CaseMine is a legal research platform that provides access to case law, legal opinions, and other court documents. While these resources can be invaluable for legal professionals, researchers, and individuals seeking information, there may be instances where you need to remove or limit the accessibility of certain legal information, such as court cases, opinions, or filings, for privacy or other reasons. This guide outlines the steps you can take to remove information from CaseMine.
Understanding CaseMine and Public Access to Legal Information
CaseMine offers a wealth of legal documents, court opinions, and case law to the public, making it a valuable resource for legal research and reference. While transparency in legal matters is essential, there are situations where sensitive information or outdated cases may negatively impact personal or professional reputation.
Steps to Remove Information from CaseMine
- Identify the Specific Information:
- Locate the specific court case, legal opinion, or document on CaseMine that you want to remove.
- Note the relevant details, such as case number, court, and date, to facilitate the identification process.
- Request Court Records Sealing or Expungement:
- Sealing: Request the court to seal the record. This makes it inaccessible to the public. This is often possible for cases involving sensitive personal information or those that were dismissed.
- Expungement: In some jurisdictions, you can request expungement of certain records, which removes them entirely from public access.
- Procedure: File a motion with the court that handled your case. You may need to provide a compelling reason, such as privacy concerns or the information being outdated or misleading.
- Obtain Official Documentation:
- Once the court grants your request for sealing or expungement, obtain official documentation of the court order.
- This documentation will be crucial when requesting the removal of the information from CaseMine.
- Contact CaseMine:
- Visit the CaseMine website and locate their contact information or use their provided contact form.
- Compose a formal request for removal, including:
- Your full name and contact information.
- Detailed information about the case/document you want removed.
- A copy of the court order sealing or expunging the record.
- A clear explanation of why the information should be removed from their platform.
- Monitor the Request:
- Follow up with CaseMine to ensure that your request is being processed.
- Be prepared to provide additional information or documentation if requested.
- Request Search Engine De-Indexing:
- Even after CaseMine removes the information, it may still appear in search engine results.
- Use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool to request de-indexing of the URL from search results.
- Submit the URLs of the removed CaseMine pages for de-indexing to ensure they no longer appear in search results.
- Legal Considerations:
- Not all cases or legal information can be expunged or sealed. The criteria vary by jurisdiction and the nature of the case. Consulting with a lawyer can help you navigate this process more effectively and ensure that you meet all necessary legal requirements.
Example Scenario
Imagine you were involved in a court case years ago that was resolved in your favor, but certain details are still publicly accessible on CaseMine. You take action by filing a motion to seal the records with the court, which is granted. You obtain the official order and contact CaseMine to request the removal of the case information, providing the necessary documentation. Finally, you use Google’s tool to ensure the information no longer appears in search results, protecting your online reputation.
Technical Assistance
For those who find the process overwhelming or time-consuming, professional services like online reputation management experts at Reputation Return can assist with navigating the process and advocating on your behalf.
Removing information from CaseMine involves a combination of legal and technical steps. By identifying the specific information, requesting court records to be sealed or expunged, and contacting CaseMine with the appropriate documentation, you can effectively manage and remove sensitive information. Additionally, requesting search engine de-indexing ensures that the removed content does not appear in search results.