Abstract: A networked data processor maintains a database of information concerning potential evidence from litigants in legal proceedings supporting stipulated discovery agreements, and requiring meet-and-confer sessions prior to seeking court supervision. Individual or adverse parties can participate. Sources include data custodians, file repositories, electronic data, witnesses, etc. Managers and employees are polled to populate a database defining the litigant's organization and evidence. The evidence may be sequestered, copied and processed, e.g., filtered for confidentiality or privilege, analyzed as to format, and queried to assess the volume of data that would be responsive under alternative discovery specifications. Cost and time are assessed under alternative specifications and reports are provided for use in negotiating a discovery plan. A stipulated discovery plan may result, or if not, a meet-and-confer session is electronically managed in a multi-user teleconference.

Abstract: A networked data processor maintains a database of information concerning potential evidence from litigants in legal proceedings supporting stipulated discovery agreements, and requiring meet-and-confer sessions prior to seeking court supervision. Individual or adverse parties can participate. Sources include data custodians, file repositories, electronic data, witnesses, etc. Managers and employees are polled to populate a database defining the litigant's organization and evidence. The evidence may be sequestered, copied and processed, e.g., filtered for confidentiality or privilege, analyzed as to format, and queried to assess the volume of data that would be responsive under alternative discovery specifications. Cost and time are assessed under alternative specifications and reports are provided for use in negotiating a discovery plan. A stipulated discovery plan may result, or if not, a meet-and-confer session is electronically managed in a multi-user teleconference.