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On Thursday morning it was revealed that various online legal research firms were in the process of updating their databases as it relates to a cooperating witness in an investigation related to Web gambling that many believe was about to begin wrapping up in the coming weeks. News organizations like Gambling911.com utilize the services of these firms as a means of monitoring case law activities.
Information was being gathered and updated as it relates to one Michael Garone, a defendant and cooperating witness who was charged with money laundering in 2008. Garone ran a payment processing company tied to at least online Internet gambling firm.
He has since pleaded to the charges during a sealed proceeding held before U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake early last year.
“Mr. Garone is cooperating” with “rather extensive undercover operations going on,” assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kay told Blake, according to the transcript.
It was not immediately clear what detailed information was being entered into the legal research systems although said information relates to an Oregon attorney, a reprimand, an indictment, a conviction, a reproval, felony, "investigated", censured and a suspension, none of which may be necessarily connected, sources advise.
Information resources on the likes of Lexus/Nexus, Pacer and West Law include more than 40,000 databases of case law, state and federal statutes, administrative codes, newspaper and magazine articles, public records, law journals, law reviews, treatises, legal forms and other information resources, all of which must be updated when new and relevant actions occur.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
