Cameron Miranda
Bloomberg Law is a powerful legal research platform that provides users with access to an extensive database of court cases and legal information. With its advanced search functionality, users can easily look up cases, dockets, and filings across federal and state courts. Bloomberg Law offers a range of features, such as full court docket search powered by AI, case headnotes and citations, and alerts for new litigation, making it a valuable tool for legal professionals, students, and researchers. In this topic, we will explore the steps to effectively look up a case on Bloomberg Law, utilizing its various search options and filters to find the information you need efficiently.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Database | Most comprehensive docket database |
| Courts covered | Federal and state courts |
| Alerts | Set alerts for new litigation |
| Updates | Automatic updates for dockets in certain courts |
| Search functionality | Specific search fields |
| Search criteria | Court, party, judge, docket number, date, attorney/firm, case number, case status |
| Additional features | Docket resolutions, damages slider, Docket Path |
| Tracking | Customized dockets tracking |
| Access | Unlimited access to Bloomberg Law |
| Account types | Law firm account, law school account |
| Documents | Most filed documents are available for download |
| Charges | $0.10/page to a maximum of $3.00 to update/track a docket |
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What You'll Learn
Using the Dockets Search function
Bloomberg Law provides access to the most comprehensive docket database, with complete federal courts coverage and extensive state court coverage. The Dockets Search function allows you to search for dockets by keyword, court, party, judge, docket number, date, attorney/firm, case number, and case status.
- Go to the Bloomberg Law homepage and scroll down to the "Litigation" category.
- Select either “Litigation Intelligence Center” or “Dockets Search."
- If you have the docket number and court, you can use the "Find Docket by Docket Number" form at the Litigation Intelligence Center for a quick look-up.
- If you want to use more search criteria and functions, select "Dockets Advanced Search."
- As you add search criteria, the "Results" count will update, showing you how narrow your search is. Try to keep the count under 1000 for the best results.
- You can further refine your search by using the “Apply To: Dockets & Documents" setting to search for keywords in both the docket sheet and any underlying full-text documents.
- If you have a citation to a case, access the case on Bloomberg and then check the sidebar for a "Related Docket(s)" link to view any available dockets and court documents.
- If you don't have a citation, you can search for dockets and court documents directly using the Dockets Search form.
- Once you have located an up-to-date docket, you can filter the docket entries by searching for keywords in the entry descriptions.
- To receive email notifications when a docket is updated, click "Track Docket" at the top of the docket.
- To create a custom Dockets Search and receive notifications when new litigation matches your search criteria, click the "Create Search Alert" option at the bottom of the search form.
- To view your current balances and active tracking matters, go to the "Account" pull-down menu and select "My Dockets Billing."
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Searching by keyword, court, party, judge, docket number, and date
Bloomberg Law offers a comprehensive docket database with a wide range of search functionalities. When searching for a case on Bloomberg Law, you can use various parameters, including keyword, court, party, judge, docket number, and date.
To start, you can select the court where the case was filed. You can do this by either selecting "Browse Full List" and navigating through the options to find your desired court, or you can simply start typing the name of the court in the "Courts" box, and the system will suggest relevant courts. It is important to note that you can select multiple courts to search simultaneously.
Once you have selected the court(s), you can input additional details to narrow down your search. For example, you can enter keywords such as "complaint," "transcript," or "motion to dismiss." If you are searching for a specific case, you can enter the names of one or more parties involved, along with their roles.
Additionally, Bloomberg Law allows you to search by judge. For instance, you can select "U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois" as the court and enter "Pallmeyer" as the judge to find cases heard by Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer.
If you have a specific docket number, you can use that to search for the case directly. You can also search by date to find cases within a particular timeframe.
By utilizing these search parameters, you can efficiently locate cases on Bloomberg Law and leverage its extensive database to meet your research needs.
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Viewing and requesting documents
When searching for case dockets and filings on Bloomberg Law, there are several ways to view and request documents.
First, navigate to the Dockets Search page. Type 'dockets' into the search bar and select 'Dockets Search' from the options. Dockets should also be available from your Bloomberg Law landing page. From the Dockets Search page, you can search for dockets by docket number, court, judge, party, nature of suit, and date.
Once you have located a docket, you need to ensure it is up to date. To do this, click the ''Update Docket' link at the top right-hand side of the page. After a few moments, you will receive a notification that the docket has been updated, and the date will reflect the current date. When viewing a particular docket on Bloomberg Law, you can also click ''Track Docket' at the top of the docket sheet to receive email notifications of new docket entries.
To view a document, simply click 'View' next to the document. This will allow you to instantly view any document that any user has previously requested. To request a document, click 'Request' next to the document. Requesting a document incurs a charge for commercial Bloomberg Law accounts. However, for academic accounts, up to $1,500 in charges are waived per calendar year. When a requested document becomes available for viewing, it will appear in your 'Downloads' section, and you will receive an email notification.
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Tracking dockets
From here, you have several options to locate the docket you're interested in. If you have a citation for a case, simply type the citation into the main search bar and select the "GO TO Citation" link from the dropdown. Once you've accessed the case, look for a "Related Docket(s)" link in the sidebar to view any available dockets and court documents.
If you don't have a specific citation, you can use the "Dockets Search" feature. This allows you to search by keyword, court, party, judge, docket number, and date. When searching for an individual party, judge, or attorney's name, use a "/" followed by a number and then their last name to retrieve cases that include their middle name. You can also place quotes around law firm or company names for an exact match.
Bloomberg Law offers comprehensive coverage of federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals, U.S. District Courts, and more. It's important to note that Bloomberg Law may have limited coverage for certain courts, so if you can't find a specific docket, this could be the reason.
Once you've located the docket you're interested in, ensure it's up to date by clicking the "Update Docket" or "Current As Of" link. You can also set alerts to be notified of any updates or changes to the docket. Bloomberg Law offers unlimited alerts to help you stay on top of new litigation and case developments.
Bloomberg Law provides efficient access to court dockets and underlying documents, making it a valuable tool for legal research and case tracking.
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Using Bloomberg Law for tax-related cases
Bloomberg Law is a powerful tool for legal professionals, offering a comprehensive database of federal and state court dockets. It is particularly useful for tax-related cases, providing direct access to an extensive collection of tax-related cases and other valuable resources.
Features and Benefits
Bloomberg Tax, a component of Bloomberg Law, offers direct access to an extensive database of over 300,000 federal and state tax-related cases. This includes federal tax cases dating back to 1913. The database covers a wide range of courts, including:
- U.S. Circuit Court Tax Opinions
- U.S. District Court Tax Opinions
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Tax Opinions
- U.S. Tax Court Opinions
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims Opinions
- U.S. Supreme Court Tax Opinions
Bloomberg Tax also provides valuable tools such as the BCITE citation tool, which allows subscribers to access non-tax cases from the Bloomberg Law database. The platform includes features like "View/Hide Headnotes," which offers analysis of rulings beyond just the black letter law. Additionally, the "Copy with Citation" feature simplifies the research and writing process by enabling users to copy text from court opinions with pinpoint citations.
Bloomberg Law also offers rich filtering options, allowing users to conduct detailed research. Features like Docket Resolutions and the Damages Slider provide valuable insights, while the Docket Path℠ tool offers predictive insights into likely case outcomes. Users can set unlimited alerts to stay informed about new litigation and potential court outcomes.
Support and Additional Resources
Bloomberg Law provides 24/7 support from knowledgeable legal professionals, including attorneys and law librarians. The Bloomberg Law Help Desk can be reached by phone at 888.560.2529 (or +1 212.318.2800 for calls outside the U.S. and Canada).
The platform also offers practical resources, such as the Bloomberg Tax Webinar Series, which provides valuable insights and tips for tax professionals. Bloomberg Tax also offers intuitive tax software that streamlines tax-related work, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
Case Dockets and Filings
Bloomberg Law is particularly useful for locating specific case dockets and filings, especially for federal court cases. It covers a comprehensive range of courts, including:
- U.S. Supreme Court (2003 to Present)
- U.S. Courts of Appeals (coverage varies by court, 1980-1999 to Present)
- U.S. District Courts (1989 to Present)
- U.S. Bankruptcy Courts (1989 to Present)
- U.S. Tax Court (1986 to Present)
- U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (1968 to Present)
When viewing federal case dockets, most filed documents are available for download. Users can either "View" or "Request" documents, although requesting incurs a charge for commercial accounts. Academic accounts enjoy waived charges up to $1,500 per calendar year.
Bloomberg Law also enables users to track developments in cases and receive email notifications of new docket entries at their preferred frequency.
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Frequently asked questions
If you have a citation to a case, access the case on Bloomberg and then check the sidebar for a "Related Docket(s)" link to view any available dockets and court documents. If you don't have a citation, you can search dockets and court documents directly using the "Dockets Search" function, which allows you to search by keyword, court, party, judge, docket number, date, attorney/firm, case number, and case status.
Bloomberg Law provides direct access to 300,000 federal and state tax-related cases, which can be browsed by topic using the Bloomberg Tax Classification Outlines. You can also use the Advanced Search function to search for specific cases.
Bloomberg Law's Dockets can help determine how a particular judge has ruled on a particular type of case or motion. For example, by selecting a specific court and judge, you can learn more about medical malpractice actions heard by that judge.
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