Homework Assignment #1: Finding case law

This exercise is designed to introduce you to the process of legal research and to develop your ability to locate a legal case or statute from a referenced citation.  The cases and statutes cited below may be found on the Findlaw (internet website) and in Cuyamaca College Library. This research guide has been prepared by your instructor and your librarian to help you complete your Business 125 legal research assignment.

Warning: Use Findlaw with caution.  Legal research requires you to use the traditional hardbound legal books rather than the Internet. Often times, legal websites are not updated regularly.  

---

Exercise 1

For each case, cite the parties names, date, appeal, court and result. 505 US 1  In Findlaw ---> Supreme Court decisions ---> Scroll down to the search box labeled Citation search. Type in 505 in the first box and 1 in the second box.   For all Cal App citations, use the California Reporters located in the Reference Law collection at Cuyamaca College Library. The volume number is located on the spine of each California Reporter   152 Cal App. 3d 90 (Find volume 199 Cal Reporter, page 383) 34 Cal App 4th 790 (find volume 40 Cal Reporter 2nd series, page 639.    ***make sure you find Cal Reporter 2nd series, look for the 2d on the spine) 218 Cal App 3d 1538 (Find volume 267 Cal Reporter, page 564) 185 Cal App 3d 438 (find 229 Cal Reporter, page 828) 924 F. 2d 872 is located on the Law Reference collection shelf, next to the student conference rooms.  Look for Federal Reporter 2nd series call# KF 105 F422 and volume 924 on the spine.  Turn to page 872. The Federal Reporter 2nd series is not the same series as Federal Supplement or Federal Digest.

---

Exercise 2 

18 U.S.C. 1961 (statute) Use Findlaw--> Laws: cases & codes --> US Code.  In the U.S. Code, locate the Title and Section.  In Title box, enter 18. In section box, enter 1961. The following United States Supreme court case law citation for RICO can be accessed through Findlaw: 473 US 479   521 US 179  361 US 212  529 US 494  510 US 249 The following books will explain the significance of RICO: West's Encyclopedia of American Law Law KF 154 W47 1998 v. 8)  Refer to volume 8, pages 254+.Excellent article on reforming RICO. American Law Reports (ALR): Index to Annotations  (Law KF 132.2 I53 1986)  Refer to page 822.  This material is outdated. Federal Practice Digest, Volume 99, Descriptive word Index  (Law KF 127 W48).Refer to R section, no page numbers in this book. Corpus Juris Secundum(CJR): General Index. Law KF 145 C56 Index R-Z.  Refer to page 4-5. Websites on RICO

Exercise 3  

Exercise 4