Litigation Support

LiveNote SR is targeted to larger firms where transcript files will be maintained on a network with multiple users needing access to the electronic transcripts. The administrator module, which is only available with this version, allows a firm administrator to control user access to files by creating secure folders requiring user name and password information to enable access. The administrator can create user groups with restrictions on the cases that can be accessed by members of the group. Individual users also can have restrictions imposed on them. Where multiple users share the same computer, differing levels of access can be set. These security features can be of particular benefit in ensuring the maintenance of client confidentiality. Users without appropriate permission can’t access the case list or identify the witnesses that have been deposed. Restrictions also can be placed on those who are allowed to download files for use offline.

For road warriors given appropriate access, LiveNote SR makes it easy to take transcripts on the road, and replicate the work done locally back to the network upon return to the office.
Security can be maintained when the case is replicated to a laptop so the same restrictions that are present on the network version will apply to the local version. The program can be set to prompt the user to replicate the case back to the network the next time the program is opened. Multiple cases can be selected for replication from the network and back again with a single command.

Another important new feature is the ability to exchange instant messages over the Internet with remote viewers during a deposition using real-time feed. Secure Internet access can be given to more than one remote viewer, and the program allows different attorneys to create their own list of people who might view the live feed. For example, an attorney can conduct a deposition in New York while an expert in New Orleans and a client in Sacramento attend remotely. The program lets the person conducting the deposition exchange instant messages with others on the restricted list. It’s even possible to send a message with a link to testimony from a different deposition. That can be useful when, for example, a paralegal at the office attending remotely wants to point out prior inconsistent testimony to the attorney doing the questioning. Where multiple attorneys are using this feature simultaneously, the program makes sure messages for one group are not sent to the other attorneys or remote attendees.

While taking real-time feed you can use quick-marks and issue-marks to quickly navigate to important testimony within the transcript. Quick-marks are the simplest way to mark testimony. Simply press the spacebar as the real-time testimony appears or place the cursor over the line number in the left margin and click. Each issue is assigned a number and a button containing the issue also will be added to the issue bar displayed at the top of the screen. To make an issue-mark, press a number on your keyboard to mark the line of testimony with the corresponding issue as the testimony scrolls by. Later, you can use a number of search techniques using intuitive dialog boxes to run rapid searches for quick-marks or hits by a specific issue. This can be done for a single transcript or across multiple transcripts simultaneously.

When reviewing testimony, you can search by specific text as well as by issue. There is even a thesaurus feature that lets you include variables of a particular word in your search. You also can search for more than one issue at a time. Annotating testimony by assigning an issue or adding a note is simple to do. You can create a link to a particular document in the annotation that can be used to launch the document in its native application. Searches can be run on one transcript, selected transcripts or all of the transcripts in a given case. Reports organizing the testimony and related annotations can be generated quickly in a variety of useful formats.

The desktop configuration permits multiple windows to be open at the same time, and they can be arranged and sized to fit your preferred method of working. This permits you to have transcripts of more than one witness open at the same time, along with a query results box, a query report and a full listing of transcripts in the case.

There is also close integration with other popular programs. For example, it’s easy to highlight a section of testimony and, with a right click, send it to CaseMap or JFS Litigator’s Notebook. LiveNote’s .ptf format is recognized by Sanction, TrialDirector, Concordance, Summation, FolioViews, eBinder and other programs that permit easy transfer of information between programs.

LiveNote will be releasing Version 8.2 this spring, which enables users to receive transcripts from court reporters with all deposition exhibits already scanned and hyperlinked into the transcript. Also, a browser-based edition is scheduled for release this summer, and will work with the SR version to enable secure Web access to a user’s LiveNote database.

Price: $695 per seat with additional annual maintenance and incremental discounts for purchases of five or more seats

Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP

Reviewed by Bruce A. Olson, a trial lawyer and shareholder in the Wisconsin-based law firm of Davis & Kuelthau.

Apr/May '02 Issue

PROS
The security and collaboration tools are an added benefit to an already well-built product. Remote attendance with instant messaging capabilities during real-time feed is a particularly welcome advance.

CONS
No ability to attach scanned images of documents to instant messages for immediate transfer of documents.

VERDICT
LiveNote SR 8.1 maintains and enhances the quality of its highly regarded deposition management software. It remains easy and intuitive to use. With its abilities to link to other litigation related programs, it’s an excellent choice to serve as one of the core programs for every technologically adept trial lawyer.

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Updated 03/26/02
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