LAMS Legal Action Management System Seminar 1

SKIP TO 1.Overview of LAMS 2.The Index_Active.xls11.Small Claims Court PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM:12.Plaintiff No.112.Plaintiff No.1 3.Navigating the System13.Defendant No. 1 4.Menu14.Pre-judgement Interest Calculator 5.Save Original Info15.Type of Claim & Reasons for Claim 6.Help Prompt16.Form Status 7.Ready and Edit Modes17.Generate & Merge 8.Form Status18.SQL Script 9.Claim Status19.Generating the Word Document 10.Claim Number20.Next Steps 21. Additional Parties Form

LEGAL ACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The Legal Action Management System (LAMS) operates by storing the minimum amount of your information in an “MS-Excel” workbook. It merges that information into an “MS-Word” legal document. (LAMS) will automatically update all the forms that you may need for the Small Claims Court at each stage of the legal action. You will be able to print out copies of these documents for the Small Claims Court. Why use LAMS? Saves you time by transferring your legal information to other forms, without having to fill it out again. Saves you money by not having to pay for the processing of each individual form. It’s simple and easy to use. Training and support is easily accessible.

LEGAL ACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INDEX ACTIVE

1.In the G3R Legal Folder open the file named Index_Active.xls. 2.Double click in the white box in Column ‘B3’ and type either the defendant’s name (last name, first name) or the defendant company’s name. When you are typing into the box, you will be in ‘Edit’ mode which allows you to make changes. Click off the box or hit ‘Enter’ to go back to ‘Ready’ mode. You will be able to see what mode you are in at the bottom left-hand corner of the application. 3.Click on in Column ‘C’. You have just initialized a workbook for the entered defendant. Note: If you are still in the ‘Edit’ mode, you will not be able to activate the ‘New Defendant’ button. The Index_Active.xls

Index_Active.xls SAMPLE 1. Type name of defendant or company. Hit when finished. Status is either ‘Ready’ or ‘Edit.’ If is clicked, it will update the list of your active legal actions. 2. Hit the button after you’ve typed in the name. A new Excel Workbook 07A Plaintiff’s Claim form will appear.

LEGAL ACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM FORM 07A

Excel Workbook (.xls) Use this button to go back to your where you’ll have an interactive list of all the required forms. Column ‘C’ (the white area) is where your information is entered. Some of the boxes will have a drop down menu. Once you’ve entered all the information, click on and your form will be generated into a Word document that will open up automatically in M-S Word. These tabs will enable you to select which sheet you are working on. You are now on the SCR_07A form. Plaintiff’s Claim Form 07A. Your Form Status will either be ‘Ready’, ‘Active’ or ‘Done’ depending on the stage you have selected. Navigating the System

1.Hit to go back to the list of Small Claims Court Forms. 2. Column ‘E’ indicates the status of each form. Choose which form to work on in Column ‘F’. Click on the hyperlink named SCR_07A Plaintiff’s Claim. Menu

If an action is transferred to another Court, the original Claim Number and Court information can be maintained by simply clicking. This function allows you to keep the original claim information necessary for forms like the 20P. Save Original Info

Move the cursor over the red line (Column ‘F’) to get a detailed explanation of the information you must enter in each cell. A box will appear with a small help bubble. Help Prompt

Your status should read ‘Edit’, enabling you to type into the boxes. If it reads ‘Ready’, simply double click inside a selected cell to bring it back to the ‘Edit’ mode. If it still reads ‘Ready,’ you will not be able to make any changes. ‘Ready’ and ‘Edit’ Modes

On the Plaintiff’s Claim (FORM 07A) change your FORM STATUS in Row 5 by clicking once on the white box. A dropdown menu will appear. Select ‘Active’ from the list, which means you are currently working on the document. Once you have completed the data entry at the end of this process, you would normally change the status to ‘Done’. If you would like more information about the FORM STATUS move your cursor over the help prompt in Column ‘F5’ and you will get an explanation of each status. Form Status

The CLAIM STATUS in Row 6 should also be set. Choose one of the following from the dropdown menu: 1. Active new is an unfilled claim. 2. Active prejudgement is a claim in which judgement has not been granted yet by the Court. 3. Active-judgement is a judgement which has been granted. 4.Closed suggests that the action has been successfully dealt with or a judgement was not granted. It is important that before you move an action file from the active folder to the closed folder, that you set the status of the claim to be closed. Claim Status

Row 12: leave the CLAIM NUMBER box empty. This will only be entered after your claim has been filed and the court has assigned you a claim number. When you first print this form out, the claim number will be blank. After you’ve received the claim number, enter it in ‘C 12’. All subsequent forms will display the claim number automatically. Claim Number

Row 13: SMALL CLAIMS COURT also has a dropdown menu. Once you select from the list, it will automatically put in the address and the phone number. If the Small Claims court information is incorrect, it can be corrected manually or by going to the set-up sheet, the SMALL CLAIMS COURT information can be modified. Group 3000 Research staff will make these changes if our help is required. Small Claims Court

Plaintiff No.1 Row 19: Mark an ‘X’ only if you are acting on behalf of a plaintiff who is under 18. Use a small or big ‘X’ to your own preference. If the plaintiff is under 18, the 04A form must also be filled out, which is to be included with the 07A form. Leave this row blank if the plaintiff is over 18. Row 20: List any additional plaintiffs. Click on the hyperlink ‘SCR_01A’ on the right of the cell to access the Additional Parties 01A form, which must be filled out if there are any additional plaintiffs. Rows 21-30: Fill in the information requested. If you have any questions, please contact Group 3000 Research. The or key will enable you to move down to the next cell. Plaintiff No.1

Defendant No. 1 Row 37:Mark an ‘X’ if the defendant is under 18. Use small or big ‘X’ to your own preference. Row 38:List any additional defendants. Click on the hyperlink ‘SCR_01A’ on the right of the cell to access the Additional Parties 01A form, which must be filled out if there are any additional defendants. Rows 39-52: Fill in the information requested. If you have any questions, please contact Group 3000 Research. Defendant No.1

Page 2 Row 55: The Claim Number will automatically appear here when it’s been entered in Row ‘C12 ’. Row 56: Principle amount you’re claiming. Row 57: Interest you agreed upon. Default is 4.5%. Row 58: Amount can be entered manually or can be calculated below using the “Prejudgment interest calculator.” Click on the hyperlink to go to the calculator. Page 2

Using the day-month-year format (07-Dec-99), enter the Start Date and the End Date that are relevant to the calculation of the pre-judgment interest. The calculator will automatically calculate the interest amount. Hit the ‘Back’ button to return back up to Page 2. Pre-Judgement Interest Calculator

TYPE OF CLAIM: Mark an ‘X’ for the type of claim you are making. In some cases, it is more than one. Select a small or large ‘X’ from the dropdown menus according to your preference. Be consistent with the case you’ve have been using. Type of Claim

Enter the details of your claim in each paragraph. If you prefer to not use the paragraphs, you can create a prompt that states ‘See attached form for particulars’ and attach your own documents. Reasons for Claim

Once you are finished entering all your reasons for claim, change your Form Status to ‘Done.’ Change your Claim Status to the stage of your choice. Form Status

Click on a ‘Generate & Merge’ button. Generate & Merge

A pop-up dialogue box will appear, prompting you to run an SQL script. Click ‘Yes’ to continue. SQL Script

1.Two Word documents will appear. ‘Form Letters 1’ is the document you need. Behind it is the merge document SCR_07A, which you do not need. Please close the merge document without changing it. 2.Review the ‘Form Letters 1’ document carefully to see if all your information has been generated correctly. If you wish, use Save As to save the output where you want to store it. 3.Print as many copies as you need of the document. You can now bring these along with you to the Small Claims Court. To see visual example, go to next slide. Generating the Word Document

Merge Document (SCR_07A) Review info in ‘Form Letters 1’. You may save this document using the ‘Save As’ function. Print as many copies as you need. Form Letters 1 Close immediately, do not save. Generating the Word Document

Next Steps Once you have the claim number that has been assigned by the Small Claims Court, come back to the Plaintiff’s Claim 07A form and enter the claim number in Column ‘C 12’. From that point on the claim number will appear automatically on all subsequent forms. Update your form status to ‘Done’ in Row 5. The next usual step would be to generate an Affidavit's of Service 08A form when there is only one defendant and one plaintiff. When there is more than one defendant and one plaintiff, the Additional Parties 01A form should also be filled.

LEGAL ACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ADDITIONAL PARTIES FORM 01A

Accessing the Additional Parties 01A Form 1.Once the 07A form is finished, you will have minimal data entry to do. If additional parties are involved, the Additional Parties SCR_01A form must be filled. An additional party is when one or more plaintiffs or defendants are involved in the case. 2.To access the Additional Parties SCR_01A form, hit on the 07A form and choose the SCR_01A form from the list. You may also access the Additional Parties form by clicking on the hyperlink ‘SCR_01A’ in the Plaintiff’s claim (located in Row 20 beside the Additional Plaintiffs box). To see visual example, go to next slide.

Accessing the Additional Parties 01A Form Option #1: Click on the SCR_01A hyperlink to access the Additional Parties form. Option #2: Click on to go back to the list of forms. Select the SCR_01A.

Filling out the Additional Parties 01A Form 1.In Row 13 and Row 15 you have the option of marking an ‘X’ for either an additional plaintiff or an additional defendant. Choose only one. Fill out the information for that specific plaintiff or defendant. The claim number will automatically transfer over from the 07A form. 2.If there are any more additional plaintiffs or defendants, fill out the next section Additional Party #2 for that specific person, marking an ‘X’ again for either an additional plaintiff or an additional defendant. 3.When you are finished filling out the information, change your FORM STATUS to ‘Done’. Then click on the ‘Generate and Merge’ button. To see visual examples, see next few slides.

Filling out the Additional Parties 01A Form 1.Mark an ‘X’ for either an additional plaintiff or an additional defendant. 2.Fill out the rest of the information.

Form Status 3. When you are finished filling out the information, change your FORM STATUS to ‘Done’.

Generate & Merge 4. Click on the ‘Generate and Merge’ button.

A pop-up dialogue box will appear, prompting you to run an SQL script. Click ‘Yes’ to continue. SQL Script

1.Two Word documents will appear. ‘Form Letters 1’ is the document you need. Behind it is the merge document SCR_01A, which you do not need. Please close the merge document without changing it. 2.Review the ‘Form Letters 1’ document carefully to see if all your information has been generated correctly. If you wish, use Save As to save the output where you want to store it. 3.Print as many copies as you need of the document. You can now bring these along with you to the Small Claims Court. To see visual examples, see next few slides. Generating the Word Document

Review info in ‘Form Letters 1’. You may save this document using the ‘Save As’ function. Print as many copies as you need. Close immediately, do not save. Form Letters 1 Merge Document (SCR_01A)