Online Databases in the Limelight – VerdictSearch

Online databases can be invaluable, time-saving  tools to any legal researcher as they provide organized access to a wide array of legal resources as well as sophisticated search tools.  Many online databases, including fee-based databases, are available at the Law Library, free of charge, to library patrons.  Each Tuesday of this month, this blog will highlight one of the many databases available at the Law Library.

Are you looking for case valuation assistance?  Then look no further because the Law Library subscribes to VerdictSearch, an online database that assists with verdict and settlement research.  VerdictSearch at the Law Library provides users with access to federal and state cases from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.  Users can search by specific terms as well as by type of injury (e.g., arm, brain, cancer), award (e.g., decision in favor of defendant, settlement, mediated settlement) and case (e.g., appeals, business law, civil practice).  Users can further refine their searches by plaintiff type (e.g., age, gender) and date range.  These searches may assist you with your trial research and strategy development.  VerdictSearch’s document delivery includes printing and email (PDF and Word).

Law Library patrons may use VerdictSearch in the library’s computer room free of charge.  If you have any questions regarding how to use VerdictSearch, please come to the Law Library’s service desk.

For more information about understanding legal research, including the difference between primary and secondary legal resources, check out these research guides.

• http://www.peoples-law.org/understanding-legal-research
• http://www.nolo.com/legal-research
• http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/researchguides/TMLLguide/
• http://www.lawlib.state.md.us/researchtools/guides.html

*Note that VerdictSearch does offer a national database as well as practice area-specific databases.  The Library subscribes only to the Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. databases as these jurisdictions are the most relevant for the Law Library’s patrons.