System and method for scheduling a litigation event

• US 20060129445A1
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rodney H. Mccallum Jr
• Original Assignee: Rodney H. Mccallum Jr
• Inventors: McCallum, Rodney H. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/232,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

A system and method for scheduling witness depositions and other litigation-related events has been developed. The computer communications network-based system provides improved systems and methods that are more efficient and less costly than currently available scheduling systems and methods.

Claims

1. A system for scheduling a deposition of a witness during a litigation, the:

system comprising;

at least one server communicatively connected to a computer communications network,

the at least one server comprising at least one database having stored therein data relating to the witness deposition,

the data comprising (a) the name of an attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation, (b) the name of an attorney or law firm representing a defendant in the litigation, (c) information identifying the litigation, (d) the name of the witness, and (e) a proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition,

the at least one server configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device of at least a first system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a defendant and to a network access device of a second system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff,

wherein at least a portion of the data stored in the database, including the proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, can be modified by the first system user and the second system user via the input signals conveyed across the computer communications network,

wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein the calendar schedules of a plurality of attorneys comprising at least the attorney representing a plaintiff and the attorney representing a defendant,

the system further comprising a processor configured to compare the calendar schedules of a plurality of attorneys and determine at least one date and time that all of the plurality of attorneys are available to attend the witness deposition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compare the calendar schedules of a plurality of attorneys and determine at least three dates and times that all of the plurality of attorneys are available to attend the witness deposition.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to register a new user of the system and to restrict unregistered users from accessing the system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compare a digital signature stored on the database with a digital signature on a document to determine authenticity of the document.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to export and synchronize data and files stored in the database with other servers communicatively connected to the computer communications network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to import data and files stored in a database on at least one of the other servers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to a user'"'"'s network access device indicating that a change has been made to the proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to synchronize with a calendaring software program resulting in information pertaining to a particular user stored in the database being updated when that user logs on to the system.

9. A system for scheduling a deposition of a witness during a litigation, the system comprising:

at least one server communicatively connected to a computer communications network,

the at least one server comprising at least one database having stored therein data relating to the witness deposition,

the data comprising (a) a name of an attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation, (b) a name of an attorney or law firm representing a defendant in the litigation, (c) information identifying the litigation, (d) a name of the witness, (e) a proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, and (f) a proposed location for conducting the deposition,

the at least one server being configured to receive input signals from and to transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device of at least a first system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a defendant and a network access device of a second system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff,

wherein at least a portion of the data stored in the database, including the proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, can be modified by the first system user and the second system user via the input signals conveyed across the computer communications network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals to a network access device of at least one additional system user selected from the group consisting of:

an expert witness, a mediator, a judge, a judicial assistant, a court clerk, a process server, a court reporter, a videographer, and an interpreter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional system user comprises a vendor selected from the group consisting of:

the court reporter, the process server, the videographer, the interpreter, and the mediator.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one additional system user comprises a court official selected from the group consisting of:

the judge, the judicial assistant, and the court clerk.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one server is further configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals to a network access device of an insurance company representative.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer communications network is the Internet and the first system user is located at least 1 kilometer from the second system user.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises at least three selected from the group consisting of:

(g) the name of the presiding judge, (h) contact information for the attorney representing a plaintiff, (i) contact information for the attorney representing a defendant, (j) the name of the court at which the litigation is pending, (k) the address of the court, (l) official court documents relating to the litigation, and (m) a law firm'"'"'s internal file number pertaining to the litigation, the law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation or a defendant in the litigation.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

(m) directions to the proposed location of the deposition and (n) a map of an area surrounding the proposed location of the deposition.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises forms for use in the litigation.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises rules of practice that relate to the litigation.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein compilations of (a) names of at least 100 attorneys, (b) contact information for the attorneys, and (c) areas of practice for the attorneys.

20. The system of claim 9, wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein compilations of (a) names of at least 15 expert witnesses, (b) contact information for the expert witnesses, and (c) areas of expertise of the expert witnesses.

21. The system of claim 9, wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein the calendar schedules of a plurality of attorneys, the plurality comprising at least the attorney representing a plaintiff and the attorney representing a defendant.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the database has further stored therein the calendar schedule of at least one expert witness.

23. A method for scheduling a witness deposition, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one server communicatively connected to a computer communications network,

the at least one server comprising at least one database configured to store data relating to the witness deposition, the data comprising (i) a name of an attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation, (ii) a name of an attorney or law firm representing a defendant in the litigation, (iii) information identifying the litigation, (iv) a name of the witness, (v) at least one proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, and (vi) a proposed location for conducting the deposition,

the at least one server being configured to receive input signals from and to transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device of at least a first system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a defendant and a network access device of a second system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff, wherein at least a portion of the data stored in the database, including the proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, can be modified by the first system user and the second system user via the input signals conveyed across the computer communications network;

(b) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the communications network from the first system user, the input signal comprising data including (i) the name of an attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation, (ii) the name of an attorney or law firm representing a defendant in the litigation, (iii) the information identifying the litigation, and (iv) the name of the witness, and storing the data comprised in the input signal in the database;

(c) transmitting from the server an output signal comprising the data comprised in the input signal and the at least one proposed date and time for the witness deposition across the communications network to the second system user; and

(d) accepting at the server input signals across the computer communications network from the second system user, and modifying the data stored in the database in accord with the input signals from the second system user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one server is configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals to a network access device of at least one additional system user selected from the group consisting of:

an expert witness, a mediator, a judge, a judicial assistant, a court clerk, a process server, a court reporter, a videographer, and an interpreter.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one additional system user comprises a vendor selected from the group consisting of:

the court reporter, the process server, the videographer, the interpreter, and the mediator.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one additional system user comprises a court official selected from the group consisting of:

the judge, the judicial assistant, and the court clerk.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one server is further configured to receive input signals from and transmit output signals to a network access device of an insurance company representative.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the computer communications network is the Internet and the first system user is located at least 1 kilometer from the second system user.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises at least three selected from the group consisting of:

(g) the name of the presiding judge, (h) contact information for the attorney representing a plaintiff, (i) contact information for the attorney representing a defendant, (j) the name of the court at which the litigation is pending, (k) the address of the court, (l) official court documents relating to the litigation, and (m) a law firm'"'"'s internal file number pertaining to the litigation, the law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation or a defendant in the litigation.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

(n) directions to the proposed location of the deposition, and (o) a map of an area surrounding the proposed location of the deposition.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises forms for use in the litigation.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the data stored in the database further comprises rules of practice that relate to the litigation.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein compilations of (a) names of at least 100 attorneys, (b) contact information for the attorneys, and (c) areas of practice for the attorneys.

34. The method of claim 23, wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein compilations of (a) names of at least 15 expert witnesses, (b) contact information for the expert witnesses, and (c) areas of expertise of the expert witnesses.

35. A method for scheduling a witness deposition, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one server communicatively connected to a computer communications network,

the at least one server comprising at least one database configured to store data relating to the witness deposition, the data comprising (i) a name of an attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation, (ii) a name of an attorney or law firm representing a defendant in the litigation, (iii) information identifying the litigation, (iv) a name of the witness, (v) at least one proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, and (vi) a proposed location for conducting the deposition,

the at least one server being configured to receive input signals from and to transmit output signals across the computer communications network to a network access device of at least a first system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a defendant and a network access device of a second system user acting for the attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff, wherein at least a portion of the data stored in the database, including the proposed date and time for conducting the witness deposition, can be modified by the first system user and the second system user via the input signals conveyed across the computer communications network;

wherein the server further comprises at least one database having stored therein the calendar schedules of a plurality of attorneys comprising at least the attorney representing a plaintiff and the attorney representing a defendant, and a processor configured to compare the calendar schedules of the plurality of attorneys and determine at least one date and time that all of the plurality of attorneys are available to attend the witness deposition;

(b) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the communications network from the network device of the first system user, the input signal comprising data including (i) the name of an attorney or law firm representing a plaintiff in the litigation, (ii) the name of an attorney or law firm representing a defendant in the litigation, (iii) the information identifying the litigation, and (iv) the name of the witness, and storing the data comprised in the input signal in the database;

(c) comparing the calendar schedules of the plurality of attorneys and determining at least one date and time that all of the plurality of attorneys have available to attend the witness deposition; and

(d) transmitting from the server across the computer communications network to network access devices of the plurality of attorneys output signals comprising the at least one date and time that all of the plurality of attorneys have available to attend the witness deposition.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of (e) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the computer communications network from the network access device of at least one attorney of the plurality of attorneys, the input signal comprising an indication that the at least one attorney is unable to attend the witness deposition on the at least one date and at the at least one time and a request from the at least one attorney for a rescheduling of the witness deposition;

(f) transmitting from the server across the computer communications network to network access devices of the plurality of attorneys output signals comprising the indication that the at least one attorney of the plurality of attorneys is unable to attend the witness deposition and the request by the at least one attorney of the plurality of attorneys to reschedule the witness deposition;

(g) comparing the calendar schedules of the plurality of attorneys and determining at least a second date and time that all of the plurality of attorneys have available to attend the witness deposition; and

(h) transmitting from the server across the computer communications network to network access devices of the plurality of attorneys output signals comprising the at least second date and time that all of the plurality of attorneys have available to attend the witness deposition.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of (e) accepting at the server an input signal transmitted across the computer communications network from the network access device of at least one attorney of the plurality of attorneys, the input signal comprising a request from the at least one attorney to cancel the witness deposition;

and (f) transmitting from the server across the computer communications network to network access devices of the plurality of attorneys output signals comprising the request by the at least one attorney of the plurality of attorneys to cancel the witness deposition.