Hello,
A few weeks ago I posted a message on the list asking for comments
on JVR (Jury Verdict Research) Personal Injury Case Evaluation Software.
Here are the ones I received:
=====================================================
The attorneys who use this software product like it a lot and it gets
regular use. We paid $623 for the software for the 04/05 subscription
and get the LRP Personal Injury Valuation Handbooks in print that have
all the detailed injury information, names of experts, attorneys etc,
but I don't think they get used as much as the software. Before the
software came along one had to complete an evaluation form that came
with the handbooks and it took forever to complete (like doing your
taxes) which the software makes obsolete. With the software you plug in
the parameters (type of injury, medical expenses, geographic location,
etc ) of the case and then the software automatically accesses the
company database via the internet to determine dollar values for
settlement or verdict.
==========================================================
We recently signed up for the service and I love it.
In the past we would search through the JV databases on Westlaw and try to
find cases that were close enough to make a calculation - the whole process
would take hours to sort and read, etc...
With the JVR database we get verdicts and settlement information much closer
to our fact situation and a dollar amount that I have more confidence in.
===========================================================
We've got print version (takes up one shelf) and it is requested at least a
couple times a week by private attorneys so I'd say it's popular and known
by practitioners.
============================================================
I am an attorney in New York and no longer doing PI work, but four
years ago, I worked in an office where several PI attorneys used
JuryVerdict to help them, both for trial and for negotiating with
insurance companies,(do they still negotiate, or do they all go to
trial like Allstate?) since you can say:
"hey, you settled for $XYZ with so-and-so in 1985, so the same injury
is worth more for my client....
I have not heard much more about it since then, but I do know that my
former employer, who was New( as PI atty) to PI, liked it very much,
because it gave her perspective.
I am sure there have been changes to the material,look of the program
etc., and probably the cost too, but that is my 2 cents on this issue.
=============================================================
We have added Jury Verdicts to our behind-the-desk librarian subscription to
Lexis. It is available thru their PUBLIC RECORDS library. It costs us less
than $100 per month. I have NO idea what it would cost to a firm. I would
think, however, that ONE person could be responsible for this function, so
you would not need to license everybody.
=============================================================
We tried it for a month. It was marginally
useful. You have to pick categories of injuries, and sometimes the
injuries suffered by our clients/opposing parties were not among the
choices. We didn't subscribe, but we probably will when someone
requests an evaluation, since a single evaluation is 1/4 of the price of
one year's subscription to the web software.
============================================================
Betty, we have subscribed to this for some time. It is useful, and I think
I recall a price break some time back with both the online and hard copy
services. It is useful for tracking specific injuries and helpful in the
evaluation of injuries. We also subscribe to Dollar Verdicts, which is
similar, but not as comprehensive. One can also do searching on a specific
injury, but these publications give trial verdicts, which the CALR services
would not necessarily pick up in a search. We also have a service called
Metro Verdicts Monthly, which is a jurisdictional service for DC, MD & Va.
Don't know if MA might have such a local tool as well.
=============================================================
After many years of debating over whether to get this -- The Library (me)
got a single user subscription. This service is useful but it requires that
the researcher have sufficient particulars on their case to come up with an
accurate assessment. You can probably recoup some costs be charging for
each analysis. With VerdictSearch charging $1700 for one user --JVR for one
user about $1200 as I recall... One has to think of whether can charge
client for reasonable fee. Med Mal attorneys did not use here as much as
vehicle/insurance.
==========================================================
Thanks to all who responded. We've signed up for the software and
are greatly impressed!
Betty Edwards
Law Librarian
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
World Trade Center East
Two Seaport Lane
Boston MA 02210
T: 617-946-4875
F: 617-946-4801
E: bedwards@seyfarth.com
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