This page lists the object tree items and their possible values that are common among all of the object trees. For items and values specific to an object tree go to that object tree's page.
The values below are listed in upper and lower case for readability only. The Court will convert all object tree values to upper case for standardization. Note: 'na' may be used in some items that are required for which you have no data.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Asbestos Product Liability | Cases in which it is alleged that injury has been caused by exposure to, or ingestion of, asbestos. |
| Automobile Tort | Cases involving personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death resulting from alleged negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Negligent operation of air or water vehicles should be counted among “other tort” cases. Similar terminology: auto tort, motor vehicle tort, auto negligence. |
| Buyer Plaintiff | Cases involving a buyer of goods or services bringing suit against a seller of goods or services for failure either to deliver said goods or services or to honor a warranty as promised in an expressed or implied contract. |
| Eminent Domain | Cases wherein a property owner challenges the amount of money/compensation offered by the state or federal government for the taking of a parcel of land. Similar terminology: condemnation, expropriation. |
| Employment Dispute - Discrimination | Cases in which the plaintiff/employee alleges that the defendant/employer denied hiring, denied advancement, or terminated the employee based on the employee's race, gender, national origin, religion or disability. Although discrimination is typically regarded as a tort, these cases arise from the contractual relationship between employer and employee and, for the purposes of statistical reporting, should be counted in this category. |
| Employment Dispute - Other | Cases of unknown specificity or cases not involving an allegation of employment discrimination. |
| Fraud | Fraud, as applied to contracts, is the intentional misrepresentation of fact for the purpose of financial or legal gain. Although certain aspects of contract fraud are, by nature, tortious, these cases should be counted among contract cases for the purposes of statistical reporting. Similar terminology: bad faith. |
| Intentional Tort | Cases in which injury to property or person is alleged to be willfully brought upon one party by another. Similar Terminology: assault, battery, vandalism. |
| Landlord/Tenant - Unlawful Detainer | These cases are typically brought by landlords against tenants after repeated attempts to collect rent or make reasonable accommodations have failed and the tenant refuses to relinquish the property. Although these cases are based on the unlawful inhabitation of real property, the underlying dispute involves the contractual agreement between the landlord and tenant and, therefore, these cases should be classified in the contract category. Terminology: eviction. |
| Landlord/Tenant Dispute - Other | Cases of unknown specificity or cases not classified as unlawful detainer cases. |
| Legal Malpractice | Cases that allege misconduct or negligence by a person in the legal profession acting in a professional capacity, such as lawyers and paralegals. |
| Medical Malpractice | Cases that allege misconduct or negligence by a person in the medical profession acting in a professional capacity, such as doctors, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, etc. |
| Mortgage Foreclosure | Cases in which a mortgage holder petitions to sell mortgaged property to satisfy a mortgage debt. These cases are typically brought by a mortgage holder for a failure on the part of the mortgagor to make complete or timely payments on real property. |
| Other Civil (non domestic) | Cases including ones of unknown specificity or cases not attributable to one of the other previously defined civil case categories. |
| Other Contract | Cases of unknown specificity or cases not attributable to any of the other previously defined contract case categories. |
| Other Professional Malpractice | Cases that allege misconduct or negligence by a person not involved in the medical or legal professions acting in a professional capacity, such as accountants or architects. |
| Other Real Property | Cases of unknown specificity or cases not classified as eminent domain cases (e.g., quiet title, other title disputes). |
| Other Tort | Cases involving cases of unknown specificity or cases not attributable to one of the other previously defined tort case categories (e.g., animal attack). |
| Premises Liability | Cases involving claims brought against the owner of real property, the condition of which is purported to be the cause of personal injury. Similar terminology: slip and fall. |
| Seller Plaintiff (Debt Collection) | Cases wherein the plaintiff/seller brings suit against a buyer of goods or services for failure to pay for said goods or services as promised in an expressed or implied contract. |
| Slander/Libel/Defamation | Cases alleging harm to the reputation, community standing, or livelihood of the claimant caused by false or misleading statements made by the defendant. |
| Tobacco Product Liability | Cases in which it is alleged that injury has been caused by the use of, or exposure to, tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. |
| Toxic/Other Product Liability | Cases in which it is alleged that injury has been caused by the use of, or exposure to, a toxic substance (other than asbestos or tobacco) or cases of unknown specificity. |