Using Default Defendants

 Adding a Default Defendant

 In order for SmartAdvocate to automatically create Statutes of Limitations (SOL) when a case is created, a defendant is required. Often, when a case is first opened, you may not know who the actual defendant should be. For that reason, the system can be set up to add a default defendant whenever an actual defendant is not added at case creation. 

 In Admin > Case Types, click on the SOL button (clock icon).

Open

 A default defendant can be added in the Case Type in the SOL panel.

Open

See Case Types for details on creating and editing Case Types.

 A contact card for “John Doe” is generally included with each new system. Most firms utilize this contact as the default defendant. If you prefer to utilize a different contact as the default defendant, you can create a new contact card; only the required fields must be completed.

Locking the Default Defendant Contact Card

 It is recommended that any contact cards that will be used as default defendants be locked, so they cannot be edited. You can select which contact cards will be locked in System Parameters.

Click on the Edit button (pencil icon) to select which contact cards should be locked. Note that a locked contact card cannot be edited by any user, including SmartAdvocate administrators. If you do need to edit the locked contact card for any reason, you will need to return to this setting, remove the name of the contact you want to edit, and make any necessary edits. You should then return to this setting and add the contact back in, so your users will not edit the contact card by mistake.

 Adding the Actual Defendant to the Case

 Once you know who the actual defendant should be, you need to replace the default defendant with the actual one. This is accomplished by editing the defendant on the Defendant Summary page (not the default defendant’s contact card, which will not be accessible once locked) and replace the default defendant with the actual defendant. This will allow you to replace the contact rather than editing the contact card.

The confusion is that most users will click on the defendant's name (which takes the user to the contact card) and edit the information. If you edited the contact card like that, it would change wherever that contact is listed.

 On the Defendant Screen, right-click on the defendant and select edit. This will allow you to replace the contact rather than editing the contact card.

Click Save & you will see that you have replaced the default defendant.