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A Background Search Story You Need To Read

August 12, 2024 posted by Steve Brownstein

This is a story, especially for the newcomer, hard to imagine, but in the beginning.... It was the Monday before Thanksgiving, 1996. I was visiting, it was a day trip, to Dave Machowsky's office (Advanced Background Check) in Dayton, OH. Dave was both a supplier to me of Montgomery County court records and a customer, too. He had a nice business going.
At about 2pm that same day I received a call from Mark Hughes, owner of BTi Employee Screening Services (eventually he sold to ChoicePoint). He said his client ( The LARGE discount store) had opened up a half dozen stores in the Elkins, WV area and they needed some names checked before Black Friday for criminal records.
Mark asked, "I need the results Wednesday, before Thanksgiving. Can you do it?
Myself, not being one to say no. "Send them over." (LOL).
Turned out there were about a thousand names in Elkins County plus several hundred in the surrounding counties. What did I do?
I drove over to Cincinnati, caught the next flight to D.C.. rented a car, then drove 3 hours to Elkins. Checked into a roadside motel. It was a long day.
The next morning I was at the Elkin's court doorstep when they opened. I spent most of my day searching court records the thousand of searches -checking for cases. First Elkins court , then off to the country-side courts (somehow Elkins, WV just wasn't countryside enough)! The clerks were mesmerized at the volumes. They must have wagered if I could get the job done. They surely thought it was funny.
Long story, short.. Back then the WV courts weren't computerized. Compared with today - they were barely organized! I ended up searching through dockets books, index cards, and even thin sheets of paper cut to 3x5 size. I searched in filing cabinets, books, and even alphabetized the 3x5 sheets, sorting them on the floor.
Yet, I finished within the deadline! Mark was elated. The BIG discount store was thrilled. For me it was just another day; a job well done. I drove back to D.C, flew to Chicago, then went home to sleep, waking up in time for a happy Thanksgiving!