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When using cases printed off from Lexis, are the [***56], [*283] used to identify the page numbers? Are these what I use for a page # for a poinpoint cite? which number do I use? Is it the text before the [**555] or after?

My understanding is that they account for the paginations of the parallel opinions, each asterisk corresponding to the case in the citation. *501 = page 501 in lower court opinion, **538 = page 538 of higher court opinion.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, cuz this is how it's going into my brief, lol.

Each cite refers to the page number in a different reporter.

At the very top there will several reporters listed that correspond to each of those sets of stars. Find the reporter you want, and follow the page numbers associated with those stars.

So if the header say

*123 Reporter 333 ;**456 Other Reporter 65

and you want to cite to "Reporter" you need to find the page numbers marked [*pg], but if you want to cite to "Other Reporter" you need to find [**pg].

The place the page number is inserted marks where a new page starts. In both Lexis and Westlaw you can select the reporter you want, and it will bold the page numbers that associate with that reporter.

Thanks all, that was very helpful!