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Cudgel®
Litigation Companion
Case Control From A to Z
Questions and Answers
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Q: Cudgel is so comprehensive, what if I don't often need all its features?
A: Simply use the features of Cudgel that you need, knowing that when a case does expand, you have your Cudgel Companion at the ready.
Most litigation settles before trial. For most cases use Cudgel to record due dates, parties, adverse counsel, and the case caption. As the case develops, include the historical dates, papers, notes, and costs of the case. When needed, start specifying the facts you must prove, points of law, evidence, issues in dispute, and matters for judgment.
Q: Cudgel is so flexible, what's the suggested sequence for entering data?
A: First, use the Cudgel Tutorial with its sample data and read the Cudgel online Manual. Then launch the Cudgel icon; choose Starter User, and follow its guidance.
Enter your firm name as an Actor record, then enter the attorneys and support staff. You can always add new people later, but its convenient to give yourself the early records. Enter the judges and other actors you frequently interact with. Enter any clients you have that are frequently in litigation. Print ActorsQ to proof your data.
Then enter your pending cases in Cite view: enter the date filed if no opinion has been given yet (Date Opn field). Make sure you enter Yes in the Own Case? field, indicating this citation is for a case you're litigating. List your Cudgel citations (Fix menu); you can also print it out.
For cases that have progressed beyond Complaint and Answer, start entering the Paper data. You can Auto Docket entries if you want, or if you're in a rush, enter docket due dates first and paper titles later.
Enter your due dates in the Date view. You can enter anything into Cudgel's docket, it need not be a Cudgel case.
Enter your firm's name in the Own Setup view (Fix menu).
Actor, Cite, Paper, Dates are the basics; thereafter enter data as you encounter it and want to keep it neatly organized and retrievable.
Q: How do I use the demo?
A: The fastest way is to run through the commands; a slower way is to simulate the development of a case. First view Custom Help (under the Apple menu) and read About the Cudgel Companion, The Logic of Cudgel, and The Structure of Cudgel. Then select each command under each menu term. If you want more explanation of the fields, select Cudgel Help or Help?
The print command is often disabled in the demo version, but you can print Yes! and FeedBack under the Demo menu.
Q: Can I use Cudgel for precedent retrieval?
Yes. Simply enter as little or as much information about past cases as you wish. Computers generally tradeoff storage space versus access time. Store and readily retrieve cases, points of law, research papers, your brief bank, as well as experience with judges, insurance adjusters, adverse counsel, expert witnesses, and the like.
A: How does Cudgel work with Sonar?
Sonar, by Virginia Systems, is a full text retrieval application. If you wish to search extensive deposition transcripts before trial, you can use both Sonar and Cudgel. Use Sonar to find key terms, enter your concise results into Cudgel, optimized for discovery and trial.
Q: How does Cudgel work with Client Portrait?
A: Cudgel is optimized for litigation; Client Portrait-The Professional's Marketing, and Conflicts-of-Interest System-is designed to organize all your clients, ex-clients, prospects, referrals, associates, government officials, vendors, personal friends, and more. With GreenLight flexibility, you have many options.
Q: Our firm uses Windows computers, how can we use Cudgel?
A: Cudgel is designed on the sophisticated and user friendly Macintosh and Helix platforms, and isn't now available for Wintel (Windows, Intel) computers. If litigation is important to you, consider how a Macintosh with Cudgel and other powerful, consistent software may help your practice.
Q: Can some partners use paper reports?
A: Yes. Cudgel is designed to permit both complete computerization and paper reports. Partners using paper reports still have the advantage of readily obtaining neat, updated reports; automated litigators have critical case data at their fingertips.
Q: Is Cudgel guaranteed?
A: GreenLight thirty-day guarantees its products to perform as we describe them. If you have any problems let us know. If you want a refund, let us know what didn't work right, send back the GreenLight materials, and certify that no copies remain.
Q: Does GreenLight support its products?
A: We build our software on proven platforms like the Macintosh and Helix. Cudgel specific questions can be phoned to us during Chicago business hours. If you have a Helix question, HelixTech supports its licensed Helix users. For additional training to further customize Cudgel, HelixTech provides several Helix training seminars; advanced Helix developers nationwide provide customized Helix services.
GreenLight thirty-day moneyback guarantee our products to work as we describe them.
Élan Associates/GreenLight Software
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312-782-6496; Fax 312-782-6494
elan@KeganLaw.com
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