Computerized legal case management system incorporating reconcilation feature

• US 20100100572A1
• Filed: 11/01/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Izzy Schiller
• Original Assignee: Izzy Schiller
• Inventors: Schiller, Izzy
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/149 Adaptation of the text data for streaming purposes, e.g. Efficient XML Interchange [EXI] format
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method for docketing and reporting activities related to a legal case by first establishing a database in a computer memory for storing case data comprised of a plurality of docket records associated with the legal case. The database is then populated with one or more docket records. A court sourced alert associated with the legal case is received via a communications network and loaded into the database. A docket report listing and identifying at least one docket record and the court sourced alert is generated and displayed to a subscriber or user. The user may then reconcile the court sourced alert with the docket record and the displayed docket report listing is modified to indicate that the court sourced alert has been reconciled with the docket record.

Claims

1. A method for docketing and reporting activities related to a legal case comprising the steps of:

establishing a database in a computer memory for storing case data comprised of a plurality of docket records associated with the legal case;

populating the database with at least one docket record;

receiving a court sourced alert associated with the legal case via a communications network;

loading the court sourced alert into the database;

generating and displaying a docket report listing and identifying the at least one docket record and the court sourced alert;

reconciling the court sourced alert with the docket record; and

modifying the displayed docket report listing to indicate that the court sourced alert has been reconciled with the docket record by concealing from display the court sourced alert.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating and displaying a docket report further comprises the step of concealing from display those court sourced alerts that have been reconciled with docket records.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a graphical icon to indicate that one or more of the court sourced alerts have been concealed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reconciling comprises the step of creating an association between a court sourced alert and the docket record.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of updating the docket record with information contained in the court sourced alert.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of notifying users when a docket record has been updated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of notifying users comprises the step of distributing an e-mail notification containing information regarding the updated docket record.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of periodically transmitting at least one reminder to a user based on the updated docket record.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of generating a diary entry based on the information contained in the updated docket record.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of periodically notifying users of the generated diary entry.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of proposing suggested diary entries to the users for selection based on the specific text of the related docket text.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing the users with the text of an underlying legal rule upon which the suggested diary entries are based.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating and displaying a docket report further comprises the step of generating and displaying a docket report that identifies those court sourced alerts that remain unreconciled with any docket records.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the court sourced alerts are derived from court records.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the court sourced alerts are derived from an electronic filing system associated with a court.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the court sourced alerts are derived from the electronic filing system by trapping incoming e-mails distributed from the electronic filing system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of linking an electronic document, such as PDF file, to the court sourced alert derived from the electronic filing system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the court sourced alert derived from the electronic filing system comprises an indication that there is a change in case header information associated with the legal case.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein emails are received, dissected to obtain court related information related to a docketing system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the court related information obtained related to a docketing system includes the name, index, and description in said received email, dates in a docket, and a picture PDF file for full text of the document, docket entry, and any word on the document.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said method can be performed by a human operator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said court related information can be easily entered with information as to the type of document in said received email, lookup capability and identification of an author of the document, a person who directed writing the document, and information identifying how the document was received.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising locating a postmark for the document and displaying additional comments that are entered by hand in the docket.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the docket will permit entries from CourtAlert emails as well as from the courts.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising a web interface.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein new docket dates are made available immediately and diary alerts can be entered.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein emails can be sent to CourtAlert via computer.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing docket entries into an existing entry with links to PDF files.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising sending entries to blackberries or similar devices as an appointment.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising going into outlook of an adjoined date and interfacing with a blackberry, including the extraction and removal from blackberry of the original date that is being adjourned.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing for a record of a document to be available through interne connection and the image of the docket deadline to be available as well.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising permitting outside access to the interne firm docket so that a user can therefore view everything internal to the firm remotely.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising a three element docket providing the relevant dates in the same place including precise description, diary date, and a picture of document such as a PDF file.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising a deadline and displaying when a calendar deadline is emailed to another person.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising said diary providing entry of court rules on responding to the paper/document.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing for data conversion from PACER to entry into the invention'"'"'s system. And further comprising providing for data conversion from MA-3000 and other case management systems to entry into the invention'"'"'s system.

37. A case management system for docketing and reporting activities related to a legal case comprising:

a computer including a database in a computer memory of said computer for storing case data comprised of a plurality of docket records associated with the legal case;

a computer program made available to a user to advantageously create and customize docket record creation templates;

said database being populated with at least one docket record;

a communications network for receiving a court sourced alert associated with the legal case;

said data base adapted to have loaded therein the court sourced alert;

said computer generating and displaying a docket report listing and identifying at least one docket record and the court sourced alert;

said computer reconciling the court sourced alert with the docket record; and

said computer modifying the displayed docket report listing to indicate that the court sourced alert has been reconciled with the docket record by concealing from display the court sourced alert.

38. The case management system according to claim 37, wherein emails are received, automatically dissected to obtain court related information related to a docketing system.

39. The case management system according to claim 38, wherein the court related information obtained related to a docketing system includes name index and description of document in said received email, dates in a docket and a picture PDF file for full text of the document, docket entry, and any word on the document.

40. A system for docketing and reporting activities related to a legal case comprising:

a database in a computer memory for storing case data comprised of a plurality of docket records associated with the legal case;

a computer application that facilitates;

i. creation of new customizable docket record templates and customizable case document templates;

ii. collection and collation of docket records, cases, documents; and

iii. removal, edition, and revision of docket records, documents, keeping a track of revisions;

said computer application enabled to;

i. populate the database with at least one docket record;

ii. receive a court sourced alert associated with the legal case via a communications network;

iii. load the court sourced alert into the database;

iv. generate and display a docket report listing and identify at least one docket record and the court sourced alert;

v. reconcile the court sourced alert with the docket record; and

to modify the displayed docket report listing to indicate that the court sourced alert has been reconciled with the docket record by concealing from display the court sourced alert.