Using the Internet for Case Research

Several times in the last few weeks, I've been reminded of how much the Internet has changed the practice of law.  Information that in the past would have cost days of laborious research, is now one Google search away. 

I recently had a case where the temperature on the day in question in Tucson was an integral part of my arguement.  Pre-internet, how would I have found out what the temperature was in Tucson at 11:00 a.m. on June 5, 2010?  As it was, I found a chart published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which showed that the low temperature that day was the highest low ever for that date - essentially making my case for me.  And it took less than five minutes! 

As I mentioned in another recent post, I had another case with very complicated medical causation questions regarding the link between paint exposure and leukemia.  In the old days, it would have taken weeks of research, and probably thousands of dollars to pay experts, to find out what a couple of hours of surfing the web gave me. 

I've found lots of information to challenge defense medical experts on issues that back in the day I would've never been able to find.  The Judges at the Industrial Commission love when attorneys make creative arguments with internet research to back it up. 

Thanks, Al Gore, for inventing the internet.  It's sure made my job a lot easier...

Chad T. Snow is a workers compensation attorney in Tucson and Phoenix.  He can be reached at (602) 532-0700 or (520) 647-9000.  His website at Snow, Carpio, and Weekley has bundles of information and links on various workers compensation topics.