Did you know this about…Westlaw

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One of the exciting things for me as a researcher is discovering little tidbits about the tools I use. One tool I use daily is Westlaw. It is an excellent resource, and searching it has become almost second nature. So, when I learn something new, I’m pretty happy. Here are a couple of things I have pointed out and people say, “I didn’t know that.”

1. Same case but new Headnotes

The West editors continue to expand their keynote taxonomy. This may be the reason I have found several instances where the headnotes in the print version are not the same as the headnotes found on Westlaw. For an example, look at Radke v. Fireman’s Fund Ins., 217 Wis. 2d 39, 577 N.W. 2d 366 (Ct. App. 1998). The book version has seven headnotes and the online version has fourteen different headnotes.

2. Wisconsin Statutes Annotated – well, not all

Chapter 20, Wis. Stat. deals with budgetary issues. This chapter has very few annotations and several sections are not included in the WI-ST-ANN database. They are also not found in the print version. If you look in the book, it states:

“Sections 20.115 to 20.875 cover appropriation and budgetary matters limited in application to the current fiscal periods. Hence, the text of the sections is omitted from W.S.A.”

If you try to find them online, you will get the same message. To view the text, the Legislative Service Pamphlets or WI-LEGIS need to be consulted.

3. Unpublished California Cases

If you find an unreported case from California, it will have a red KeyCite flag. Per Westlaw, the red flag is there since the case cannot be cited as authority. A notation explaining this is included on the KeyCite. For more information, check out the great guide to citing cases in California offered by UCLA Law Library.