Transcript Download Handout 2

Imaging Technology
in Claims Litigation
April 23, 1998
Carol E. Morse, CPCU
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
The Challenge
 Legal Cost Containment
• The nature of environmental litigation
• Reduction of external expense
 Role of Litigation Support
• Centralized document handling
 Historical - Before Image
 With Image Technology
Before Image
Microfilm
 Dependence on
vendor
 Data Coding/ indexing
 Limited access to
documents
 Paper intensive

Imaging Environment
In house capabilities
 Scanning & Initial
coding
 Electronic Foldering
 On line vs. paper

Controlling Legal Costs
 Managing voluminous documents
 Improve effectiveness of Counsel
 Reduce Investigation Time
 Access to information
 Work performed at appropriate level
 Reduced storage costs
The Multi Million $$ Case
 Five million + pages
 Request for database
 Access
• Paralegal analysts
• File handler
• Two counsel offices
The Process
Define Issues
 Assemble Team
 Develop Strategy
 Legal Calendar

• Milestones
Alternative to Coding
 Broad Issue search of OCR’d text
 Initial Document analysis
• set boundaries
• frame issues
 Define query results
 Folder for review
Counsel Review
On line access to
folders
 Review only relevant
documents
 Refine criteria
 Define foldering
scheme

Organization
Results
 Searches conducted at paralegal or
analyst level
 Attorneys have on line access to
documents
 Simplifies deposition preparation
 Handle surprises through trial