Case Details

Beyond the ability to file on new and existing cases, the PACFile system has additional features designed to help you manage your filings based on the various stages of each case. Through the Case Details screen, the following tabs are available when you search for a case using the Dashboard’s Docket/Tracking Number search function or open a case using the View Case Details icon :

Case Details tab

This tab displays high level information about the selected case that includes the case caption, filing date, the subject of the case, disposition, and disposition date. Common Pleas cases may also show case local number information.

 

 

Filings in Progress tab

This feature displays any electronic filings that you, or your proxy, have started and saved for the case but have not submitted to the court. Clicking the View/Edit icon opens the filing in the wizard.

 

 

Calendar Events tab

This tab displays any instances in which a case has been scheduled before the court. The date, location, and type of event are included when available.

 

 

Counsel/Parties tab

This tab displays the names and contact information of the active attorneys for the case and the name(s) of the case participant(s) they are representing. Pro se participants will also appear in this listing.

 

 

Docket Entries tab

This tab provides a comprehensive list of the docket entries that have been recorded on the case in descending order (newest to oldest). Each docket entry displays the filer, filed date, and, if available, an electronic copy of the corresponding document filed with the court.

A Filter icon is available on this screen that can be used to limit the docket entries that appear to those with specific characteristics. This icon displays a popup screen that filters docket entries by their filed date, the type of participant (i.e. appellant, appellee, plaintiff, defendant), the name of a docket entry, or any combination of the three.

Any Document icon appearing in the Document(s) column provides the ability to view documents that relate to the corresponding docket entry. You can hover your mouse pointer over the icon to display the name of the document. If three or more documents are linked to a docket entry, the Three Lines Menu icon displays. Click on this icon to display a list of the available documents. The availability of these documents is dependent on your role on a given case. In general, attorneys and pro se participants that are participating on a case in either the moving (ex. Appellant, Petitioner, Plaintiff) or opposing (ex. Appellee, Respondent, Defendant) role can view all the available documents. On Appellate court cases, the attorneys representing participants in third or non-party roles (ex. Amicus or Intervenor) can, at a minimum, see the documents that they have filed on a case. Access to the remaining documents on a case, however, may be restricted for these third-party participant roles based on the court and docket type combination.

Any attorney, pro se participant, or other individual, who is not actively participating on a case, cannot view any of the corresponding documents electronically under any circumstances.

Use the links below for more information regarding document availability for the participant roles on each Appellate court docket type:

Supreme Court cases

Superior Court cases

Commonwealth Court cases

Common Pleas Court cases

 

 

Correspondence tab (Appellate Courts only)

This tab displays a list of letters and other communications, excluding court orders, that the filing office has sent to the attorneys and pro se litigants on a case. If you are an attorney or pro se litigant on a case, their proxy, or have otherwise been granted access to the case, an electronic copy of any of these documents can be viewed in a PDF format by clicking the appropriate Document icon under the Document(s) column. Hover your mouse pointer over a Document icon to see the name of the specific document represented. No person who is not actively participating on a case can view these documents electronically. More precise information on the availability of documents for each participant role can be found under the Docket Entries section above.

 

 

Cross Court tab

This tab displays the history of the identified case as it has moved through the Pennsylvania courts. For instance, if you are looking at the Case Details of a Supreme Court Appeal case, the other cases listed in this tab could include other Appellate, Court of Common Pleas, or Magisterial District Court cases. This information is not always available for all cases.

Clicking the Docket Sheet icon opens the docket sheet for that case and clicking the Case Details icon opens the case through this Case Details screen.

 

 

Financials

This tab displays the history of the court-ordered assessments and payments associated to a case. All assessments are separated into one of several categories, which include costs/fees, fines, and restitution. The individual assessments listed under each category display the amount owed, the amount paid to date, any adjustments that the court has made to the amount owed, and any non-monetary payments made by the responsible party. Non-monetary payments, often applying to Common Pleas Juvenile cases, represent a form of payment earned through court-ordered public service.

Any totals displayed within parenthesis, such as ($120.50), signify negative numbers. Payments are always represented as negative numbers as a means to visually offset the corresponding assessment amounts. The Total column is calculated by adding the assessment, payment, adjustment, and non-monetary payment amounts.

 

 

Subscription Notifications (limited availability)

Any individual acting as a proxy for an organization is eligible to subscribe to the notifications generated for any case where that organization is an active attorney. Subscribing to notifications allows each organizational proxy to uniquely tailor their notifications beyond any rights granted by the AMU.

On any applicable case, clicking on the Subscription Notifications icon displays the Subscription Notifications popup screen and the name of the proxy's organization. Clicking the checkbox next to the organization's name, followed by SAVE, completes the subscription process. Thereafter, that individual receives all Dashboard and e-mail notifications that the organization is eligible to receive as an attorney on the corresponding case. Individuals may cancel their subscription to a case at any time by deselecting the checkbox that appears next to the organization's name.

No one is subscribed to any case by default and each proxy is responsible for managing their own subscriptions. The subscription settings of one organizational proxy have no effect on those of any other proxy. If a proxy is eligible to receive a notification through a case subscription and through the rights granted by an AMU, they will only receive one instance of that notification.

This feature provides the most benefit for organizations that are actively listed in an attorney role on Common Pleas Court cases. It is possible to subscribe to case notifications when proxying for an organization that is listed as a case participant, but the notifications the organization is eligible to receive may be very limited or non-existent.