BUS Law Using Cal Jury Instructions to Find Cases

Take CARE to use the correct jury instructions. CACI is for CIVIL cases whereas CALCRIM is for criminal cases.

CIVIL Trials:

1. Open CACI California Civil Jury Instructions
2. ​Use this link to see  CACI Tutorial
3. Look at "Table of Contents" to find your broad legal issue (ex. contracts, evidence, etc.).
4. Go to the Series number for that larger issue (ex. Series 300 Contracts).
5. From the general legal issue you can find a jury instruction on a specific issue (ex. 312. Substantial Performance).
6. Read the jury instruction and Sources of Authority for that issue.
7. Sources of Authority provide references and quotes from cases that discuss that particular legal issue.
8. Use the citation from Sources of Authority to find the case in the California Court Opinions or WestLaw.

1. Search the case citation or case name.
2. California Courts Legal Opinions
3. WestLaw Legal Research 

1. (ex. Connell v. Higgins (1915) 170 Cal. 541, 556, Citation= 170 Cal. 541). 
2. Read the case and look at the Headnotes to determine how the legal issue you are interested in was resolved.
3. Make sure the related case is on your issue of law (breach of contract, duty, compensatory damages.​