HOW TO READ A CASE

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LAW
Danushika Abeyrathna
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Background of the Case

 Citation

 When?
 Date

 Where?
 Court

 Parties

 Judges
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Facts of the cases

 Parties

 What happened?

 Injury/Remedy?

 Claims?
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Legal Question/s

 What is the question the court asked?

 Answer to this question is the holding
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Reasoning?

 Reason/s behind the holding?

 The test court used to answer the question

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Any other opinions?

 Majority – binding precedent

 Dissent – disagree with the outcome of the case

 Concur – agree with the outcome for different reasons

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Compare with prior knowledge

 Does this case address issues I have seen before?

 If so, How?

 Is this case extend or modify legal reasoning in previous cases?

 If so, to what extent?

 Are there any unsolved issues in this case?

 Dicta?