Chapter 1: Three Triggers for an Internal Investigation

Chapter 2: Internal Investigations Save You Money

According to the Fulbright Litigation Trends Survey, 46 per cent of companies in the US reported conducting at least one internal investigation in the past year. When it comes to labor and employment litigation, roughly 40 per cent of all respondents revealed that discrimination suits had increased the most over the past year, especially in the health care, manufacturing, financial services and insurance industries. The survey found that 91 per cent of all respondents expect the number of internal investigations involving their companies to increase or stay the same in 2012.

The Survey reports that litigation spending (excluding the cost of settlements and judgments) rose in 2011, with US companies reporting a median spend of $1.4 million. Roughly a quarter of the American businesses polled reported spending $5 million or more on disputes.

Given these numbers, it’s clear that conducting prompt and thorough internal investigations that prevent litigation or reduce the financial impact of court judgments can be a wise investment. At the same time, companies need to ensure internal investigations don’t end up costing more than the litigation they are avoiding. This means having a program in place for gathering tips and complaints, and a policy and procedure for conducting effective investigations, as an improper investigation only exposes a company to a wider range of risks, which could result in additional lawsuits, fines and other expenses.

Chapter 3: Weighing the Costs of Investigations

Chapter 4: Cooperation, Self-disclosure and Reputation

Chapter 5: How Case Management Software Helps