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# Litigation object

> Lists the contents of a litigation object.

This page describes the `litigation` object, which represents a legal case or lawsuit involving a business. Litigation records provide information about civil court cases including case status, type, jurisdiction, and any associated judgments.

> **Note**
>
> Middesk offers Litigations as an add-on within the Business Verification solution. You need a Verify report to order Litigations, and you can order the Litigations product simultaneously or after a Verify order.

**`Example JSON response`**

```json title="Example JSON response"
{
  "object": "litigation",
  "id": "f074244d-5cf3-4703-950a-73a7d54ee555",
  "case_name": "Smith v. Acme Corporation",
  "case_number": "2023-CV-12345",
  "case_status": "OPEN",
  "case_type": "Contract Dispute",
  "filing_date": "2023-06-15",
  "jurisdiction": "Federal",
  "jurisdiction_state": "CA",
  "party_type": "defendant",
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "49a68715-2aca-4608-a887-3837ba2d962c",
      "name": "Acme Corporation",
      "role": "Defendant",
      "litigation_id": "4a7b934e-92d4-4b52-8f4a-3af12fc3d02e",
      "created_at": "2026-01-29T19:28:59.925Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-01-29T19:28:59.925Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "9e965bf2-9031-49bb-821b-ac86277244b6",
      "name": "LOGISTICS LLC",
      "role": "Defendant",
      "litigation_id": "4a7b934e-92d4-4b52-8f4a-3af12fc3d02e",
      "created_at": "2026-01-29T19:28:59.928Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-01-29T19:28:59.928Z"
    }
  ],
  "judgments": [
    {
      "id": "a1b2c3d4-5678-90ab-cdef-1234567890ab",
      "litigation_id": "f074244d-5cf3-4703-950a-73a7d54ee555",
      "docket_entry_date": "2023-12-01",
      "text": "Judgment entered in favor of plaintiff in the amount of $50,000",
      "amount_cents": 5000000,
      "created_at": "2023-12-01T14:30:00.000Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-12-01T14:30:00.000Z"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Litigation attributes

| Attribute            | Type           | Description                                                                   |
| -------------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `object`             | string         | The object type. Always `litigation`.                                         |
| `id`                 | string (uuid)  | The unique identifier for the litigation record.                              |
| `case_name`          | string         | The official name of the case (typically plaintiff v. defendant).             |
| `case_number`        | string         | The court-assigned case number.                                               |
| `case_status`        | string         | The current status of the case. Possible values: `OPEN`, `CLOSED`, `UNKNOWN`. |
| `case_type`          | string         | The type or category of the legal case.                                       |
| `filing_date`        | date           | The date the case was filed with the court.                                   |
| `jurisdiction`       | string         | The jurisdiction type (for example, `Federal`, `State`).                      |
| `jurisdiction_state` | string \| null | The two-letter state code if the case is in state court.                      |
| `party_type`         | string         | The role of the business in the case (for example, `plaintiff`, `defendant`). |
| `parties`            | Party\[]       | An array of party objects involved in the case.                               |
| `judgments`          | Judgment\[]    | An array of judgment objects associated with the case.                        |

## Case status values

| Status    | Description                                                    |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `OPEN`    | The case is currently active and ongoing.                      |
| `CLOSED`  | The case has been resolved, dismissed, or otherwise concluded. |
| `UNKNOWN` | The case status could not be determined.                       |

## Party object

The `parties` array contains information about all parties involved in the litigation case.

| Attribute       | Type          | Description                                                                                                         |
| --------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`            | string (uuid) | The unique identifier for the party.                                                                                |
| `name`          | string        | The name of the party (individual or entity).                                                                       |
| `role`          | string        | The role of the party in the case. Possible values: `Plaintiff`, `Defendant`, `Cross-Plaintiff`, `Cross-Defendant`. |
| `litigation_id` | string (uuid) | The unique identifier of the litigation case this party is associated with.                                         |
| `created_at`    | timestamp     | The date and time when the party record was created.                                                                |
| `updated_at`    | timestamp     | The date and time when the party record was last updated.                                                           |

## Judgment object

When a litigation case results in a judgment, the judgment details are included in the `judgments` array.

| Attribute           | Type            | Description                                                                                                                              |
| ------------------- | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`                | string (uuid)   | The unique identifier for the judgment.                                                                                                  |
| `litigation_id`     | string (uuid)   | The unique identifier of the litigation case this judgment is associated with.                                                           |
| `docket_entry_date` | date            | The date of the docket entry for the judgment.                                                                                           |
| `text`              | string          | The text content of the judgment docket entry.                                                                                           |
| `amount_cents`      | integer \| null | The judgment amount in cents. For example, `5000000` represents \$50,000.00. Null if no monetary amount is associated with the judgment. |
| `created_at`        | timestamp       | The date and time when the judgment record was created.                                                                                  |
| `updated_at`        | timestamp       | The date and time when the judgment record was last updated.                                                                             |

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