§ 4-300. Words Omitted in Case Names ^[BB|ALWD]

§ 4-300(1) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 1: Omit "the" when used as the first word of a party name «e.g.»

except:

•  when part of name of an object subject to in rem proceeding «e.g.»  or
• "The King/Queen" «e.g.»

§ 4-300(2) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 2: Omit subsequent actions listed after the first one (when a case consolidates several different actions) «e.g.»

§ 4-300(3) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 3: Omit all parties after the first one listed on each side «e.g.»

§ 4-300(4) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 4: In "in rem" cases:

• Omit all items after the first one listed «e.g.»
• Omit all words other than the common street address in "in rem" cases involving real estate «e.g.»

§ 4-300(5) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 5: Treat procedural phrases as follows:

• Omit all procedural phrases other than the first «e.g.»
• Reduce all remaining procedural phrases that are roughly equivalent to "on behalf of" or "for the use of" to ex rel. «e.g.»
• In adversarial proceedings omit all procedural phrases other than ex rel. «e.g.»
• Reduce all remaining procedural phrases that are roughly equivalent to "In the matter of," "Petition of," and the like to In re. «e.g.»

§ 4-300(6) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 6: Omit terms like "trustee," "executor," or "administrator" that described a named party «e.g.»

§ 4-300(7) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 7: Omit "State of" or its equivalents «e.g.»

except: when citing decisions of the courts of the state in question, in which case omit the name of the state instead and keep "State" or the equivalent term «e.g.»

§ 4-300(8) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 8: Omit "City of" or its equivalents «e.g.»

except: when the phrase begins a party name «e.g.»

§ 4-300(9) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 9: Omit all locational phrases «e.g.»

except:

• those left following application of the the prior rule about "City of" or
• when the omission would leave only one word in the name

§ 4-300(10) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 10: Omit "of America" after "United States" «e.g.»

§ 4-300(11) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 11: Omit first and middle names or initials of individuals «e.g.»

except:

• when included in the name of a business «e.g.»
• when the party's surname is abbreviated «e.g.»
• when the party's given name follows the surname (as is true of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese names, for example) «e.g.»

§ 4-300(12) Examples Window (restore)

Principle 12: Omit "Inc.," "Ltd.," "N.A.," or "F.S.B.," and similar terms if the name also contains words like "Co.," "Corp.," "R.R.," "Bros.," or "Ass'n" that indicate a business firm. «e.g.»