Litigation-Related Document Repository

Abstract

A litigation-related document repository for management and exchange of documents independent of courts or other tribunals. Users can upload litigation-related documents for on-line case folders in order to exchange documents with other parties to a dispute or other users. The repository maintains the documents in a common format in a structured database and can convert the documents for uploading to the database or downloading to user machines. It can also provide various services such as searching for documents and managing case folders. Users can select various fee-based approaches for access to the repository, including paying time-based fees, session-based fees, or agreeing to receive on-line advertisements in exchange for access.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A computerized method for compiling and maintaining documents, comprising:
 receiving documents, filed with adjudication entities, from corresponding representatives without requiring submission of the documents by or to the adjudication entities;   receiving information associated with the received documents, wherein the information includes information identifying the adjudication entities and cases associated with the documents;   maintaining a central repository for electronically storing the documents;   selectively providing access to the stored documents based on registered user information, wherein the selectively providing access include displaying folders containing the stored documents on user pages; and   providing user access to the stored documents through user-selected options of paying fees for access, including:
 detecting a user's payment option by accessing the user's on-line account using the central repository; and 
 determining whether to display advertisements to the user based on the user's payment option. 
   
     
     
         49 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the providing user access step further comprises:
 permitting the display of advertisements on user pages if the user requests a no-fee service as opposed to a flat fee service.   
     
     
         50 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the providing user access step further comprises:
 permitting the display of advertisements on user pages if the user requests a reduced-fee service compared to other users.   
     
     
         51 . The method of claim  1 , wherein fees generated from the advertisements displayed to the user approximate fees would have charged to the user for accessing the documents. 
     
     
         52 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the maintaining step comprises:
 creating document indexes based on the received information;   organizing the documents in a data structure based on the document indexes;   associating each of the documents with the corresponding adjudication entity in which the document was filed based on the document indexes; and   providing one or more uniform templates for presentation of the documents.   
     
     
         53 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the documents are litigation-related documents. 
     
     
         54 . The method of claim  6 , further comprising selectively permitting downloading of the litigation-related documents in a plurality of formats. 
     
     
         55 . The method of claim  6 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to download one of the litigation-related documents;   receiving an indication of a requested format for the one litigation-related document; and   providing the one litigation-related document in the requested format.   
     
     
         56 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the selectively providing step comprises:
 receiving a search query for the litigation-related documents;   searching the litigation-related documents based upon the search query; and   providing results of the searching.   
     
     
         57 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the receiving the documents step comprises receiving the litigation-related documents via e-mail. 
     
     
         58 . The method of claim  6 , further comprising receiving an electronic version of documents referenced by the litigation-related documents. 
     
     
         59 . The method of claim  11 , wherein the receiving the electronic version step comprises receiving exhibits associated with the litigation-related documents. 
     
     
         60 . The method of claim  11 , wherein the maintaining step comprises:
 organizing the electronic version of the referenced documents in the data structure; and   associating the referenced documents with the corresponding litigation-related documents.   
     
     
         61 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the maintaining step comprises maintaining the litigation-related documents as a neutral third party with respect to the representatives. 
     
     
         62 . The method of claim  6 , further comprising maintaining a separate repository containing hard copies of the litigation-related documents. 
     
     
         63 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising charging users a fee for on-line access to the documents in the central repository. 
     
     
         64 . The method of claim  16 , wherein the step of charging a fee comprises charging one or more of the following: a flat fee based upon a time period; a fee based upon time of use; a fee based upon downloading of the documents; a fee based upon uploading of the documents to the central repository; or discounted fees based upon particular criteria related to the users. 
     
     
         65 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the documents are arbitration-related documents. 
     
     
         66 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the documents are mediation-related documents. 
     
     
         67 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the documents are administrative hearing-related documents.