Computerized dispute resolution system and method

Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – Electronic negotiation

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C705S004000, C705S037000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06330551

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to computerized systems and more particularly to a computerized system for automated dispute resolution through a communications linkage for communicating and processing a series of demands to satisfy a claim made by or on behalf of a claimant or other person involved in a dispute with at least one other person, such as a defendant, his or her insurer, or other sponsor, and a series of offers to settle the claim by the other person. The invention also relates to a system for the collection, processing, and dissemination of settlement data generated from the settlement through the operation of the dispute resolution system for use by sponsors and claimants in establishing the settlement value of future cases.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
At the present time, it is readily apparent that a better way to resolve disputes has long been needed. Courtroom trials, once thought to be the only way to resolve legal controversies, are very costly and the outcome can be unsatisfactory for all concerned parties. The resulting disappointment with traditional litigation drove the creation of the alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) industry. However, conventional ADR, although sometimes helpful, is still costly and the results are often unacceptable.
An untold number of pending claims are ripe for settlement, but have not been resolved for reasons that have nothing to do with their merits. The present invention is based on the premise that the parties are best suited to settle those disputes but need a system that creates the opportunity for parties to successfully settle their claims easily, effectively, and inexpensively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a computerized system for automated dispute resolution through an Intranet website via the Internet or other communications linkage for communicating and processing a series of demands to satisfy a claim made by or on behalf of a person involved in a dispute, such as a plaintiff in a lawsuit or other claimant, with at least one other person, such as a defendant, his or her insurer, or other sponsor, and a series of offers to settle the claim through at least one central processing unit including operating system software for controlling the central processing unit.
The invention also provides a system for the collection, processing, and dissemination of settlement data generated from the settlement through the operation of the dispute resolution system for use by sponsors and claimants in establishing the settlement value of future cases.
The system has means for introducing information into the central processing unit corresponding to the identification of the dispute and the persons involved in the dispute, memory means for storing the information corresponding to the identification of the dispute and the persons involved in the dispute, means for introducing by or on behalf of a first person involved in the dispute against whom a claim is made information into the central processing unit corresponding to a series of rounds of offers to settle a claim without disclosure of the offers to other persons involved in the dispute, and means for introducing by or on behalf of a second person involved in the dispute information into the central processing unit corresponding to series of rounds of demands to satisfy the claim without disclosure of the demands to other persons involved in the dispute.
Preferably, the central processing unit receives information corresponding to three settlement offers and a plaintiff or claimant enters three demands in a plurality of communications with the system over a period of time, for example, 30 days. Time keeping means records the entry of the demands or offers over the selected time period. Comparison means included in the system compares the information corresponding to the series of demands and the series of offers on a round-by-round basis in accordance with preestablished conditions. The system also includes means for permanently deleting the demand and the offer in each round that does not result in a settlement based upon those preestablished conditions upon comparison of the demand and the offer in that round, and means for communicating to the first and second persons or representatives thereof the results of the comparison.
The preestablished conditions under which the comparison is made include the following:
If the offer in any round is less than the demand and within a preestablished percentage, for example thirty percent, of the demand in the same round, i.e. the offer is greater than or equal to seventy percent of the demand, the claim is settled for an amount in accordance with a first preestablished formula, for example, the median amount between the demand and the offer.
If the offer in any round is the same as or greater than the demand, the claim is settled for the demand amount.
If the offer is not within the preestablished percentage of the demand in all rounds, for example if seventy percent of the demand is greater than the offer, the claim is not settled unless the difference between the offer and demand is less than a preestablished amount, for example $5,000, in which case the claim is settled for an amount in accordance with a second preestablished formula, for example at the median amount between the demand and the offer. Thus, first and second preestablished formulas may be the same as or different from each other depending on the agreement of the parties.
The system preferably is designed to allow a user to communicate with the system through a standard PC computer and modem via the Internet. The system may also include a voice message system or means for generating voice messages to a person communicating with the system through a touch-tone or cell phone linkage to guide the person in the use of the system. Security means is preferably included to make the system accessible only upon entry of a case identification number identifying the dispute, a security code corresponding to the dispute, and a user security code corresponding to the dispute and identifying the user, i.e. the person or representative thereof who is making the demand or offer, for example the attorney for the person on whose behalf the demand or offer is made.
The method of the present invention communicates and processes a series of demands to satisfy a claim made by or on behalf of a person involved in a dispute with at least one other person and a series of offers to settle the claim through a computerized system for automated dispute resolution. having at least one central processing unit including operating system software for controlling the central processing unit, means for introducing information into the central processing unit corresponding to the identification of the dispute and the persons involved in the dispute, and memory means for storing the information corresponding to the identification of the dispute and the persons involved in the dispute.
The method comprises:
(a) introducing into the central processing unit information corresponding to a series of rounds of demands to satisfy the claim from a party representing a claimant involved in the dispute without disclosure of the demands to other persons involved in the dispute;
(b) introducing into the central processing unit information corresponding to a series of rounds of offers to settle the claim from a party representing a person involved in the dispute against whom the claim is made without disclosure of the offers to other persons involved in the dispute;
(c) steps (a) and (b) occurring in any order;
(d) comparing the information corresponding to the series of demands and the series of offers on a round-by-round basis in accordance with preestablished conditions;
(e) permanently deleting the demand and the offer in each round that does not result in a settlement upon comparison of the demand and the offer in that round based on those preestablished conditions; and
(f) communicating to the claimant and the person against whom the claim is made or representatives

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