Critical Dates - Protocols

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When Critical Events are created, they can be added by Protocol. A Protocol is a pre-defined set of Events (template of events) or Date Rules. These rules are assigned to a case or project, and, based on the criteria set for each rule, they would create Tasks or Appointments.

 

To access the protocols go into the Orion Admin program, then Critical Dates on the left tool bar, and then click on Protocols.

 

 

When you add a Protocol, you also define the rules for the Protocol. You can add either regular new rules, or dependent rules, rules which are associated with a parent rule. Dependent rules or their events do not get scheduled until the parent rule has been scheduled.

Example

Following is an example of the event sequence for a parent and dependent rules.

 

Event
 Example Parent and Dependent Rules

1

 Defendant is served with complaint: 0 days

2

 Defendant's answer is due: 30 days

3

 Defendant's right to open default is due: 45 days

4

 Defendant's answer to written interrogatories is due: 30 days

5

 All discovery must be completed: within 6 months of the completion of Defendant's answer to written interrogatories

In this example, event 5 is not dependent on the base event (event 1) but upon the completion of event 4. Therefore, event 5 should not be created until event 4 is marked as completed.

 

To add a new Protocol:

1.  Click the Protocols category, and then click New. The following screen appears.
 

 

2.  Fill in the fields as required. Details on  "Field Descriptions" are below.


 

Field
 Description
Name
 A descriptive name for the Protocol.
Default Venue
 The Default Venue for this Protocol. The items displayed in the drop down list are those Venues you have already set up. You do not have to assign a default Venue but can leave the value at None. However, the default Venue assigned here will be automatically assigned to each rule created under this Protocol and can be changed on an individual rule basis.
Date Rules
 The set of Date Rules you want to use for this Protocol or leave the value set at None. The items displayed in the drop down list are those Date Rules you have already set up.
Matter Assignment Required
 Indicates whether this Protocol is required to be assigned to a case.


 

When you edit or delete a Protocol, your changes do not affect any critical dates (docket events) that have already been created through Orion Contact and Practice Management.

 

 

To view or edit an existing Protocol:

 

  1. Double click the appropriate record, or single click and then click Edit.
  2. Make any necessary changes, and then click OK.

 

 

To delete an existing Protocol:

 

  1. Click the appropriate record and then click Delete.
  2. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.


Adding Rules:


Before you add your event rules, you should first determine what your base event is. The base event is the event upon which everything is predicated. For example, the rules of a particular court case may kick in when the initial complaint is received. In this instance, your base event would be Receipt of the Complaint and all your tasks (rules) would be set up to occur after this. You may also set a base event that is a final or target date such as date of installation of new software. In this case, the base event would be your installation date and all your tasks (rules) would be set up to occur prior to this.


To add your rules, click either New Rule or Dependent Rule. The following screen appears.



Fill in the fields as required and press OK.  The following table describes the fields.


 

Field
 Description
Subject
 The description of the Task/Appointment. For example, Defendant's Answer is Due. This appears as the Task when Events are created, so be as descriptive as possible.
Critical Date
 Set up this rule as a Critical Date when an Event is created. If set up as a Critical Date, the Event appears in Critical Date Manager in Orion Contact and Practice Management.
Event Type
 The type of Event, such as Task or Appointment.
Venue
 The Venue for this rule. The field defaults to the Default Venue set up for the Protocol, but you may change it.
Time Span
 The number of days, months, or year after or before the base Event for which this Task/Appointment should be scheduled. Enter a positive number if the Event will occur after the base Event and a negative number if it will occur before the base Event. If you are entering the base Event, leave the value at 0 (zero). Indicate whether the value you are entering is days, months or years. Also, if you want to include weekends in the calculation of days/months/years, place a check mark in the Include Weekends option.
Reminder
 A reminder the system generates when this Event is due.
Event Color
 The Background and Foreground colors for your Event.

 


 

 

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