Asbestos Cases Spur Online Filing

Article Added January 18th, 2007 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

The vast amount of paperwork that is involved with asbestos litigation gave rise to a need for more efficiency. Maryland has decided to begin an online case filing system to cut down on the paperwork.

Some court cases take up only a small amount of time and space in the courthouse. Other, such as asbestos litigation, can take years and many filing cabinets to house the paper trail involved. In an effort to cut down on paperwork, and to facilitate the ease of sharing information, Maryland has decided to turn most of it’s court documents into an online database. The Clerk of Courts cited asbestos cases as one of the reasons for the conversion, since litigation for victims can take years and can require tons of paperwork being stored.

Asbestos litigation normally handles complaints by victims of mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer that develops after asbestos exposure. The litigation usually encompasses dozens or hundreds of plaintiffs who are all suing the same company; this leads to pages of amendments to original case files. The new system will also allow lawyers access to the complete court file at all times of the day, not just during normal business hours.

Article Added January 18th, 2007 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story