First Principles of Business Law

7.6. Headnotes

A headnote is a summary of a law report. Headnotes are written by editors rather than by the court deciding the case. Headnotes usually include a summary of the facts of the case and a statement of the issues under consideration. If the case is an appeal, the procedural history of the case may also be outlined. Headnotes may contain a summary of the court's reasoning and conclusions, and a list of previous cases relied on. The headnote in Lynch's case is highlighted below. Click on the information icon for further information.