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NORTON - Joseph White is not averse to going through someone's trash to make his case.

White, a two-time Vietnam Navy veteran from Norton, is an independent legal investigator in Plymouth County. Topping off more than 20 years of experience, White just earned a coveted Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) designation established by the National Association of Legal Investigators and recently administered in Washington, D.C.

The CLI designation is only conferred to those experienced legal investigators who pass stringent oral and written examinations, and author a white paper that is graded, then published in national investigative trade publications. There are only 76 active CLI's in the world - an elite group.

White has established a well-known reputation in the profession, specializing in fraud investigation, criminal defense and civil and corporate investigation. He is president of CSS, Inc., a private detective agency in South Easton.

SUN CHRONICLE: How and why did you become a legal investigator? JOSEPH WHITE: When completing my military service, I had an opportunity to work for a well-known company, Shackelton's of New Hampshire. This company dealt specifically with workers compensation fraud. I immediately realized that I loved "the hunt."

It was always a challenge to watch someone who claimed injury to determine if they were or were not actually injured. The majority of all subjects I watched turned out to be legitimately hurt, but it was always those few others that made your heart race when you found them doing something contrary to what they stated they were able to do.

SC: In a nutshell, what do you do?

WHITE: In every case, it is imperative that I obtain as much information as possible about those I investigate before I actually see them. Although today's technology gives me a great deal of information at my fingertips, there is no substitute for good old-fashion "gumshoe" footwork.

For instance, I am not allowed to access one's financial history. However, you would be surprised at the amount of people who throw away old bank statements or the front page of a new series of checks into their trash. Then, they place the trash on the sidewalk in front of their residence.

A great deal of information is gained just from one's garbage, and I am not averse to making an early trash pickup at your home on any given day to obtain such information.

Moving surveillance is another technique still used on a frequent basis. In today's world, for the most part, many people have become less observant than they used to be. Fast pace brought on by heavy schedules is responsible for this.

I was once asked to follow a gentleman whose wife believed that he may be unfaithful. Turns out that he was, but the funny part is, I followed him from his home on Cape Cod all the way to a motel in Rangely, Maine - a 6.5 hour trip - where he met his female friend. He had no idea he was being followed.

I contacted my client with the news and she traveled 6.5 hours in the middle of the night to be there with me when her husband and friend left the motel room the next morning.

Stationary surveillance is an art where an investigator remains in an area watching someone's home to document any activity that may happen on behalf of a specific target. I recall one such instance while surveilling a residence where the occupant stated he was bedridden. During the mid-morning hours, I observed the occupant come out of his home and begin the process of planting flowers in a small bed in front of the house. After about 45 minutes, I used my cell phone to call the occupant's residence and watched as the occupant looked up when hearing his telephone ring, get up off his knees in the flower bed and run up the front steps and into the residence.

After making out that it was a wrong number, the occupant returns outside and continues his planting. All the while, I am videotaping this activity. Ten minutes later, I call the residence again and as before, the occupant quickly proceeds into the residence only to find that I had hung up just as he reached the telephone.

A third call is made, but at this point, I yell to the subject and state, "Have a great day!" as I point my video camera directly at him as I drive away. The occupant called his employer and returned to work the following Monday after a miraculous recovery.

SC: What are some of your most memorable interviews?

WHITE: I once interviewed a defendant charged with felony assault and battery on his girlfriend. It stemmed from a disagreement while in the defendant's truck.

As they proceeded toward their home on Route 24 at a speed of approximately 50 mph, the defendant reached across the front seat, opened the passenger side door and pushed the girlfriend out of the truck.

Upon doing so, the rear wheel of the truck ran over the girlfriend's leg. When I asked him his intent, he stated that he felt sure that he didn't push her. He just opened the door and told her, "You can get out now if you want to," and she did.' Alcohol consumption was a major contributor to this case.

I once interviewed an associate of a well-known jewelry store chain regarding the theft of jewelry within the store during his shift. As I am performing the interview, I take note of the very expensive watch that the young man is wearing and he sees me do so. When I ask him if he has stolen anything from my client, he points to the watch that I had gazed upon and stated, "You mean this? No, no, I didn't steal this from here, I took this from my previous employer when he fired me."

I not only obtained his confession later in the interview for my current client, but I also contacted his prior employer, who appeared in court to reclaim his $2,000 watch.

SC: What has been your most frustrating case?

WHITE: On November, 14, 1989, 14-year-old Jennifer Lynn Fay of Brockton left her home during the evening hours to walk to a local convenience store. She never came home and she has never been heard from or seen again.

It is frustrating inasmuch as the family of Jennifer have gone this long with few answers as to what happened to their daughter. Since taking on this case, our team of five investigators have interviewed over 250 people and performed two major ground searches encompassing areas where Jennifer had been seen just prior to her disappearance.

To date, the team has logged over 3,000 man-hours each and all of our work has been pro-bono. As a result of our efforts, our investigation has identified a prime suspect, and with the continued assistance of the local and state authorities we hope to bring some conclusion to this tragedy in the near future.

SC: You've just received this prestigious CLI designation. What does it mean to you?

WHITE: The personal gratification in accomplishing such a task is, in itself, tremendous. But after it was completed, the sincere congratulatory words received from those great investigators across the country I have looked up to and admired over the years truly put my accomplishment in perspective.

I am one of (only) 76 in the world. My son really put it best: "That's really cool, Dad."

SC: What case are you working on now?

WHITE: I am currently splitting my time between a case involving CSX Transportation and the MBTA and a murder defense case here in the commonwealth. As these cases are active, I can't speak to the details of those investigations.

SC: Is there something else you'd like to do professionally after you finish chasing the bad guys?

WHITE: Write that book I want to write about my chronicles in the years to come. Like any good investigator would tell you, "You can't make this stuff up."

SC: Is there anything you would tell someone wanting to be a PI?

WHITE: I would have to say that PI life can be compared to a military sniper. Hours upon hours of tedeous boredom sprinkled with a few moments of tremendous heart-pounding exhilaration.

Want to be a PI? When I interviewed to work for one of the finest investigators I know, Alan Sklar of Creative Services, Inc., he sat me in an empty conference room with a pad of paper and a pencil and asked me to write down what I saw in that room.

I use that very method still today on new investigators as it gives me a clear look at what someone sees when they are under pressure. And what they see under pressure is the makings of a good PI.

For those who think they could be a PI, I would suggest that they spend an entire weekend at a local mall. Sit down on one of the benches alone and just watch. You will be amazed at the things you see. And, if after four hours of the first day you are still having a good time, go back the next day and do it again and, if you are still happy, then chances are, you at least have the stamina to consider this profession.

If, on the other hand, you are bored or you didn't complete the first four hours, then don't quit your current employment.

JAMES A. MEROLLA can be reached at 508-236-0431 or at jmerolla@thesunchronicle.com.