How to Find a Case When All You Have is the Name

Research Basics #3 — Dorraine Zief Law Library Handout

Often in legal research you need a case, but all you know is:

— the names of the parties, e.g., Bellotti v. Baird

— or the name of only one party, e.g., Cumis

Here are methods for finding a case when all you know is the name.

Online Retrieval — Lexis or Westlaw — USF Law Students, Faculty & Staff

On Lexis —

• Select "Get Document," then select "by Party Name."

• Enter the name or names, then use the buttons and pull down menus to select the court that decided the case. (There are choices for searching multiple courts with one search if you don't know the exact court.)

On Westlaw —

• Select "Find & Print," then select "Find a Case by Party Name."

• Enter the name or names, then use the buttons and pull down menus to select the court that decided the case. (There are choices for searching multiple courts with one search if you don't know the exact court.)

Online Retrieval — LexisNexis Academic — Other USF Law Students, Faculty & Staff

• Connect to LexisNexis Academic via the link at http://www.usfca.edu/library/databases/academicuniv.html.

• Click the "Legal" button on the red "Search" bar at the top, left-hand side of the screen.

• Select "Federal & State Cases" from the "Legal Searches" menu on the right-hand side of the screen.

• Enter at least one name in the "Case Name" text boxes on the search form.

• If you know the court, use the "Select Sources" pull-down menu to select the appropriate source. (There are choices for searching multiple courts with one search if you don't know the exact court.)

• If you know the approximate date, use the "Specify Date" pull-down menu to enter a date or a range of dates.

• If the search retrieves a lot of cases, use the "Narrow Search" box on the result list screen to search within the results for key words related to the facts or issue of your case.

Print Retrieval — Tables of Cases in Digests and Advance Sheets — All Researchers

To use a digest's table of cases to find your case:

• Pick a digest that most closely matches the jurisdiction and date of your case. If you don't know the jurisdiction or date, or if your jurisdiction isn't covered by any other digest, use West's "decennial" digests and West's General Digest, which cover all jurisdictions and all dates. (Digests available at USF are listed below)

• Look for the table of cases volumes near the end of the digest. Cases are generally listed in alphabetical order by the party's name, regardless of whether the party is plaintiff or defendant. (In older digests, if you only know the defendant's name, look for the "Defendant/Plaintiff Table.")

To use advance sheets to find the most recent published cases:

• Locate the advance sheets for the reporter in which you think the case appears. They will be paper-bound pamphlets shelved immediately after the bound volumes.

• Look for a table of cases in the front of the advance sheet. Many advance sheets contain "cumulative" tables covering several months or multiple advance sheets.

Digests with Tables of Cases
at USF Law Library

Go to Law Library Research Guides

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