Go to Dockets
From the Bloomberg Law home page, scroll down the "Litigation" category and select "Litigation Intelligence Center" or select "Dockets Search" (links directly to the Dockets Advanced Search template). At the Litigation Intelligence Center, you can do a quick look-up if you have the docket number and court by filling out the "Find Docket by Docket Number" form. Use "Dockets Advanced Search" for more search criteria and functions.
Tips for "Dockets Search" (aka "Dockets Advanced Search")
Tips for advanced search template fields are listed below; many fields have a blue question-mark icon for more tips. As you add search criteria, the "Results" count at the top of the search template will update, previewing how narrow your search is. For best results, try to reach fewer than 1000 (the maximum number of displayable results); you can apply more search filters to the results.
- Keywords: search both the docket sheet and any underlying full text documents available, by leaving the search setting to "Apply To: Dockets & Documents" (the default). Not all filings or other underlying documents are included, so this is still a selective search. Switch to "Apply To: Dockets Only" to just search within text of the docket sheets.
- Courts: type in jurisdiction and select from the scrolldown suggestions for specific courts; or select from the list of court systems and specific courts displayed below (you may have to click to "Browse Full List").
- Filing Type by Docket Key: click to "Browse Full List" to see the available classifications (as tagged/assigned by Bloomberg Law) of filings and records to choose from (e.g., Brief, Complaint/Petition, Order, Stipulation)—only for civil cases in federal district courts
- Resolution: as tagged by Bloomberg Law, only for closed, civil cases in federal district courts
- Damages: as aggregated by Bloomberg Law based on docket sheet information, only for closed, civil cases in federal district courts
- Parties: enter name and, if desired, choose type (pulldown selections under "Any Type"); you can "+ Add Another Party" and select whether the search should "Include: All of these" or "Any of these" (the default).
- Judge: enter any name information known.
- Docket #: the blue question-mark icon shows how to format federal docket numbers; because state court practices vary, it may be hard to search by docket number—try a variety of formats, or use other criteria.
- Date: if you "Apply Date To: Docket" (the default), this limits results to matters commenced on/during your date/range; you can switch to "Apply Date To: Entries" for filings added on/during your date, but this function is limited to Docket Key cases (civil cases in federal district courts).
- More options: Bloomberg offers numerous other search options, including Nature of Suit (from civil cover sheets in federal and some state court systems), attorneys appearing in the case, companies or industry classifications of corporate parties, patent numbers involved, etc.
- You can also search specifically for model documents from federal civil cases (see tab on Bloomberg Law Example Briefs, Coverage in this guide).
Update & track dockets
On a retrieved a docket sheet, note the "Current As Of" date (under "General Info" at the upper right side of the docket sheet); if needed, click the "Update Docket" button (and then "Accept"—no client matter ID needed); you may have to refresh the browser once update is complete. To receive e-mail notifications when there is an update to the docket, click on "Track Docket" from the menu at the top of the docket sheet (note that a small fee may be incurred for each tracking event—see "CAUTION: Bloomberg docket download limits" below).
View underlying documents
On a retrieved docket sheet, in the "PDF" column, you will see a link for each docket entry, either "View" or "Request"—
- View: the item has already been retrieved and can be read immediately, without affecting your annual $1,500 download allowance.
- Request: either the item is electronically available but downloading will be deducted from your download allowance, or it is not available. Click on the "Request" link to find out if it is available:
- If available, click on "Accept" (no fee estimate for a particular document to be applied against your download allowance an be obtained; however, you can check on your allowance balance—see "CAUTION: Bloomberg docket download limits" below).
- If not available, the pop-up will inform you that "This service is not included in your subscription" and nothing will be charged against your download allowance.
