Litigation management system and method

Abstract

A computer-based user interface for accessing litigation information associated with at least one litigation case includes a home page. The home page includes a first plurality of user-selectable hyperlinks. Each hyperlink in the first plurality of hyperlinks identifies a category of litigation information. The interface also includes a plurality of web pages. Each web page is associated with one of the hyperlinks in the first plurality of hyperlinks. Each web page provides litigation information related to the category identified by the hyperlink associated with the web page. Each web page is displayed in response to selection of the hyperlink associated with the web page.

1 . A computer-based user interface for accessing information, the user interface comprising:
 a home page including a first plurality of user-selectable hyperlinks, each hyperlink in the first plurality of hyperlinks identifying a category of information, the hyperlinks thereby identifying categories of information, wherein the home page is configured to be displayed by a display device;   a plurality of web pages, each web page associated with one of the hyperlinks in the first plurality of hyperlinks, each web page providing information related to the category identified by the hyperlink associated with the web page, each web page displayed by the display device in response to selection of the hyperlink associated with the web page; and   wherein the categories of information include at least one of pleadings information, discovery information, court orders, and motions.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is docket information, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for docket information includes a plurality of docket entries, each docket entry including a description of a litigation action and a due date for the action. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 3 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for docket information includes hyperlinks to electronic copies of litigation documents associated with docket entries. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is correspondence information, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for correspondence information includes a plurality of correspondence entries, each correspondence entry including a description of a correspondence and a date of the correspondence. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 5 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for correspondence information includes hyperlinks to electronic copies of correspondence. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is pleadings information, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for pleadings information includes a plurality of pleadings entries, each pleadings entry including a description of a pleading. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 7 , wherein each pleadings entry further includes a pleadings number, a date, and a source identifier identifying a source of the described pleading. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 8 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for pleadings information includes hyperlinks to electronic copies of pleadings documents. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is patent information, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for patent information includes information regarding at least one patent. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 11 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for patent information includes a hyperlink to an electronic copy of the at least one patent. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 11 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for patent information includes a hyperlink to an electronic copy of a file history of the at least one patent. 
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is court orders, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for court orders includes a plurality of court order entries, each court order entry including a description of a court order. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 21 , wherein the court order entries further include pleadings numbers and dates associated with the court orders. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 22 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for court orders includes hyperlinks to electronic copies of court orders. 
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is motions, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for motions includes a plurality of descriptions of motions and a plurality of hyperlinks to electronic copies of described motions. 
     
     
         28 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A method of managing litigation information for at least one lawsuit, the method comprising:
 storing litigation information for the at least one lawsuit on a computer network;   storing user interface data on the computer network;   generating and displaying a user interface based on the stored user interface data, the user interface including a litigation case selection page, the litigation case selection page including a plurality of links, each link on the litigation case selection page corresponding to at least one lawsuit, a plurality of litigation case home pages, each litigation case home page corresponding to one of the links on the litigation case selection page and providing a plurality of links to the litigation information, each of the plurality of links corresponding to one category of a plurality of categories of litigation information, at least one of the categories of litigation information being a subcategory of at least one of the other categories of litigation information;   receiving selection data provided by a user, the selection data identifying a first link in the plurality of links; and   displaying litigation information related to the category corresponding to the first link.   
     
     
         63 - 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . A method of accessing information, the method comprising:
 displaying a home page including a first plurality of user-selectable hyperlinks, the hyperlinks in the first plurality identifying a plurality of categories of information, wherein the categories of information include patent information, correspondence information, and docket information;   selecting a first one of the plurality of hyperlinks; and   displaying a web page associated with the first one of the hyperlinks, the web page providing information related to a category identified by the first one of the hyperlinks.   
     
     
         81 - 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The computer-based user interface of  claim 1 , wherein one of the categories identified by the hyperlinks is competitors, and wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for competitors includes information about an entity's competitors. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for patent information includes information regarding at least one patent, and a hyperlink to an electronic copy of the at least one patent. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the web page associated with the hyperlink for patent information includes a hyperlink to an electronic copy of a file history of the at least one patent.