2. A computer system for retrieving legal case histories, the computer system comprising: a server computer having a processor and interfacing with a database; a client access device interfacing with the server computer; and an output device interfacing with server computer; wherein the processor is configured to identify occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in a textual document and to determine a legal case history for at least one piece of formatted text in the textual document and storing it in the database; wherein the server computer is configured to receive a request for a legal case history from the client access device; wherein the processor is further configured to search the database based on the request and to retrieve the requested legal case history from the database; and wherein the output device is configured to indicate the legal case history such that an indication is provided of a parent case and of at least one related case, the parent case having a visual connection to the related case.
2. A computer system for retrieving legal case histories, the computer system comprising: a server computer having a processor and interfacing with a database; a client access device interfacing with the server computer; and an output device interfacing with server computer; wherein the processor is configured to identify occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in a textual document and to determine a legal case history for at least one piece of formatted text in the textual document and storing it in the database; wherein the server computer is configured to receive a request for a legal case history from the client access device; wherein the processor is further configured to search the database based on the request and to retrieve the requested legal case history from the database; and wherein the output device is configured to indicate the legal case history such that an indication is provided of a parent case and of at least one related case, the parent case having a visual connection to the related case. 6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one related case comprises at least one of a child case and a lateral litigation case.