System and method for electronically managing discovery pleading information

• US 7,058,661 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gruskin, Michael A., Ciaramitaro, Barbara L., Wolfe, Edward C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): GODDARD, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/884,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 707 2- 5, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A system and method for electronically managing discovery pleading information in which a user having an instant discovery request can search a repository to access prior discovery requests and corresponding responses to aid in formulating a response to the instant discovery request. The corresponding prior discovery responses include the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request, and may also include the text of the response itself. In this way the inventive system and method promotes efficiency and consistency in responding to discovery requests.

Claims

1. A system for electronically managing discovery pleading information, comprising:

a repository of prior discovery requests received and corresponding responses made to those prior requests including the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request and a search tool enabling a user having an instant discovery request to search the repository to locate at least one prior discovery request of interest, the search tool further enabling the user to link a least one of the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located to the instant discovery request, thereby to promote efficiency and consistency in responding to discovery requests.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the corresponding responses further include the textual response itself to the prior discovery request.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the search tool includes prior search inquiries that may be wholly or partially reused in searching the repository.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the link only links to the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request that has not been identified as privileged.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the link restricts access to the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request that has been identified as privileged.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the prior discovery request and the instant discovery request are associated with the same case.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the prior discovery request and the instant discovery request are associated with different cases.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the link provides for assigning a tracking number associated with the prior discovery request to the instant discovery request.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the search tool further provides a listing of the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the link provides for coping the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the copied documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located is manipulated.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the copied documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located is manipulated.

13. A system for electronically managing discovery pleading information, comprising;

a repository of prior discovery requests received and corresponding responses made to those prior requests including the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request, and a search tool enabling a user having an instant discovery request to search the repository to locate at least one prior discovery request of interest, the search tool automatically links at least one of the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located to the instant discovery request, thereby to promote efficiency and consistency in responding to discovery requests.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the search tool includes prior search inquiries that may be wholly or partially reused in searching the repository.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the link only links to the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request that has not been identified as privileged.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the link restricts access to the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request that has been identified as privileged.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the prior discovery request and the instant discovery request are associated with the same case.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the prior discovery request and the instant discovery request are associated with different cases.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the link provides far assigning a tracking number associated with the prior discovery request to the instant discovery request.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the search tool further provides a listing of the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the link provides for coping the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

22. A method for electronically managing discovery pleading information, comprising:

storing prior discovery requests received and corresponding responses made to those prior requests including the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request;

using an instant discovery request to search the stored prior discovery requests to locate at least one prior discovery request of interest; and

linking at least one of the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located to the instant discovery request, thereby to promote efficiency and consistency in responding to discovery requests.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the searching further includes searching prior search inquiries that may be wholly or partially reused.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the linking further comprises linking only the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request that has not been identified as privileged.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the linking restricts access to the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request that has been identified as privileged.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the prior discovery request and the instant discovery request are associated with the same case.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the prior discovery request and the instant discovery request are associated with different cases.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprises assigning a tracking number associated with the prior discovery request to the instant discovery request.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprises listing of the documentary ant other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

30. The method of claim 22 further comprises coping the documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising manipulating the copied documentary and other information previously produced in response to the prior discovery request located.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein the linking is enabled by a user.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein the linking is automatic.