Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Cleveland Lost Negligence Suit Alleging Banks Caused Local Foreclosure Crisis

The Sixth Circuit court has affirmed the Akron District Court's dismissal of Cleveland's nuisance suit alleging that subprime lending tactics by 22 financial entities caused the local foreclosure crisis. The Sixth Circuit's decision devolved to a proximate cause analysis, with the Court concluding that: "the connection between the alleged harm and the alleged misconduct is too indirect to warrant recovery." See our prior post about the district court decision and links to additional information.

YouTube Video Extols Valuable Contributions Librarians Make to Courts

A new video has recently been released on YouTube extolling the valuable services librarians provide to the federal courts. The same can be said of the work librarians perform for members of the practicing bar and members of the public! We hope our members will take advantage of all the reference and research services we have to offer.

PACER Expanding Public Access

Good news from PACER, the access point for opinions from the federal district and appellate courts. The federal judiciary has just approved various changes to PACER, including a new pilot project to allow up to 12 federal courts to post district and bankruptcy opinions on the Government Printing Office's new website FDsys. I hope our federal district court is one of the 12 chosen to participate. PACER costs are also going to be cheaper, allowing members of the public to see more for less. Combines with RECAP, more and more PACER documents will be widely available soon.Click here to read the Press Relese from the US Courts.

New Free Court Site for N.D. Ohio Opinions

The U.S. federal courts system has launched a brand new website called CourtWEB that provides free access to district court opinions from judges who elect to participate and make their decisions available. According to a press release from the N.D. Ohio, all opinions written by N.D. Ohio judges since January 2006 are now freely avaialable on the web site. PACER is still avaialble for other filings in cases, as well as full dockets and documents in older matters.

6th Circuit Has Updated Its Free, Online Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has updated its free, online criminal pattern jury instructions. Click here to read and review the changes the Court posted to its website on December 31, 2009.

Comments Sought on Proposed Amendments to Federal Bankruptcy, Criminal and Evidence Rules

Public comments are being accepted until February 10, 2010 on proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankrutpcy and Criminal Procedure, as well as proposed style revisions to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Some of the proposed bankruptcy rule changes would clarify what information is needed for a proof of claim and allow limited extensions of time to object to a debtor's discharge. Most, if not all of the proposed criminal rule changes reflect the use of greater technology to allow video conferences or the receipt of information and issuance of documents through electronic means. The proposed style revisions to the evidence rules will purportedly make them easier to read without changing their meaning. Click here to review the list of proposed changes.

Northern District of Ohio Federal Court Adopts Local Patent Rules

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has just adopted Local Patent Rules. These rules were the project of a Local Patent Committee and the Northern District of Ohio Advisory Group. The Rules contain an Appendix of 3 forms for a Stipulated Protective Order, a Report of the Parties' Planning Meeting in Patent Cases, and a Joint Claim Construction Table.

Federal Courts Enforcing Redaction of PIN Information

Attorneys who file electronic documents with federal district, bankruptcy and appellate courts will soon be seeing messages and reminders in the CM/ECF system to redact all personal identifying information before submitting any documents. The U.S. Courts' website just posted a news release indicating that the federal courts are going to try to a better job of protecting PIN information that would otherwise be accessible to the public through PACER. This policy conforms with rules on protecting litigants' privacy. See e.g., Rule 8.1 of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Click here for the Northern District Court's Advisory for Limiting Personal Information in Transcripts.

US Federal Courts Offer Podcasts on News and Federal Rulemaking

If you have not already heard, the U.S. Courts offer podcasts on news and federal rulemaking. Some of the latest news podcasts cover a jury phone scam and new sentences for crack cocaine. The rulemaking podcasts are recordings of meetings on proposed amendments to federal rules, including proposed changes to Federal Civil Rule 56.

Federal Courts Have Updated Many of Their Forms

According to a Third Branch Newsletter, the federal courts have updated many of their court forms. Although 56 total forms were revised, some of the most important changes were made to search and seizure warrant forms and the in forma pauperis application. All of the forms are available at the US Courts website.