Conducting cross-checks on legal matters across an enterprise system

• US 7,895,229 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: PSS Systems, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Paknad, Deidre
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US11/807,145
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

Exemplary systems and methods for conducting cross-checks on legal matters across an enterprise system are provided. In exemplary embodiments, search parameters are received from a user to search for custodians across the plurality of legal matters that are affected. A cross-check module then accesses legal matter information. An analysis of whether a custodian is common to more than one legal matter based on the search parameters, tracked relationships, and the legal matter information is performed. Results are then provided to the user. In further embodiments, the cross-check module may also provide a listing of collected data based on the cross-check analysis.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a cross-check on legal matters in an enterprise system, comprising:

executing instructions stored in memory by a processor to track relationships between a plurality of legal matters and custodians;

executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to receive search parameters from a user to search for one or more custodians across the plurality of legal matters;

executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to access legal matter information and tracked relationships between the plurality of legal matters and custodians;

executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to determine results based on the search parameters, tracked relationships, and the legal matter information; and

executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to provide the results of the determination to the user, the results further comprising an identification of the one or more searched custodians and the legal matters associated with the searched one or more custodians; and

executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to generate a workflow based on the results, the workflow comprising a notification to the custodian regarding a release from a hold or a continuous hold for a legal matter, the notification regarding a continued hold being embedded in another workflow or notification to the custodian.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the search parameters comprise custodian identity information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the search parameters comprise a legal matter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the search parameters comprise existing legal hold information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to determine a status of one or more requests to a custodian.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the results comprises a list of one or more legal matters per custodians.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to track relationships comprises executing instructions stored in memory by the processor to utilize a relationship map.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the results comprise a list of holds per custodian, where the holds may comprise holds in legal matters other then the legal matter of interest.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the results comprise a list of collections per custodian, wherein the list of collections may comprise collections for legal matters other than the legal matter of interest.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the custodian comprises a person.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the custodian comprises a custodial system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the user comprises a manager of a team, and the search parameters are directed to determining holds for the manager'"'"'s staff.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the user comprises a records manager and the search parameters are directed to determining holds relevant to organization specific classification codes (OSCCs) that apply to the records manager.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the user comprises a workflow system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the relationships tracked comprise involvement in one or more legal holds.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the relationships tracked comprises involvement in one or more collections.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a program embodied thereon, the program providing instructions for a method for conducting a cross-check on legal matters in an enterprise system, comprising:

tracking relationships between a plurality of legal matters and custodians;

receiving search parameters from a user to search for one or more custodians across the plurality of legal matters;

accessing legal matter information and tracked relationships;

determining results based on the search parameters, tracked relationships, and the legal matter information;

providing results of the determination to the user, the results further comprising an identification of the one or more searched custodians and the legal matters associated with the searched one or more custodians; and

generating a workflow based on the results, the workflow comprising a notification to the custodian regarding a release from a hold or a continuous hold for a legal matter, the notification regarding a continued hold being embedded in another workflow or notification to the custodian.