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Citators: Table of Authorities

What is a Table of Authorities

The Table of Authorities lists all of the cases cited by your case.

Why Use the Table of Authorities?

The Table of Authorities can be useful in situations where Case C, for example, overrules Case A. Case B was based on Case A, but Shepardizing Case B does not mention that it has been overruled, because Case C never mentioned Case B and only mentioned Case A. Westlaw Edge has introduced a new key symbol, which may help with that issue:

Example: The Mincey case

Mincey v. Dultmeier Mfg. Co., 223 Iowa 252, 272 N.W. 430, 1937 is a case frequently cited to show why using a Table of Authorities to check your citations can help you make sure you are still using good law. At first glance, the Mincey case appears to be good law:

However, a check with the Table of Authorities shows that a case that Mincey relied upon is no longer good law.  Wax v. Des Moines Asphalt Paving Corp. was overturned later on. 

That case was Hanson v.Reichelt.  By overruling Wax, Hanson in effect overruled Mincey.  This can only be found by using the Table of Authorities feature.