Robot Lawyers Solve Problems

Ben22 writes "The Register is reporting that soon new 'Robot Agents' will handle all of our online disputes. The new system is called e-Dispute and could eventually be used on services such as eBay or even all online stores. Perhaps it will help usher in an age of simplified, safe online shopping. Someday, Congress and the Senate might even use programs such as this to resolve conflicting bills. The possibilities are endless."

In all honesty..

[Combas]

I think this is probably a good idea.

Firstly, have you every tried sorting through legal documents? This is definitely an area we could use a little automation. Secondly, have you ever tried dealing with lawyers? Even when they work for you this is a frustraiting process and could use a little automation :)

Hell yes, bring on the robots! Actually what would be even better would just be a law.google.com interface, or have they already got something like that and I just dont know about it?

Re:At least

[ghee22]

a little offtopic but there is a bill that i'm supporting we get signed. It's called Read the Bills Act of 2005 [downsizedc.org] and the people from downsizedc.org [slashdot.org] have made it very easy for citizens to get in touch with their reps for opinions on all matters.

Monument, by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.

[Inspector Lopez]

The charming little SciFi novel, Monument by Lloyd Biggle, Jr., has a few small but important scenes in which legal disputes are argued by human lawyers, but decided by a robot judge. A pleasant read, especially for tree-hugging sci-fi nerds.

Court Services

[bombadillo]

Back in 2002-2003 there was an online service in the UK called court services. Basically one could launch a claim online. This isn't a new concept. I am surpised the Register which is a UK site missed that one.

Re:OMFG!

[Eivind]

Actually, it also works, if legally binding in the huge amounts of cases where one side is *not* in good faith, and the other side simply needs a legal document to, basically, say so.

For example, the large majority of arbited disputes in the norwegian "Forliksråd" runs something like this:

• One side in some relation refuses to deal with something he/she/it should. Could be a customer that ignores paying his bill, a business that doesn't respond to requests to warranty-repair a defective computer (I had this happen to me), whatever. You try for a while, but after your second formal letter of complaint is ignored you realize it's time to either give up, or get the law behind you.
• You deliver a complaint to the Forliksråd with a written account of how you see the case. (you don't need to document anything, only explain.)
• Complaint is delivered to other part, along with information that an answer is to be delivered within 14 days, or the "forliksråd" will be forced to conclude that you agree with the accusations.
• No response comes.
• Forliksråd decides you are rigth in your claims and issue a ruling to this effect.
• Other part is informed of the ruling, and the fact that it becomes legally bindable if it is not appealed within a month.
• Other part ignores this too. One month passes.

At this point you've got a legal judgement, and can use any of the means available for getting your money. In the case of a consumer having a dispute with a business the simplest way of getting the money is simply to go demand the business be bankrupted, as it has legal, undisputed, but still unpaid bills. I did this.

It's interesting how a company that's been ignoring your demands to fix their shit for a year is suddenly capable of bringing a courier to your house with full payment, within *the*hour* of them, their bank, their investors, and the entire board of Trustees learning that they are, legally, bankrupt this time next week unless they can show proof that they've paid the bill.

Arbitration with no legal force is, however, as you say, pointless unless both sides actually want to reach an agreement.