Major Information Systems (FOIA)

Civil Division Case Management System

ACRONYM: CIMS

ABSTRACT: CIMS and its subsystems comprise a system to track information related to the cases received by and initiated by the Civil Division. The database includes records containing various case identifiers and descriptors, plaintiffs and defendants, client agencies, assigned attorneys, case dispositions, monetary relief sought and awarded, time expended by staff, and the physical case files available for the case.

PURPOSE: The system is used as a management tool, and is not intended to support the day-to-day activities of the attorneys litigating the cases. It is used for routing of case-related mail, for identifying the attorneys handling a particular case, and for generating statistical, management and budget information.

ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: All Civil Division employees have view rights to that portion of the database which is a matter of public record. Access to other portions of the database are protected from unauthorized access through a variety of physical, administrative, and technical safeguards on a need-to-know basis.

USE CONSTRAINTS: Use of the CIMS system is restricted to only those functions needed by a user to execute the official duties.

AGENCY PROGRAM: CIMS is a tool used by the Civil Division to manage its litigation workload.

SOURCES OF DATA: Case data is derived from court filings, summons and complaints, agency case referrals, court decisions, settlement agreement, and through interviews with assigned attorneys. Time data is entered by time reporters or designated proxies. Case file data is based on the documents contained in the official case files and the file room check-in/check-out documents.

ORDER PROCESS: The data contained in CIMS is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). You may submit FOIA requests to the Civil Division via the Civil Division’s page on FOIA.gov.