litigation-support-summary

# Litigation Support Summary

Synthesizes case materials into a structured management document (5-10 pages) for legal teams and clients to track progress on active litigation.

## Quick Start

1. Gather inputs: pleadings, docket sheet, court orders, discovery materials, scheduling orders
2. Follow the six-section output structure below
3. Apply the quality checks before delivering

## Required Inputs

- **Case file**: pleadings, court orders, docket sheet, case caption/number, presiding judge
- **Discovery materials**: requests, responses, production logs, deposition transcripts
- **Scheduling orders**: court-imposed deadlines, trial date, expert disclosure dates
- **Correspondence** (if available): strategic memos, client communications
- **Budget/staffing** (if available): litigation budget, team assignments

## Output Structure

### 1. Case Overview & Procedural Posture

| Field | Content |
|-------|---------|
| Caption & Docket | Full case caption, docket number |
| Court & Judge | Court, jurisdiction, presiding judge |
| Parties | All parties with roles |
| Claims & Defenses | Each cause of action/counterclaim with status |
| Procedural Stage | Pleadings / discovery / pre-trial / trial |
| Significant Rulings | Key motions, hearings, orders |

### 2. Strategy & Theory of Case

- Primary legal theories and key factual arguments
- Desired outcome (damages, injunctive relief, dismissal, etc.)
- Strategy evolution based on discovery/rulings/new facts
- Candid strengths/weaknesses for both sides:

| Factor | Our Position | Opposing Position |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| Strongest argument | | |
| Key vulnerability | | |
| Critical unresolved issue | | |

- ADR/settlement posture: demand/offer history, mediation prospects

### 3. Timeline & Critical Deadlines

Chronological table covering discovery cutoffs, expert disclosures, dispositive motion deadlines, pretrial conferences, trial date, and internal targets.

| Date | Event/Deadline | Status | Action Required |
|------|---------------|--------|-----------------|
| _past_ | Event | Complete | -- |
| _upcoming_ | Deadline | Pending | Owner + prep needed |

Flag deadlines requiring immediate attention.

### 4. Discovery Status & Key Evidence

**Written discovery** (interrogatories, doc requests, RFAs): track served, received, outstanding, disputes.

**Depositions**: witness, date, status (completed/scheduled/needed), key testimony.

**Critical evidence**: most significant documents/testimony and relevance to case theory.

**Open issues**: privilege disputes, protective orders, Daubert challenges, outstanding productions.

### 5. Resource Allocation & Budget

Track by category (attorney fees, experts, e-discovery, court reporters, travel): budget, spent, projected remaining. Include team assignments and resource constraints.

Omit if no budget data available; note the gap and recommend gathering it.

### 6. Risks, Opportunities & Recommendations

- **Risks**: adverse outcome exposure (liability + damages range), cost escalation triggers, reputational concerns
- **Opportunities**: favorable developments, settlement leverage, dispositive motion prospects
- **Recommendations**: numbered, actionable next steps with priority (High/Medium/Low) and owner

## Quality Checks

- Cite specific documents by name and page/paragraph when asserting facts
- Distinguish established facts, disputed facts, and legal contentions
- Provide candid assessments, not advocacy; flag information gaps
- Use accessible language while maintaining legal precision; define terms of art on first use
- Note the summary date; frame as a living document
- Mark as attorney-client privileged / work product as appropriate