AI-Powered Database Pre/Dicta Reshapes Civil Litigation Dynamics
A new AI-powered database called Pre/Dicta is revolutionizing the traditional dynamics of civil litigation by predicting judges’ decisions. This cutting-edge technology assists lawyers and plaintiffs in efficiently investing their resources, as reported by Axios.
Pre/Dicta, launched in 2022, utilizes approximately 120 data points to identify patterns and potential biases in a judge’s past decisions. These data points range from the judge’s educational background to their net worth and ruling history in different law firms. The platform covers all state and federal civil litigation cases, focusing solely on this field. Criminal cases and jury trial outcomes are not included in its predictions.
One notable implication of this technology is the potential transformation of judicial forum shopping – a practice where plaintiffs strategically select courts and judges more likely to rule in their favor. AI tools like Pre/Dicta have the potential to turn this art into a precise science, influencing which cases receive funding and reach the courtroom. This could potentially reduce court backlogs and redirect disputes towards alternative resolution forums.
The CEO of Pre/Dicta, Dan Rabinowitz, who is also a former Department of Justice trial attorney, claims that his AI model can predict a judge’s decision with an impressive accuracy rate of 86%, even without considering the specifics of the case. Rabinowitz states that they entirely ignore the law and the facts in their predictions. Furthermore, this approach has resulted in an 81% accuracy rate for newly appointed judges’ decisions.
The predictive capacity of Pre/Dicta has significant implications for the commercial litigation funding industry. In 2022 alone, at least 44 funders committed over $3.2 billion to fund lawsuits in the United States. With the aid of AI prediction tools like Pre/Dicta, these funders can make more well-informed decisions regarding which cases to financially back.
However, the integration of AI in the legal domain extends beyond judge prediction. This technology has the potential to revolutionize how lawyers and paralegals conduct research, which may disrupt the traditional law firm model based on billable hours.
Rabinowitz acknowledges that the system may eventually hit an accuracy ceiling, as there will always be outliers that defy the norm.
In a broader context, the introduction of Pre/Dicta and its predictive capabilities follows its parent company’s acquisition of Gavelytics, a leader in judicial analytics for state court cases. According to the official press release, this acquisition has accelerated the development of Pre/Dicta’s tool, which offers instant and accurate predictions for state courts nationwide. It marks a significant milestone in the field of predictive litigation analytics.
While the full impact of AI in the legal arena is yet to be determined, it is evident that platforms like Pre/Dicta are already making waves, reshaping the landscape of civil litigation and potentially transforming the future of law.
In an era of unprecedented changes brought about by AI in various industries, the legal sector is no exception. However, important questions arise regarding the effectiveness of the current legal system and the ability of such platforms to exist. It seems reasonable to expect AI models to require specific case evidence to predict a judgment accurately, but the apparent biases of judges seem to be sufficient for now.
