Case study
Transforming Legal Enforcement: A Scalable Platform Processing 70,000+ Cases Every Month
Pierse Fitzgibbon partnered with Treaty Software to build a legally compliant enforcement platform capable of processing thousands of unpaid toll cases through complex automated workflows.
Software Development
Legal Systems
Secure Development
Project at a glance
CLIENT
Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors
SECTOR
Law Firm
SERVICE
Software Support & Development
ENGAGEMENT
Ongoing Support Partnership
01
The Company
Pierse Fitzgibbon
Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors LLP is Ireland’s leading law firm specializing in legal debt recovery. The Irish government decided to implement a Barrier-Free Tolling System on the M50 between junction 6 and 7 to alleviate traffic congestion. eFlow was established in 2007 by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) (formerly the National Roads Authority), eFlow operates the barrier-free tolling system which is managed by the Toll Operator. Pierse Fitzgibbon was appointed as the Enforcement Service Provider to eFlow, and is responsible for the collection of unpaid tolls and penalties from using the M50.
Pierse Fitzgibbon partnered with Treaty Software to develop a modern, customized ESP system.
02
The Challenge
Managing upwards of 70,000 cases per month through complex legal workflows.
High-Volume Processing
More than 2,000 unpaid toll cases arrived every day, creating a workload that could not be managed efficiently through manual processes.
Complex Legal Workflows
Each case could pass through more than 200 individual steps, from the initial notice through to civil or criminal proceedings.
Strict Legal Compliance
Every action required a permanent audit trail, accurate supporting evidence and reliable records suitable for use in court proceedings.
Upwards of 1,000 legal proceedings are issued on a monthly basis, representing civil and criminal proceedings.
The transition from physical toll barriers to automated enforcement created an unprecedented challenge for Pierse Fitzgibbon. With over 2,000 unpaid toll cases arriving daily, the firm faced the monumental task of processing each violation through a complex legal workflow spanning more than 200 individual steps, from initial notice to potential legal proceedings.
The core challenge was multifaceted: maintaining complete legal compliance and audit trails suitable for court proceedings, while automating processes that traditionally required significant manual intervention.
Additionally, the legal nature of the work demanded a historic write-only database approach, ensuring that case information would always remain on the system for audit purposes and legal liability protection.
03
The Solution
A comprehensive system architecture for legal automation.
Case-Based Architecture
Treaty created a centralized system built around each individual case, providing a complete record of every unpaid toll violation.
Automated Workflows
A state-based workflow automatically progressed cases through the correct legal stages while reducing manual work and preventing errors.
Integrated Processing
Six connected modules manage case progression, data imports, document processing, payments and other enforcement activities.
Compliance by Design
A historic write-only database preserves case information permanently, protecting data integrity and supporting legal accountability.
Treaty Software worked closely with Pierse Fitzgibbon to develop the ESP system, a sophisticated platform built around the core concept of a ‘case’ – representing each unpaid toll violation. The solution encompasses six major integrated systems designed to handle the entire legal enforcement lifecycle.
Treaty Software delivered a sophisticated platform for managing unpaid toll violations. The system includes six integrated modules, such as the Case Progressor, EP Importer, and Document Image Processor, which automate workflows and manage various aspects of the legal enforcement lifecycle
04
The Result
Automated legal processing at unprecedented scale
The ESP system has transformed Pierse Fitzgibbon’s operations, successfully processing over 2,000 daily cases with minimal manual intervention while maintaining full legal compliance
Operational excellence
- Daily processing capacity increased from manual limitations to 2,000+ automated cases
- Improved processing efficiency through automation
- Complete audit trails maintained for all 99% Type 2 cases (Irish-registered vehicles)
- Successful integration with external providers
Legal compliance achievement
- Historic write-only database ensuring permanent case retention for legal purposes
- State-based workflow preventing data corruption or process errors
- Automated document generation with unique barcode tracking
- Complete evidence package reconciliation maintaining court admissibility
System scalability
- Seamless transition from one Toll Operator to new Toll Operator in 2020
- Modular architecture supporting future expansion
- Daily status reporting capabilities for external stakeholders
- Integration with multiple payment systems and external dependencies
The development of the ESP system has positioned Pierse Fitzgibbon as Ireland’s premier Enforcement Service Provider, capable of handling complex legal workflows at an unprecedented scale. The system’s flexibility has proven invaluable in adapting to regulatory changes and new data providers, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth potential.
As Ireland continues to modernize its Motorway Infrastructure, Treaty Software’s ESP system provides the foundation for scalable, legally compliant enforcement that can adapt to future requirements while maintaining the rigorous standards essential for legal proceedings.
Project Overview
Client
Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors
Sector
Law Firm
Location
Ireland
Service
Custom Software Support and Development
Engagement
Ongoing Partnership
Technologies Used
.Net Framework
SQL Server
JavaScript/jQuery
HTML/CSS
Reporting Tools
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