lawvable/chronology-builder-andrew-bird

/chronology

1. Run the CPR 31.22 implied-undertaking check before extracting from disclosed documents.
2. Identify sources: user-provided paths, matter folder, declared sources.
3. Extract dated events, de-duplicate against sources, tag significance per case theory.
4. Output a working chronology by default; Statement-of-Facts or witness-specific variants on request.

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Chronology — UK civil litigation

CPR 31.22 implied-undertaking check

The host workspace enforces the hard gate (matter-slug match against the proceedings reference, privilege posture). If this skill is running, that gate has already passed — this check does not replace it. The skill still performs its own check below and refuses or flags if misuse is indicated; it is not the enforcement.

Before building from any document obtained through standard or extended disclosure in English / Welsh proceedings, confirm the use is permitted:

CPR 31.22(1): A party to whom a document has been disclosed may use the document only for the purpose of the proceedings in which it is disclosed, except where: (a) the document has been read to or by the court, or referred to, at a hearing held in public; (b) the court gives permission; or (c) the party who disclosed the document and the person to whom the document belongs agree.

Misuse of disclosed documents (using them for a different matter, a different claim, a commercial purpose, or external publication) is a contempt of court.

Confirm before extracting from any source that may have come through disclosure:

• Whether the documents are from disclosure in current proceedings (infer from source path or matter context; surface for confirmation if not evident).
• Whether the chronology is being built for use in those same proceedings (default assumption: yes — same matter slug, same proceedings).

If the answer indicates "different proceedings" or "external use", refuse to build until permission, the parties' agreement, or open-court reference is established — the implied undertaking would otherwise be breached. Flag prominently in the output header: CPR 31.22 — use restricted to current proceedings unless permitted, agreed, or read in open court.

Equivalent overlay in disclosure pilot / PD 57AD jurisdictions (Business and Property Courts): the implied undertaking applies; PD 57AD does not displace it.

Privilege screen

Documents may be subject to legal professional privilege (advice and litigation privilege), common-interest privilege, joint-defence privilege, without-prejudice protection. Extracting privileged content into a chronology that is later shared can risk waiver.

Determine the privilege posture before extracting. Infer from source type (cleared production folder → A; mixed mailbox / dataroom → B; ad-hoc bundle with no review history → B by default; explicit instruction to pause → C). Surface the inferred posture in the output header so counsel can override.

• A. All sources screened and cleared by counsel. Extract without flags.
• B. Mixed or unscreened (default for ambiguous sources). Extract and tag each entry priv: ok / priv: flag / priv: review. SoF variant filters flagged entries by default.
• C. Pause and screen first (use when counsel has explicitly instructed).

Inputs

• Matter slug, case theory (one sentence — the spine of the case), pivot fact (the single event the case turns on), key facts.
• Sources: disclosure bundle path / cloud folder, supplemental disclosure, witness statements, expert reports, public registers (Companies House, Land Registry), correspondence (open and WP — handle differently).
• Side (claimant / defendant) — drives significance tagging.

Workflow

Step 1 — CPR 31.22 implied-undertaking check (above)

Step 2 — Privilege posture choice (above)

Step 3 — Source identification

User-provided paths first, then matter folder, then declared sources. Name any source the skill cannot read in the Gaps section — don't silently skip.

Step 4 — Extraction

For each readable source, identify dated events. One event per document usually. Format: [date] [actor] [verb] [object/recipient] [content summary].

Step 5 — De-duplication

The same event surfaces in multiple documents (calendar entry, summary email, meeting note). Merge into one entry with multi-source attribution.

Step 6 — Significance tagging (per side)

• Claimant (offensive): 🔴 events establishing elements of the cause (duty, breach, causation, loss, notice), starting limitation in claimant's favour. 🟡 supportive but impeachable. ⚪ background.
• Defendant (defensive): 🔴 events breaking causation, establishing limitation, supporting affirmative defence (waiver, estoppel, release, contributory negligence). 🟡 undermining claimant narrative. ⚪ background.

Discipline: 🔴 should be reserved for events that move a factfinder. If everything is 🔴, nothing is.

Step 7 — Source attribution per entry

Every entry cites its source(s): Bates / disclosure list reference, file path, or witness statement paragraph. Entries derived from web search, model knowledge, or user statement in-session must be tagged [web search — verify], [model knowledge — verify], [user provided].

Step 8 — Output

Working chronology by default. Variants:

• Statement of Facts (SoF): filtered to 🔴 and select 🟡, prose narrative, with disclosure references. Privilege-flagged entries excluded by default.
• Witness-specific: filtered to events where the named witness is sender, recipient, attendee, or subject.

Output

Produce the chronology with the sections below. Render this as the finished chronology — do not echo this template back, do not leave [placeholder] markers or emoji-count scaffolding in the output, and do not invent events to fill rows. Attribute every entry to its source document; if a section has nothing in it, say so.

This is a draft for solicitor review, not legal advice. The chronology and its significance tags are a first pass; counsel decides what goes into a pleading or before the court.

The sections:

• A reviewer-note line: work product, prepared in contemplation of litigation, subject to litigation privilege.
• A CPR 31.22 notice naming the proceedings the sources were disclosed in.
• A header: matter slug, build date, case theory, pivot fact, side framing, privilege posture, source count, and entry count by tag.
• The timeline table — one row per de-duplicated event, with date, event, significance tag, privilege flag, and sources.
• Key events (🔴) — the events that move a factfinder, each with what happened, the tie to the case theory, and sources.
• Gaps — date ranges with no events, expected-but-missing events, unreadable sources.

Worked shape for the sections (do not copy the placeholder text — fill from real sources):

[Reviewer note: work product, prepared in contemplation of litigation, subject to litigation privilege.]

CPR 31.22 notice. Sources include documents disclosed in [proceedings]. Use restricted to those proceedings per CPR 31.22 unless permitted, agreed, or already read in open court.

Chronology — [Matter name]

• Matter: [slug]
• Built: [YYYY-MM-DD]
• Case theory: [one sentence]
• Pivot fact: [one sentence]
• Side framing: [claimant / defendant]
• Privilege posture: A-cleared / B-mixed / C-aborted
• Sources: [N] documents across [bundle / supplemental / witness / expert]
• Entries: [N] ([N] 🔴 / [N] 🟡 / [N] ⚪)

Timeline

| Date | Event | Tag | 🔒 | Sources | |---|---|---|---|---| | [YYYY-MM-DD] | [actor + verb + object + content] | 🔴/🟡/⚪ | / 🔒-flag / 🔒-review | [D1/123, WS-Smith para 14] |

Key events (🔴)

[date] — [event title]

• What: [...]
• Theory tie: [why this matters to the case theory]
• Sources: [...]

Gaps

• Date ranges with no events: [...]
• Expected but missing: [...]
• Unreadable sources: [...]

Marker discipline

• [VERIFY — factual assertion not yet checked against the source doc]
• [UNCERTAIN — legal characterisation]
• [CITE NEEDED — disclosure reference]
• [SME VERIFY — privilege status / borderline significance]

Version

• v[N] built on [date] from [source summary]
• v[N-1] superseded

Incremental builds

If a prior chronology.md exists: read, build new from current sources, diff (new / modified / removed), bump version. Preserve provenance and tags.

What this skill does not do

• Resolve contradictions between sources. Both go in with flags.
• Fill gaps from web search or model knowledge silently. The user is asked first.
• Decide privilege status. The posture is selected; per-entry flags are first-pass; counsel decides distribution.
• Cover Scottish / NI proceedings.