Do you know what blockchain is? Over the past year or so, this new technology has taken the spotlight when it comes to cryptocurrencies, business and, soon, the practice of law. So, the question is not only what is blockchain, but how will it affect civil trial law as we move forward?
Is Blockchain Going to Change Civil Trial Law?
Blockchain technology creates databases, but unlike most databases, ones created by blockchain are far more secure. They are so secure that many cryptocurrencies—like Bitcoin—use blockchain to keep their transactions running smoothly. Databases created by this tech are often considered uncrackable because they track every change to the database, so information can’t be tampered with. This kind of technology has potential in every industry, but the effect it could have on civil law is surprising.
Some businesses like AirBnB, Facebook and Google are applying blockchain to the digital identities of their customers. This leads some experts to believe that these businesses could use blockchain to associate your digital ID to their company, blocking you from using a competing company’s digital service. Such actions could lead many private citizens to taking these companies to court in order to free their digital identities from these businesses.
Another way blockchain will affect civil trial law—and all law in general—is through the accounting of evidence. With medical records, contracts, and governmental documents being tracked and stored in blockchain databases, it becomes easier to not only look up documents needed for your lawsuit, but it also makes it possible to see if the documents were tampered with.
For medical malpractice cases, blockchain could make it faster to obtain medical reports from hospitals, so the differing reports from medical staff can be compared quickly. It will even tell your attorney if, and when, those medical staffers amended their reports. This technology can also be used to track financial transactions and property rights, which could also streamline premises liability cases, arbitration and mediation processes.
The potential for blockchain is immense, especially from the perspective of civil trial lawyers. Here at Keefe Law Firm, we will continue to monitor the progress of such technologies to see how we can use it to benefit our clients. So, keep checking back with our blog for more updates on how we can improve the legal experience for our clients.