Tip #143 - Designate A Master Case In SmartAdvocate

If your firm handles Mass Torts or Class Action cases, you quite often will need to designate a “Master Case” or “Tracking Case.” Assuming your Admin has already set up the Case Type (with the appropriate parameters, questionnaire and Project Details, if desired) you will enter the cases (leads) as you normally would in Case Wizard. (If your firm has an integration for intake, then the cases would be entered that way).
 
As mentioned above, once your Case Type has been created (e.g., 3M Earplugs, Roundup, Bard IVC Filter, Talcum Powder, etc.) new leads or cases will be entered and the appropriate case type selected. You will need to designate one of your cases as the “Master Case.”
 
To make a case the “Master Case,” click the “Edit Case” button on the top-right portion of the Case Summary Screen.

After you click the “Edit Case” button, the Edit Case dialog box will be displayed. Check the box for “Master Case” then click the “Save” button to save your selection and exit from the Edit Case dialog box.

The Summary Screen of the case will now show the designation “Master Case” and “Member – MDL Cases” will be added to the left menu of the case.

Now all cases (either previously created or created subsequent to the Master Case designation) of that specific Case Type will be automatically added as a member of the MDL Cases. Please note that if there’s an active court in the Master Case, then the MDL member list is the cases that have the same case type AND share an active court with the Master Case. Additionally, if the System Parameter with Group Description “MDL Case” and Parameter Description “Separate MDLs by Court/Index number” is set to True (set by your Admin), and there is an active docket number in the Master Case, the MDL member list will consist of cases with the same case type AND the same court AND the same docket number as the Master Case.
 
The “Member Cases” will show the “Member Case” designation on the Summary Screen.

If you are on the Summary Screen of a Member Case, clicking on the “Member Case” tab as show in the above screen shot will automatically open the Master Case.
 
If you are on the Summary Screen of the Master Case, clicking on the “Member Case” tab will display the list of Member Cases.

Clicking on “Member – MDL Cases” on the left menu from the Master Case will also display the list of Member Cases.