Finding Cases Using the West Key Number Digests

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The West Key Number digests help you locate cases by the names of the parties or by topic. You may also use the digest to find cases that provide judicial definitions of words and phrases. The digest classifies cases containing thousands of legal issues under 400 major legal topics.

Finding Cases by Topic

Choose your Topic

If you do not have a particular topic that you must research, you can find topic ideas by browsing one of the two legal encyclopedias, American Jurisprudence 2d or Corpus Juris Secundum. See the guide on Using Legal Encyclopedias for details on how to use these sources.

Choose the appropriate digest

Select the digest that most narrowly covers the jurisdiction that you wish to research. For example, if you only need to find Massachusetts cases, it is best to use the Massachusetts Digest . To help you select the appropriate digest, please consult our guide to Digests for State and Federal Jurisdictions.

TIP: The same topic and key number can be used in all digests.

TIP: The higher the Digest series, the more current the cases summarized will be. For example, the Massachusetts Digest 2d will contain references to more current cases. If you wanted to find older cases, you would look in the Massachusetts Digest.

Consult the Descriptive Word Index volumes at the end of the digest

For example, say you are interested in the liability of a restaurant for a guest's belongings. You might look under Restaurants in the Descriptive Word Index. The Descriptive Word Index will direct you to other general topics. General topics are shown in bold type and have subtopics under them. Read all the subtopics until you find what you are looking for. The Descriptive Word Index will either refer you to a topic & key number (e.g. Innkeepers 10) or to a related topic within the index.

Don't forget to update the Descriptive Word Index volumes!

Look up the Topic and Key Number in the main digest volumes (topics A-Z)

Once you have a topic & key number, you are ready to go to the main volumes of the digest. First find the topic, then look for the key number. Entries consist of an edited paragraph ("headnote") summarizing a point of law in the case.

A sample entry deconstructed:

Minn. 1958. Although issue of appealability has not been stressed, Supreme Court cannot confer jurisdiction upon itself by ignoring it.
Laramie Motors, Inc. v. Larson, 92 N.W. 2d 803, 253 Minn. 484.

Jurisdiction (Minnesota) date. Summary of the point of law corresponding to the topic and key.
Name of the case, parallel citations.

Don't forget to update the main digest volume!

Step Four: Find your Cases

Because digest entries are written by an editor, you must never cite the digest. Instead, find the case and read what the court said about the point of law. At the end of each case description, there will be one or more citations to the case which has just been described. In the above example, the parallel citations are:

92 N.W. 2d 803, 253 Minn. 484.

Use any of the parallel citations to find the case:

Finding Cases by the Name of the Parties

Use the Table of Cases volumes to search for the citation to a case when you only know the names of the parties. The table includes entries by both plaintiff and defendant.

A sample entry deconstructed:

City of Sherrill, N.Y. v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York, US, 125 SCt 1478, 161 LEd2d 386, reh den 125 SCt 2290.--Equity 67; Fed Cts 461; Indians 10; States 12; Tax 2273

Title of the case, jurisdiction (US=U.S. Supreme Court), parallel citations (125 SCt 1478, 161 LEd2d 386), procedural history (reh den 125 SCt 2290).--Topics and key numbers under which the case is classfied.

Use any of the parallel citations to find the case:

If you wish to locate other cases on a particular point of law covered by your case, simply use the appropriate topic and key number to look in the main volumes of the digest.

Don't forget to update the Table of Cases volume!

Finding Cases that Provide Judicial Definitions of Words and Phrases

Use the Words and Phrases volumes to find cases that provide judicial definitions for words or phrases.

A sample entry deconstructed:

REASONABLE DOUBT

Conn. App. 2005. Proof beyond a "reasonable doubt" does not mean proof beyond all possible doubt, nor does proof beyond a reasonable doubt require acceptance of every hypothesis of innocence posed by the defendant that, had it been found credible by the trier, would have resulted in an acquittal. --State v. Brown, 90 Conn.App. 835, 879 A.2d 466.--Crim Law 308

WORD OR PHRASE

Jurisdiction (Connecticut Court of Appeals). year. Definition.--Name of the case, parallel citations (90 Conn.App. 835, 879 A.2d 466).--Topics and key numbers that correspond to the definition.

Use any of the parallel citations in Lexis or Westlaw (law students only) or LexisNexis Academic to find the case. If you need to locate a paper copy of the case, see Quick Tips for Deciphering Legal Citations.

If you wish to locate other cases on the same point of law covered by your case, simply use the appropriate topic and key number to look in the main volumes of the digest.

Don't forget to update the Words and Phrases volume!

Parallel citations

The digest will often have more than one citation for a case, e.g. 90 Conn.App. 835, 879 A.2d 466. These parallel citations are provided when the same court decision is printed in more than one case reporter. You do not need to retrieve all versions of a case. Use any of the parallel citations (90 Conn.App. 835 OR 879 A.2d 466) to find the case.

Updating the digest

It is very important that you check all updates for the volumes you are using. Digest topics and key numbers are frequently reorganized. Checking all relevant supplements will save you the extra step of having to convert old topics and key numbers into new ones!

  • First, check the annual pocket part or pamphlet supplement. The pocket part is a supplement that is located inside the back cover of the book. When a pocket part has outgrown its pocket, a larger supplement is bound as a separate pamphlet shelved next to the main volume. Recently issued digest volumes may not have a pocket part.
  • The digest also has a "supplementary pamphlet" that updates beyond the annual pocket parts/pamphlet supplements. The supplementary pamphlet is shelved at the end of the digest set, after the Indexes. Even if the volume you used was too new to have a pocket part, you must check the supplementary pamphlet to find the latest cases!

Page maintained by Raquel Ortiz
Last updated: September 2006