Civil procedure in the United States
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Doctrines of civil procedure Jurisdiction Subject-matter jurisdiction Diversity jurisdiction Personal jurisdiction Removal jurisdiction Venue Change of venue Forum non conveniens Pleadings and motions Service of process Complaint Cause of action Case Information Statement Class action Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 Demurrer Answer Affirmative defense Reply Counterclaim Cross-claim Joinder Indispensable party Impleader Interpleader Intervention Pre-trial procedure Discovery Interrogatories Depositions Request for Admissions Resolution without trial Default judgment Summary judgment Voluntary dismissal Involuntary dismissal Settlement Trial Parties Plaintiff Defendant Jury Voir dire Burden of proof Judgment Judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) Renewed JMOL (JNOV) Motion to set aside judgment New trial Remedy Injunction Damages Attorney's fees American rule English rule Declaratory judgment Appeal Mandamus Certiorari
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A Case Information Statement (or Cover Sheet) is a document which is filed with a court clerk at the commencement of a civil lawsuit in many of the court systems of the United States. It is generally filed along with the complaint. Some states use similar documents for criminal cases as well.

The purpose of a Case Information Statement is to let the judge and court clerk know what type of case is being brought by the parties, so that the they can better prepare for the case to come to trial. Some courts (for example, the New Jersey Superior Court) put different types of cases on different "tracks", to place limits on how long discovery should take.

If the lawyer filling out the Case Information Statement makes a mistake, or if circumstances change or new information is discovered, the party wishing to amend the statement may do so by making a motion to the judge in charge of the case.

Some courts use the term Cover Sheet for this document, but the content and purpose is the same. For example, the equivalent document in federal district courts is Form JS-44, Civil Cover Sheet. Similarly, the Superior Courts of California have a Form CM-010, Civil Case Cover Sheet.

Contents 1 Case Information Statements in civil cases 2 Case Information Statements in criminal cases 3 References 4 External links 4.1 Examples of case information statements 4.2 Examples of civil cover sheets

[edit] Case Information Statements in civil cases

Questions typically asked on Civil Case Information Statements include:

• The underlying subject matter of the lawsuit
• Amount in controversy or remedies demanded
• Whether a jury trial is requested by either party
• Whether there are additional parties to be joined
• Whether the lawsuit is a potential class action or some other type of complex case
• Whether there are similar actions pending in other courts
• What, if any, previous relationship exists between/among the parties (e.g. employment, familial, business associates, etc.)
• Whether attorney fees are in contention (in some types of cases, attorney fees must be paid by the losing party)

In family law cases (such as divorce and child custody matters), the questions asked on the Case Information Statement are often longer and more detailed, requiring recitation of each party's employment situation, current income, and the assets and liabilities of each party.

[edit] Case Information Statements in criminal cases

Questions typically asked on Criminal Case Information Statements include:

• The attorneys involved in the case
• The basic facts and circumstances involved
• Whether the defendant is currently in custody or out on bail
• Whether there are co-defendants
• Whether all issues will be disposed of by this case
• Whether the constitutionality of any statute, regulation, or executive order is being challenged

[edit] References

• Greenberg, Bruce Esq. and Wolinetz, Gary K. Esq. Civil Trial Preparation. New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2007.

[edit] External links

[edit] Examples of case information statements

• Civil Case Information Statement, from the New Jersey Superior Court
• Civil Case Information Statement, from the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part
• Criminal Case Information Statement, from the New Jersey Superior Court
• Civil Case Information Statement from the California Courts of Appeal
• Civil Case Information Statement from the Circuit Courts of West Virginia.

[edit] Examples of civil cover sheets

• Form CM-010, Civil Case Cover Sheet from the Superior Courts of California