Court Of Claims To Accept Electronic Filing

Attorney General Spitzer and Chief Judge Judith Kaye today announced that lawyers may now serve the State, and provide all legal papers electronically in tort cases heard in the Albany District of the New York State Court of Claims under a pilot program that began this month.

"My office's acceptance of electronic filing and the Court of Claims authorization of electronic service are first steps in demonstrating how technology can be used to improve the efficiency of and reduce the cost associated with the legal process," said Spitzer. "If successful, in the Albany District, the project may be expanded to other districts."

Chief Judge Judith Kaye said: "We are confident that modern technology, so commonplace in our daily lives, can be put to good use in legal proceedings to reduce unnecessary burdens on our courts and on the litigants they serve. We will monitor this pilot program closely as we continue to adapt electronic filing for use in other kinds of cases throughout the court system."

The Albany District of the Court of Claims covers twelve counties: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Ulster, Warren, and Washington

The Pilot project was approved by the Legislature during its 2002 session. The Chief Administrator of the Courts authorized an amendment to the Uniform Rules of the Trial Courts making the Court of Claims eligible for electronic filing, and the Court of Claims amended its rules to provide for the procedure.

The Attorney General's Office has created a new email address, which is specifically designed for accepting service of papers covered by the pilot project. The procedure for serving the Attorney General can be found at the office's web site: www.ag.ny.gov; the procedure for filing with the Court of Claims can be found at: http://www.nyscourtofclaims.state.ny.us/.