Mr. Taylor would probably still be in jail today,” Jones said.

“Upon first glance, one could get the impression that Mr. Taylor was the guilty party, because the clothing worn by the real “bad guy” and Mr. Taylor was similar. However, similarity does not constitute one and the same. Which is why investigations are conducted.

Another fortuitous moment for Mr. Taylor and our firm, was the fact that Board Certified Legal Video Specialist, Ron Beasley, had just completed his assignments and became available to assist with this investigation,” Jones continued.

According to Mr. Jones, “Ron Beasley deserves a great deal of credit for his contributions on this case. Mr. Beasley’s technical expertise was the icing on the cake.”

“I knew we had compelling video evidence to prove Mr. Taylor’s innocence,” Jones elaborated, “but we had some scheduling challenges at the time. Therefore, when Ron became free to render the anatomical comparisons and other distinguishing characteristics necessary to convince the District Attorney of Mr. Taylor’s innocence, our prayers were answered.

The technical enhancements and side-by-side comparisons of the two men gave us the distinguishing factors we needed to present the compelling video evidence for the law firm contracting us to do the analysis and courtroom presentation.

We are fortunate to have Mr. Ron Beasley on our team. His contributions made Mr. Taylor’s attorney’s and my job of presenting the video evidence to the District Attorney seamless. We did not have to waste the court’s time, and I am confident the Judge appreciated that,” Jones said from his Woodland Hills, California office.

Board Certified Court Videographers Nationwide

Digital Evidence Legal Video Services’ founder and owner, Michael Jones has formed a coast-to-coast alliance with other certified members of The American Guild of Court Videographers, the nation’s leader in training professional Videographers in all aspects of legal videography.

“From a business stand point, it just makes good sense for our firm to form alliances with other Board Certified Legal Video Specialists throughout North America.”

The idea actually originated when Jones and other legal Videographers met in Washington, DC to take the AGCV’s board examination a few years ago. “Our class was very close knit and we agreed to contract one another if we had clientele requiring legal video services in cities outside of our respective service areas. It was a good idea then and we’re simply expanding on that idea. In fact Dr. Gayle Marquette (the AGCV’s Founder) encouraged and applauded the idea. We’re just taking the whole concept to another level,” Jones said from his Woodland Hills, California office.

“In order to serve our clientele in the legal arena in a cost efficient manner coast-to-coast, we decided to pitch the idea of forming an alliance to other members of the AGCV throughout the United States.”

Invariably, everyone contacted by his firm met Mr. Jones with a resounding yes to the proposal.

“Our clientele is certainly entitled to receive premium services while traveling. The certified members of the AGCV are an elite group of Videographer’s who understand legal video protocol. The men and women of the AGCV know their craft and have investigative minds.

I would never refer our clientele to anyone who was not Board Certified by the AGCV.

With the affiliates, our client’s can have the assurance of knowing they will receive the same superior services in Ohio or Washington, DC that they receive from our firm in Los Angeles.

Of course there will be times when our clientele will require the Digital Evidence personnel to travel with them and that’s fine. We simply want to make sure our clientele is not burdened with hiring “Joe Camcorder,” who doesn’t have a clue about the Federal or State protocols governing legal video.”

Jones says another factor in forming the alliance was the possibility of passing cost savings on to his clients. “The convenience and financial benefit to our clientele is very significant; especially, when one considers everything involved with traveling today.

The alliance places our firm in a position to service and retain our clientele, reduce their expenses and ease their anxiety over the equipment arriving on time, and we get to share opportunities with other Board Certified Legal Video Specialists in various parts of the country. It’s a win-win-win situation and I like that” Jones concluded.

The American Guild of Court Videographers is the nation’s leader in training professional Videographers in all aspects of legal videography.