Most small business owners never see the inside of a court room, but when it happens - and it could happen for any number of reasons – preparation is necessary to avoid pitfalls and running afoul of the rules to preserve evidence. And this means information that is contained in your business and personal computers.

Paperless is now the norm. 99% of all information is now created and stored electronically. Most correspondence is now by e-mail or texting. Most small business owners use Quickbooks® for their finances. Customer lists are stored in your contact list. So practically all of your information is stored and retrieved electronically. Any or all of this information may need to be preserved in its original format - that is electronically - for use in a lawsuit.

Larger businesses have document retention or document management policies which dictate when information should be retained and for how long. These policies also outline the process for deleting or destroying certain information regularly. But the important part of these document management policies is that the destruction process must be suspended once it is suspected that the business may be involved, in a lawsuit.

Business owners must take proactive steps to preserve all information about the subject matter of the lawsuit once they become aware of their involvement in a lawsuit. The preservation of evidence – or the destruction of evidence – could play a significant role in any lawsuit. Judges regularly punish parties who failed to take the necessary steps to preserve evidence.

George Bellas has been recognized nationally for his creative use of technology in lawsuits. He has served as a panelist at the prestigious Sedona Conference, lectured on the use of technology in the courtroom, lectured extensively to other lawyers about e-discovery, and currently serves on the Seventh Circuit Electronic Discovery Pilot Program.

George has lectured nationally to lawyers on the use of electronic discovery (e-discovery) and also published a number of articles on e-discovery:

• "Electronic Discovery: Maneuvering the New Federal Rules", December, 2010.
• "Internet evidence: How to authenticate evidence from the Internet under the new Illinois Rules of Evidence.", Illinois State Bar Association, Trial Briefs, January, 2011.
• "Electronic Discovery: Maneuvering the New Federal Rules", December, 2010.
• "Culling Data For Your Case." American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Technology for the Litigation, Fall, 2010.
• "A New Frontier: The Amended Rules of e-Discovery," Utah Trial Lawyers, December, 2006.
• "Electronic Discovery: Wave Goodbye to Paper," Trial Journal, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Summer 2008.
• "The New Frontier: The Amended Rules of e-Discovery," Trial Talk, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, p. 13, December 2006.
• "Using Electronic Discovery as a Weapon in an Auto Products Liability Case," Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Meeting, 2006, Montreal, Canada.
• "Boost your case with litigation support software", Trial Magazine, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, p. 18, January 2005.

George has applied his knowledge at the new rules of electronic discovery and technology to craft innovative solutions for small businesses who are involved in litigation. George also applies his knowledge to obtain critical information from the other party in a lawsuit and find the facts in a case.

If your business becomes engaged in a lawsuit, consult with experienced, savvy and knowledgeable attorneys to help find innovative solutions to complex problems.

Call for a free initial consultation.

George S. Bellas
Bellas and Wachowski
Attorneys at Law
15 North Northwest Highway
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
george@bellas-wachowski.com
847-823-9030 x219
Toll Free: 800-825-9260