1. Registration

A user name and password is required to search the case law databases. To obtain a user name and password:

1. On the Home Page click on "Register With Us" and fill out the information required on the registration form.
2. Pick a user name and password. These must be between 4 and 8 characters in length and should be in lower case.
3. When the form is complete click the "Register" button. A confirmation of registration screen will appear and you can return to the Home Page and begin searching.

First time registrants are entitled to 15 days free access to all databases. Thereafter you will be contacted by e-mail or phone to see if you would like to subscribe on a continuing basis (your options can be seen by clicking the "Pricing" tab on the Home Page).

2. General Information on Searching (Operators, common words, etc.)

Search Engine

The Maritime Law Book National Reporter System Databases feature the ISYS Web Search Engine developed by Odyssey Development. ISYS Web facilitates searching by simple key word or phrase as well as advanced Boolean queries.

Search Any Word or Phrase

The ISYS Search Engine will search all words, phrases or numbers with only a few exceptions:

• The following eight very common words may be included in a search string, but will be ignored by the search engine: are, an, at, be, is, it, of, the.
• When using the following seven words in a search string they must be preceded by a shift dash: _and, _or, _not, _in, _label, _except, _to.
  When used without a shift dash these words are command words or operators with special meaning for the search engine.

Note that capital letters do not affect your search (i.e., the search engine is not case sensitive, but note that your user name and password must be in lower case).

Similarly French accents do not affect the search.
For example, searching the word "dube" will find "Dubé".

Plurals and tenses of words may be searched by adding an * or ! to your search word, e.g., "dog*" will find dogs, dogged, etc.

Do not use the ampersand (&) in search strings. This search engine uses the word "and" in place of the ampersand.

Quotation Marks:

Do not put quotation marks around search strings.

Operators or Command Words

The ISYS search engine uses several operators or command words to facilitate searching. When you choose the "Quick" or "Standard Search" options, the most common operators are provided for your convenience right on the screen.

For example the "and" operator may be used to find cases involving damages to the spleen, by:

• First typing the word spleen in the query box
• Clicking on the "& And which also contain" icon
• Typing damages.
• Clicking "continue" button.

Below is a list of the more common operators as they appear on the "Quick Search" or "Standard Search" screen.

	AND which ALSO contain ...
	OR which contain ...
	BUT do NOT contain ...
	Within 10 words of ...
	Within a PARAGRAPH of ...
	In the same PARAGRAPH as ...
	Followed anywhere by ...

Alternatively, you may type the command words or operators directly into search strings without utilizing the above links. The following ISYS command words or operators may be used to direct the search engine to perform specific search functions:

And	Use this operator in a search string to find cases containing combinations of words or phrases.
	Example: whiplash and soft tissue
	This search string will find cases containing both the word "whiplash" and the phrase "soft tissue".
	(Note that this search engine uses the word "and" as an operator, not an ampersand - &).
Or	Use this operator to find cases containing one word or the other:
	Example: wrong or miscarriage
	This search string will find cases containing either the word "wrong" or the word "miscarriage".
Not	Use this operator in a search string to eliminate documents containing certain words or phrases from your hit list.
	Example: negligence not criminal
	This search string will find cases containing the word "negligence", but not the word "criminal".
In	Use this operator in a search string to find cases that contain a word or phrase in a paragraph beginning with a particular word.
	Example: Jones in indexed
	This search string finds the word Jones in the paragraph beginning with the words "indexed as".
Except	Use this operator in a search string to eliminate cases containing certain words or phrases:
	Example: highways not negligence
	This search string finds cases containing the word "highways" but only if the word "negligence" is not in the same paragraph as "highways".
Label	Use this operator in a search string to find cases with paragraphs starting with a particular word or phrase.
	Example: label Pelech
	This search string finds paragraphs starting with the word "Pelech".
To	Use this operator in a search string to search a document for words with a range of paragraphs.
	Example: witness in [1] to [10]
	This will find documents where "witness" appears in paras. [1] to [10].

Followed Anywhere By (...)

Use this operator to find one word followed anywhere by another word.

Example: Jones ... murder
This search string would find documents containing the word Jones followed anywhere else in the document by the word murder.

Finds words in the same paragraph (//)- two forward slashes

Use this operator in a search string to find words within the same paragraph.

Example: intention /2/ mens rea
This search string will find cases containing the phrase "intention" within two words of the phrase "mens rea" within the same paragraph.

Example: divorce /0,+10/ maintenance
This search string will find all documents where the word "maintenance" is within ten words after "divorce", but not before (in the same paragraph).

Example: search /-2,0/ warrant
This search string his will find all documents where the word "warrant" is within two words before "search", but not after, within the same paragraph.

Example: directions /5,12/ accomplices
This search string will find documents where the word "accomplices" appears within 5 to 12 words after the word "directions" within the same paragraph, but not within one to four words.

Example: witness /-10,+20/ Crown
This search string will find documents where "Crown" appears from 10 words before to 20 words after "witness" within the same paragraph.

Nearby Paragraphs (\\)- two back slashes

Use this operator to find words or phrases within a given number of paragraphs of each other.

Example: intention \2\ mens rea
This search string will find cases where the word "intention" within two paragraphs of the phrase "mens rea".

Example: child abduction \1,12\ parent
This search string will find all documents where the word "parent" is within one to 12 paragraphs after "child abduction".

Example: wrong \6,10\ miscarriage This search string will find all documents where the word "miscarriage" is located within 6 to 10 paragraphs after "wrong".

Example: trial judge \-5,+10\ misdirection
This search string will find all documents where "misdirection" appears between 5 paragraphs before to 10 paragraphs after "trial judge".
(Substitute any word or phrase or number in the examples shown. Note: Double spaces between paragraphs, or any lines which are indented may count as a paragraph)

Wildcards * or !

Use a Wildcard to search for plurals or tenses of words.

Examples: divorc* or divorc!
Using this will find words that start with divorce such as divorcing, divorced, divorces etc. famil* or famil! will find words such as familiar, family, families.

All word Forms - You may also use the "Results on all word forms" option when doing a "Quick" or "Standard Search". For example if you search the word "confine" and click the "Results on all word forms" checkbox, you will get documents containing "confine", "confined", "confining", "confinée", etc.

3. Database Content

The National Reporter System (NRS) database is divided into 13 case law databases which as of 2003 contain approximately 120,000 headnoted full text cases, plus a total of 50,000 unedited cases (i.e., cases without headnotes), recent cases pending headnoting, appeal notes, and Supreme Court of Canada motions. The NRS headnotes contain the full style of cause of the case, an "Indexed As" title, the procedural history of the case (Summary), summaries of each point of law raised in the case (topics) categorized by key number, and cases, statutes, authors and words and phrases judicially noticed as well as the names of counsel.

The NRS databases contain cases from the trial and appellate courts from all provinces and territories in Canada (except Quebec). The databases also include cases from the Federal Court of Canada, both Trial and Appeal Divisions, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Select House of Lords and Privy Council cases are included too. The databases include all cases reported by Maritime Law Book in our comprehensive jurisdictional print series of reports covering date ranges as follows:

AR	Alberta Reports (1976 to date)
BCAC	British Columbia Appeal Cases (1991 to date)
BCTC	British Columbia Trial Cases - (1997 to date)
FTR	Federal Trial Reports - (1986 to date)
MANR	Manitoba Reports (2d) - (1979 to date)
NR	National Reporter - (1974 to date)
NBR	New Brunswick Reports (2d) - (1969 to date) (and NBR Supp. Cases)
NFLD	Nfld. & P.E.I. Reports - (1971 to date)
NSR	Nova Scotia Reports (2d) - (1970 to date)
OAC	Ontario Appeal Cases - (1984 to date)
OTC	Ontario Trial Cases - (1996 to date)
SASKR	Saskatchewan Reports - (1980 to date)
MOTIONS	Supreme Court of Canada - Motions for leave to appeal -- 1997 to date

(Note that as of September 1, 2003, the OTC database contains cases from the Canadian territories. These cases may be listed by searching for Nunuvut Cases, Yukon Cases or Northwest Terr. Cases. Previously certain appellate decisions from the Yukon appeared in the British Columbia Appeal Cases and from the Northwest Territories in the Alberta Reports). A separate database is planned for these territorial cases.

4. Key Number Search

Each point of law or issue discussed by a judge in a case is summarized by our editors and included as a "Topic" in the headnote. Each topic is assigned a Key Number. For example "Criminal Law - Topic 5855" is the Key Number assigned to topics in every case involving sentences for robbery. This number can be used to quickly find, for example, all robbery sentencing cases without worrying about how to configure a search or what search words to use. The key numbers are categorized under 151 titles, such as Criminal Law, Family Law, Evidence, etc. (For a complete list, click on "Key Number Search").

To find a Key Number, go the National Reporter System Home Page and click on "Key Number Search". You can either click on a title of interest and peruse the list of key numbers within that title or use the query box at the top of the page to search all the titles and key numbers by word or phrase. Once you see a key number of interest, simply click on the key number and a list of cases containing that point of law will be generated.

Note: Key numbers can also be used in "Quick" and "Standard" Searches of the case law databases by using a search string which combines the title and key number as in the following example: Criminal Law - Topic 5855.

The Key Number Search performs a global search of all databases. Once you have a hit list you may refine the list by jurisdiction (or otherwise) by using the Query Within feature. For example use the search string "Label Nova Scotia" to narrow your hit list to just Nova Scotia cases. Similarly, substitute any province: Label Alberta, Label British Columbia, Label New Brunswick, Label Saskatchewan, Label Ontario, Label Manitoba, Label Supreme Court of Canada, Label Federal Court, Label House of Lords, Label Newfoundland, etc.)

When viewing a case, if you see a topic of interest in the headnote, simply click on the title and key number at the top of the topic and a list of cases containing the same key number will be generated.

Note: a Key Number Search finds only cases with headnotes. After completing a Key Number search, you may also want to search unedited cases or recent cases pending headnoting using a word or phrase search - see Standard or Quick search as described below.

5. Quick Search

General

Use this type of search to do a global or simultaneous search of all caselaw databases and the key number database. You may search using any word or phrase, with very few exceptions (See Search any Word or Phrase above). You can craft your search using just words and phrases, or you may want to use certain search engine operators to refine your search (See Operators or Command Words above). For your convenience, the most common operators appear on the Quick Search screen just under the search box and may be used by simply clicking on the operator you want to use.

	AND which ALSO contain ...
	OR which contain ...
	BUT do NOT contain ...
	Within 10 words of ...
	Within a PARAGRAPH of ...
	In the same PARAGRAPH as ...
	Followed anywhere by ...

Query Within

Once a hit list has been generated, it may be refined using the Query Within feature.
Hint: To narrow any hit list to a particular jurisdiction, use the search string: Label Nova Scotia - substitute any province - Label Ontario, Label Manitoba, Label Supreme Court of Canada, etc.

Client ID Tag

A client ID tag may be used to identify which particular file you are doing your research for. This may be useful to those who wish to bill their computer research to a particular client. When you generate a usage report (see link on home page) or get your monthly statement, the Client ID Tag you used will show up beside the list of cases viewed. The number will remain the same until you close your browser or change the number. It is not mandatory that a Client ID Tag be used, although your firm administrator or librarian may prefer that you do.

Sorting of Results

By default search results are displayed in order of the database they are found in, with Alberta cases being listed first and Saskatchewan cases being listed last. Within the Alberta cases, headnoted cases are listed first with traditional citations e.g., 100 A.R. 1, followed by non headnoted cases cited as [2003] A.R. Uned. 119, followed by cases pending headnoting cited as [2003] A.R. TBEd. AU.001. You may also sort the search results by number of hits, size of document, case name or best match.

Note:	You can change the number of results displayed per page by using the "Result per page" drop-down box.
	You may also use the "Results on all word forms" option to expand a search on a particular word.

6. Standard Search

Use this type of search to search one or more of the jurisdictional case law databases. You may search using any word or phrase as explained under the heading Quick Search above. Once you have typed in a search string, and selected any other options (see Search any Word or Phrase above). The Database Search Option should be on "Search Selectable List". Click continue. A list of available databases will appear. Check the databases you want to search. (Note that the National Reporter database contains Supreme Court of Canada cases that may be useful in your research). Once your search string is complete and the databases you want to search selected, click Search. You can refine any hit list using the Query Within feature as described above.

7. Search Strings, Hints and Tips

- How Maritime Law Book (National Reporter System) Cases Are Cited

The Maritime Law Book (MLB) databases contain three different categories of cases which will be referred to in the instructions for searching below. They are:

1) MLB being edited cases

Recent cases received from the courts that are awaiting editorial enhancement and will be replaced later with either an edited version (headnoted) or unedited version. MLB being edited cases are assigned a temporary citation. (Example: [2001] A.R TBEd. SE.074)

2) MLB headnote and full text (i.e., Edited cases)

Cases that are headnoted by our editors and also appear in our printed volumes. MLB edited cases are assigned a permanent citation. (Example: 205 A.R. 321)

3) MLB Unedited cases

These cases (formerly known as unreported cases) do not contain a headnote and do not appear in our printed volumes. MLB unedited cases are assigned a permanent citation. (Example: [2001] A.R. Uned. 146) Hint: Searching Only Cases That Are Awaiting Editing
To limit a search to recent cases pending editing, add the phrase "and MLB being edited" to any search string:

Example: charter of rights and mlb being edited

This search will find all recent cases that have not yet been headnoted that involve the Charter.

Hint: Searching Only Unedited Cases
To limit a search to unedited (i.e., unheadnoted) cases only add the phrase "and MLB unedited" to any search string:

Example: dog and mlb unedited

This will search only the unedited cases for the word dog.

Hint: Searching Only Headnoted Cases.
To search the headnoted cases only use the Key Number Search or add the phrase - and MLB headnote to any search.

Searching By Citation

When viewing any case, you can find other cases where that case was judicially noticed by clicking on the citation link at the top of the case just under the tool bar. You may also find a case in the National Reporter System databases by searching for the citation assigned to that case by our editors. The spacing in the citation is critical to finding your case. The following spacing is used consistently in our citations as in the examples below: (for what these citations mean see How Maritime Law Book (National Reporter System) Cases Are Cited above)

Alberta Reports
14 A.R. 1
[2003] A.R. TBEd. AU.132
[1997] Alta. Uned. 19

British Columbia Appeal Cases
179 B.C.A.C. 82
[2003] B.C.A.C. TBEd. JA.010
[2002] B.C.A.C. Uned. 66

British Columbia Trial Cases
[2003] B.C.T.C. 839 [2002] B.C.T.C. TBEd. FE.244
[2003] B.C.T.C. Uned. 26

Federal Court Reports (Trial Division)
66 F.T.R. 161
[2003] F.T.R. TBEd. MA.101
[2003] F.T.R. Uned. 22

Manitoba Reports
122 Man.R.(2d) 161
[2001] Man.R.(2d) Uned. 57
[2003] Man.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.044

National Reporter
201 N.R. 161
[1997] N.R. Uned. 26
[2002] N.R. TBEd. AU.002

New Brunswick Reports
161 N.B.R.(2d) 1
[2003] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. MY.019
[2003] N.B.R.(2d) Uned.78
[2003] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) TBEd. AP.031
[2001] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 57

Newfoundland & P.E.I.R. Reports
227 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 117
[2003] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 9
[2003] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. JL.031

Nova Scotia Reports
213 N.S.R.(2d) 115
[2003] N.S.R.(2d) Uned. 12
[2003] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. AU.051

Ontario Appeal Cases
170 O.A.C. 285
[2003] O.A.C. Uned. 225
[2003] O.A.C. TBEd. SE.084

Ontario Trial Cases
[2003] O.T.C. 477
[2003] O.T.C. TBEd. SE.066
[2002] O.T.C. Uned. 224

Saskatchewan Reports
25 Sask.R. 66
[2003] Sask.R. TBEd. JA.122
[2003] Sask.R. Uned. 27

Searching By Names of Parties

Each headnote contains the style of cause which originally appeared on the judgment and an "Indexed As" name or title assigned to the case by our editors. Since the Case Law Databases do not include a separate Cases Reported Index, to find a case by name, search both the styles of cause and "Indexed As" names in the headnotes.

Hint: Searching using "Indexed As"
To search for names appearing in the "Indexed As" titles or to find a particular "Indexed As" name:

Example: Jones in Indexed

Note that this type of search does not locate names found only in the style of cause.

Hint: Searching style of cause in headnotes
To search only the style of cause for names in the headnotes, use the following:

Example: Smith ... Indexed As

Hint: Clicking on the Indexed As name of a case will link you to other cases having an identical Indexed As Name.

Searching By Court Name

Hint: To find cases decided by a particular court, (e.g., Supreme Court of Canada), use the following search string: Label Supreme Court of Canada ... [End headnote]. Similarly to find cases from the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, search: label Manitoba court of queen's bench ...[end headnote]

Any court name can be substituted using the following court names (note that some court names have changed over time)

• Alberta Court of Queen's Bench
• Alberta Court of Appeal
• British Columbia Supreme Court
• British Columbia Court of Appeal
• Federal Court
• Supreme Court of Canada
• Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench
• Manitoba Court of Appeal
• Nova Scotia Supreme Court
• Nova Scotia Court of Appeal
• New Brunswick Court of Appeal
• New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench
• Newfoundland Supreme Court (and more recently Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court)
• Newfoundland Court of Appeal (and more recently Newfoundland and Labrador
• Court of Appeal)
• Prince Edward Island Supreme Court
• Ontario Court of Appeal
• Divisional Court (i.e., Court of Ontario)
• Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench
• Saskatchewan Court of Appeal
• Yukon Territory Court
• Yukon Territory Supreme Court
• Yukon Court of Appeal
• Nunavut Court of Justice
• Northwest Territories Supreme Court
• Northwest Territories Court of Appeal

Searching By Judge's Name

Any name, including judge's can be searched.
Hint: To narrow your search to cases where a particular judge sat use the following search string:

Example: Indexed \0,10\ Sopinka

Substitute any judge's name for "Sopinka"

Searching The "Words and Phrases" Portion of the Headnotes

When preparing headnotes, if a particular word or phrase has been discussed or interpreted by a judge, a notation of this is made by our editors under the heading "Words and Phrases" in the headnote. Hint: To search only these special "Words and Phrases" notations in the headnotes use the following search string using the example "treatment":

Example :Label words \1,1\ Label treatment

Substitute any word or phrase for the word treatment.

Searching Statutes Noticed

To search the databases for everywhere a statute is mentioned, simply search the name of the statute.

Hint: To search only the "Statutes Noticed" portion of the headnotes for a particular section or sections of a statute use a search string similar to the following:

Example 1: sect. 298 in Criminal Code

Example 2: sect. 15(1) in Canadian Charter

Example 3: sect. 4 in Statute of Frauds

Example 4: (sect. 3 or sect. 4) in Limitation of Actions

Example 5: (sect. 298 or sect. 299 or sect. 300) in Criminal Code

Hint: When viewing the "Statutes Noticed" portion of any headnote, if you see a section of interest, just click on the sect. link to get a list of other cases involving that same section.

Searching Cases Noticed

You may search for any cases noticed by the case name or the name of the parties (e.g., searching Dolphin Delivery will list all cases where this case has been judicially considered). Any time a case is referred to by a judge, our editors include a notation of this in the "Cases Noticed" portion of the Headnotes.

Hint: To search only the "Cases Noticed" portion of the headnotes use the following search strings:

Example 1: label cases noticed ... Dolphin Delivery ... label counsel

Example 2: label cases noticed ... 71 N.R. 83 ... label counsel

Substitute any name or citation in these search strings.

Hint: When viewing the "Cases Noticed" section of a headnote:

• Click on a case name and the next screen will list other cases that referred to that case.
• Click on the citation following the case name to see the full text of that case.

Searching Authors and Works

Any author's name, or name of an article, book, etc. may be searched. Hint: To search only the "Authors and Works" portion of the headnotes use the following:

Example: Label Authors ... Linden ... Label Counsel

Substitute any author, name of journal, article etc. for Linden.

Searching for Names of Counsel

Any name, including names of counsel may be searched. Hint: To search the "Counsel" portion of the headnote, use the following search:

Example: Label counsel ... Bellows ... [End headnote]

Substitute any name for Bellows.

Searching Court File Numbers

Search for any file number by simply typing that number in any query box:

Example 1: CA016475

Example 2: 2001 BCCA 536

Hint: There are no periods in neutral citations (e.g., 2002 ABQB 727). Also when a file number contains a forward slash, as in New Brunswick cases, the slash must be omitted from the search. For example the file number C/C/83/93 must be searched as CC8393. However dashes may be included in file numbers, e.g., T-984-95.

Searching By Judgment Date

To search for a judgment from a specific date use the following search string:

Example: Label January 24, 1994

Substitute any date.

To search for a judgment in a particular month use the following search string:

Example: Label January /2/ 1994

Substitute any month.

Hint: Search strings for finding cases by year:

Example 1: ([1986] or 1986) ... mlb

Searches all cases for particular year. Substitute any year.

Example 2: ([199*] or 199*) ... mlb

Searches all cases for particular decade. Substitute any decade.

You may also use these in combination with other search words:

Example: ([1986] or 1986) ... mlb and dog

Note: The above search strings will find both edited and unedited cases.
To limit searching by year to only edited cases use the following search strings:

Example 1: 1999 ... mlb

Searches edited cases for particular year.

Example 2: 198* ... mlb

Searches edited cases for particular decade.

To limit searching by year to only unedited cases use the following search strings:

Example 1: [1999] ... mlb

Searches unedited cases for particular year.

Example 2: [199*] ... mlb

Searches unedited cases for particular decade.

Searching Case Comments

Our databases include a number of Case Comments by a variety of commentators. To list all case comments, search:

Example: Label MLB Case Comment

You may also search by a particular author's name.

Limiting Searches To Headnotes

To limit your Quick or Standard Search to the headnote portion of the cases, add: "... [end headnote]" to the end of any search string.

Example: dog* ... [end headnote]

This search will find cases where the word dog (s) appears in any headnote.

Searching Using Links in Headnotes

Links have been added to the headnotes for the researchers convenience:

• Click on the citation at the top of headnote below the tool bar
  the next screen will list other cases where this case was judicially considered
  
• Click on the "Indexed As" name
  the next screen will list other decisions with the same "Indexed As" name (i.e. a case history)
  
• Click a topic number
  the next screen will list other cases that have the same topic or point of law.
• Click on a case name in Cases Noticed
  the next screen will list other cases that referred to the case noticed.
  
• Click on the citation following the case name in Cases Noticed
  the next screen will show the full text of the case cited.
  
• Click on a section number in the Statutes Noticed
  the next screen will list other cases where this section was judicially considered
  

How to search the MLB web site for recent cases.

1. Do the following to find cases in New Brunswick dated in the three months prior to June 1, 2004 that include a damage award

• On the opening page click on Standard Search
• In the search box at the top of the next screen type Damage Awards Topic
• In the Search Dates boxes type 03/01/2004 and 06/01/2004
• Click on the continue button
• On the next screen click on New Brunswick
• Click on the search button and the next screen will list six cases in New Brunswick

Note: any topic can be substituted for Damage Awards in the above example - for other topics click on Key Number Search on the opening page.



2. Do the following to find cases in New Brunswick dated in the three months prior to June 1, 2004 that include a damage award for a back injury
• On the opening page click on Standard Search
• In the search box at the top of the next screen type Damage Awards Topic 70
• In the Search Dates boxes type 03/01/2004 and 06/01/2004
• Click on the continue button
• On the next screen click on New Brunswick
• Click on the search button and the next screen will list one case in New Brunswick

Caveat: in addition, do a key word search to find recent cases not yet headnoted.

Searching Ontario Trial Cases (O.T.C.) and British Columbia Trial Cases (BCTC)

In 2007 MLB stopped adding key number references to cases from the Ontario Superior Court and the British Columbia Supreme Court due to the volume of decisions from those courts. Therefore, to find cases from these two courts, users of the National Reporter System or Raw Law should search by key word(s) instead of MLB's key numbers.