After the parties failed to arrive at a settlement, Jack Parsons and his associates continued with their investigation of the toxic tort case against Greenway Chemicals. After months of investigating, the team had collected interviews, photographs, and medical records from hundreds of alleged victims. In addition, Jim Cassidy, the paralegal, had collected relevant statutes and case law governing

Question

the various procedural and evidentiary issues in the case. They had also retrieved numerous studies from scientific journals on the chemicals at issue. They were also compiling a list of potential expert and fact witnesses, along with their qualifications and contact information. In his smaller personal injury cases, it was enough to use a simple trial notebook. What software is available to assist Jack's firm as they collect information, and what problems can it solve?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Case analysis software, such as CaseMap, can assist in developing cases by providing a central repository for critical case knowledge. This information can be divided into categories—such as parties, witnesses, documents, case law, statutory law, and reports—that in a paper-based system might be kept in a folder or set of folders. As facts are gathered, parties are identified, and research is assembled, the data may be entered into the program. Once entered, the facts, the cast of characters, and the issues may be organized and explored by any member of the legal team.