Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2017
Abstract
This paper presents a semantic analysis for mining arguments or reasoning from the evidence assessment portions (fact-finding portions) of adjudicatory decisions in law. Specifically, we first decompose the reasoning into primary branches, using a rule tree of the substantive issues to be decided. Within each branch, we further decompose argumentation using two main categories: reasoning that deploys special legal rules and reasoning that does not. With respect to special legal rules, we discuss legal presumption rules, sufficiency-of-evidence rules, and the benefit- of-the-doubt rule. Semantic anchors for this decomposition are provided by identifying the inferential roles of sentences – principally evidence sentences, finding-of-fact sentences, evidence-based-reasoning sentences, and legal-rule sentences. We illustrate our methodology throughout the paper, using data and examples from a data set of veterans’ disability claims in the U.S. for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Recommended Citation
Vern R. Walker, Nneka Okpara, Ashtyn Hemendinger, and Tauseff Ahmed,
Semantic Types for Decomposing Evidence Assessment in Decisions on Veterans’ Disability Claims for PTSD ASAIL
(2017)
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/faculty_scholarship/1134