Graded Project By Melynda Hill Teter Reviewed By Bri

Graded Projectcalr Projectbymelynda Hill Teterreviewed Bybrian Bastyr

Build a Judge Profile Your firm has a case coming up for trial. Your supervising attorney needs you to profile the judge using the Internet. The judge’s name is Kathleen O’Malley, a federal district judge in Ohio. Print your research results.

Perform Company Research Your attorney has signed on a new client, Dell Computer Corporation, and wants to learn more about Dell’s business operations. Print two (2) company profiles from independent sources.

Evaluate Internet Information Quality Go to and and compare and analyze the two Web sites. Write a few paragraphs evaluating the content of the information in the two sites.

Use Lexis-Nexis for sections IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII of this project. Formulate a Search Request Your supervising attorney is representing a drug manufacturer that has designed a new arthritis drug. During clinical trials, volunteers who took the drug experienced heart palpitations and nervousness. The drug manufacturer has asked your firm if it must disclose the side effects of the drug to potential patients. The client needs an answer to this research question as soon as possible to determine if it should seek FDA approval in order to release the drug to the public. Formulate two queries for the research assignment using (A) natural language and (B) terms and connectors. Use Federal and State Caselaw as your source. Print just the first page of your research results in the Cite list format for each search query. Be sure your search requests are visible.

Search and Retrieve Primary and Secondary Legal Materials Retrieve and print the first two pages of the following case by citation: 17 Cal. 3d 425. Retrieve and print the first two pages of any case involving the following party name: Trump Wilshire Associates. Retrieve and print the first two pages of the following case by docket number: B018788. Explain the three different ways to display your research results and how to view the results. Print a sample document in each display type (for a long document, you may print only the first two pages to save paper). Describe the types of secondary materials available on Lexis-Nexis, and name five specific sources.

Verify the Accuracy of Caselaw and Statutes Your supervising attorney has given you the following citations: 217 B.R. 598, 523 U.S. 574, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26. Validate the legal materials to determine if they remain good law. Carry out the assignment and print your research results, printing only the first few Civil Procedure searches if needed.

Company and Financial Research Find the headquarters address and telephone number for eBay. Print samples of your research results. Print the first two pages of the latest quarterly (10Q) report for Dell Computer Corporation.

Retrieve Public Records Find expert witnesses on the effects of drug interactions for liability cases and print information on two individuals with expertise in drug interaction. Find and print the address of Allianz Properties Partnership Ltd. in Texas and the property records for their properties.

Paper For Above instruction

Legal research is a fundamental component of the paralegal’s responsibilities, demanding proficiency in utilizing various research tools such as the Internet and legal databases like Lexis-Nexis. The ability to efficiently gather, evaluate, and verify legal information ensures that attorneys are equipped with accurate and relevant data necessary for case development and legal decision-making.

Building a Judge Profile

Using publicly available information on the Internet, the paralegal is tasked with creating a profile of Judge Kathleen O’Malley, a federal district judge in Ohio. This requires examining official court websites, judicial biographies, and reputable legal publications. The profile should include her educational background, judicial tenure, notable rulings, and procedural preferences. This process aids attorneys in understanding the judge’s orientation and potential inclinations, which can be instrumental in trial preparation and strategy.

Performing Company Research

For corporate due diligence, the paralegal must retrieve two independent sources providing comprehensive profiles on Dell Computer Corporation. Such research typically involves reviewing annual reports, business directories, and corporate filings. This information assists legal teams in understanding the client’s business operations, financial health, and organizational structure, all of which are pertinent during litigation or negotiations.

Evaluating Internet Information Quality

Analysis of two websites related to a specific legal issue involves assessing credibility, currency, accuracy, and objectivity. Paralegals must compare content, authoritativeness, and source reliability to determine the usefulness and trustworthiness of information obtained online. This evaluation influences how attorneys incorporate online research into their legal arguments and decisions.

Formulating Search Requests with Lexis-Nexis

Formulating effective search queries requires understanding legal terminology, Boolean connectors, and natural language processing. For a case involving potential FDA regulations on a new drug, the paralegal crafts two search queries — one using natural language and the other employing terms+connectors. Clear, precise search strategies improve retrieval relevance, enabling attorneys to access pertinent legal precedents and regulations quickly.

Retrieving Legal Materials

Employing Lexis-Nexis, the paralegal retrieves primary legal materials such as case law and secondary sources like legal commentaries or treatises. Efficient navigation involves understanding display options—such as case overview, full-text, or headnotes—and knowing how to view and print relevant sections. Secondary materials include legal encyclopedias, law reviews, practice guides, and statutory commentaries, which support comprehensive legal analysis.

Verifying Legal Authority

Validation of citations against Shepard’s or KeyCite ensures that case law and statutes remain good law. This process involves confirming that the cited authority has not been overruled, invalidated, or limited by subsequent rulings, thereby maintaining the integrity of legal research and ensuring the advice given to clients is based on current law.

Company and Financial Data Collection

The paralegal locates corporate headquarters and contact information for eBay through business databases and corporate websites. Additionally, recent quarterly reports (10-Q) are retrieved from SEC filings, providing insight into the company’s financial status. This data is vital in litigation involving securities, contractual disputes, or regulatory inquiries.

Retrieving Public Records

Accessing public records entails locating expert witnesses with specific subject matter expertise and retrieving property records. Such records support expert testimony and assist in establishing liens, ownership, and valuation in property disputes. This comprehensive knowledge enhances case strategy and negotiation tactics.

References

  1. U.S. Courts. (2022). About the Federal Judiciary. https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts
  2. LexisNexis. (2023). Legal Research Guides. https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/legal-research.page
  3. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2023). EDGAR Database. https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
  4. Westlaw. (2023). Legal Research Platform. Thomson Reuters. https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/westlaw
  5. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (2023). http://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/FRCP.pdf
  6. United States Code. (2023). https://uscode.house.gov/
  7. Arizona Supreme Court. (2022). Judicial Profiles. https://www.azcourts.gov/judicialprofiles
  8. United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2023). Patent Search. https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search
  9. National Center for State Courts. (2023). Court Records and Archives. https://www.ncsc.org/
  10. American Bar Association. (2022). Paralegal Standards and Resources. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/

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