Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia that Anyone Can Edit (and No One Can Trust)

November 28, 2009

    Authored By: Patrick J. Ryan

    Citation: Palisades Collection, L.L.C. v. Graubard, 2009 WL 1025176

    Employee/Employer Implicated: Outside Counsel

    e-Lesson Learned: Wikipedia entries cannot be used to prove important facts are true.

For all the lawyers out there looking to fill the gaps in your client’s case at the last minute, we’ve got some bad news. It turns out Wikipedia is not a reliable source of information.

In Palisades Collection, L.L.C. v. Graubard, the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey held that a court may not treat a Wikipedia entry  as conclusive evidence of a fact over which parties to a case clearly disagree. The plaintiff, Palisades Collection, L.L.C. (“Palisades”), was a collection agency that purchased a portfolio of delinquent accounts from Bank One Corporation (“Bank One”).  Palisades alleged that one of the overdue accounts belonged to the defendant.

On February 3, 2006, Palisades’ attorney notified the defendant that Bank One had sold his client the defendant’s account, which the defendant originally owed to Chevy Chase Bank, and that Palisades’ attorney was now seeking to collect the debt on behalf of his client. Three days later, the defendant sent Palisades’ attorney a letter stating that he was disputing the validity of the claim because he could not recall Bank One Corporation ever granting him credit.

On May 5, 2006, Palisades filed an action claiming it was the owner of an account on which the defendant owed money and demanding it be paid. At trial, Palisades’ attorney sought to prove Palisades’ ownership of the account by entering into evidence a set of documents obtained from the internet. The first document was a copy of an electronic version of a New York Times article reporting that Bank One had purchased the credit card operations of Chevy Chase Bank in 1998. The second document was a copy of a Wikipedia entry stating that J.P. Morgan & Company had purchased Bank One in 2004. Based on this information, Palisades’ attorney represented to the court that J.P. Morgan then sold its Chevy Chase accounts, including the defendant’s account, to his client.

Over the defendant’s objections, the trial judge allowed Palisades’ attorney to enter the documents into evidence. In support of his decision, the judge took judicial notice that (1) “banks are frequently purchased” and (2) “ultimately [the] defendant’s account landed at J.P. Morgan . . . [and] was assigned or sold to Palisades [].”

The appellate court, however, disagreed with this ruling. The purpose of judicial notice, the court explained, is to save time and to promote judicial economy by eliminating the need for parties to prove facts that cannot seriously be disputed and that are generally or universally accepted as true. It must not be used “to circumvent the rule against hearsay and thereby deprive a party of the right of cross-examination on a contested material issue of fact.” Above all, it must not be used to determine the ultimate legal issue in dispute in a given case.

With regard to Palisades’ case, the court noted the question of Palisades’ standing to prosecute the claim was one of the central issues in dispute. By taking judicial notice of its ownership of the defendant’s account, the court explained, the trial judge deprived the defendant of his right to cross examination over  a contested material fact and impermissibly settled the ultimate legal issue in dispute; that is, Palisades’ standing to prosecute the claim.

Furthermore, the court concluded, a trial judge’s acceptance of a Wikipedia entry as a basis for taking judicial notice runs counter to the principle that judicial notice must be based upon “sources whose accuracy cannot be reasonably questioned.” As the court explained, the problem with using Wikipedia a basis for judicial notice is that the content of any given  article can be changed by someone whose opinion does not correspond with the state of knowledge in the relevant fields. “Such a malleable source of information is inherently unreliable, and clearly not one ‘whose accuracy cannot be reasonably questioned.’”

Patrick J. Ryan has since graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law. He has focused much of his training and legal education on bankruptcy and state law insolvency proceedings.

Article posted on November 28, 2009 at 1:00 AM |  Twitter  LinkedIn  Digg  Facebook  Technorati Favorites  NewsVine  More... 
Tagged as: .
View more articles implicating: Outside Counsel
Subscribe to this post's comments through its RSS 2.0 feed.

57 Responses to “Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia that Anyone Can Edit (and No One Can Trust)”

« Older Comments
  1. 43
    insanity workout says:
    August 26, 2010 at 10:15 PM

    we offer cheap and high quality insanity workout dvd
    ghdpretty
    ghd iv stylerbeautiful
    ghd hair straightenersnice
    px90 workout routinemake you healthier
    insanity workoutLet you have vigor
    skechers shape ups shoeshave to type
    Skechers shoescomfortable
    skecher fitcheap and fine
    vibram fingersdifferent designs
    five fingers runingPersonality
    barefoot runninghigh quality
    ugg saappaatdifferent designs,
    uggs norgehigh quantity
    uggs nederlandnice
    uggs kopenvogue
    ugg deutschlandbeautiful
    ugg bottesdelicate
    welcome to buy!thank you!

    [Reply to this comment]

  2. 44
    ブランド腕時計 says:
    August 27, 2010 at 1:26 AM

    全国で高齢者ブランド腕時計の所在エルメスコピー 不明が相ルイヴィト次いでいる
    　法人市民税収が最多だった１９８９年度の約１５１億８９００万円に比べると半分以下。統計が残る１９６４年度以降、過去最大の落ち込み幅という。
    　市は２００９年度当初予算では、約問題で、兵庫県内の１３市３町で、生存していれば１２０歳以上となる計１７７０人の戸籍が残っていることが２６日、神戸新聞社のまとめで分かった。最高齢は、江戸時代後期の１８４０（天保１１）年生まれという姫路市の「１７０歳」男性だった。

    　全国で同様の問題が発覚したのを受け、調査した自治体が発表、または神戸新聞社の問い合わせに答えた。
    　内訳は、姫路市９０６人▽洲;ロレックス時計;オメガ時計;IWC腕時計 ロレックスデイトナ;ロレックスエクスプローラー;ロレックスGMTマスターII オメガスピードマスター;オメガシーマスター;オメガアクアテラ;オメガデ・ヴィル IWCアクアタイマー;IWCインヂュニア本市３２０人▽伊丹市１２４人▽三田市７８人▽尼崎市５５人▽淡路市５３人▽たつの市５２人▽西宮市５１人▽福崎町３５人▽芦屋市３４人▽南あわじ市２７人▽宍粟市１５人▽太子町９人▽宝塚市８人▽猪名川町２人▽養父市１人。洲本市で「１６１歳」男性、伊丹市で男性とみられる「１５１歳」が含まれていた。
    　通常は死亡届が出ることで戸籍を抹消されるが、何らかの理由で提出されなかったりしたとみられる。戸籍は残っていても、大半が住民登録されていなかったといい、各市町は法務局と協議するなどして、対象者の戸籍の削除を検討する。
    　最高齢となる姫路市の「１７０歳」男性が生まれた１８４０年はアヘン戦争が始まった年。男性は、坂本竜馬の５歳年下にあたり、薩長軍が旧幕府軍を破った鳥羽伏見の戦いがあった１８６８年に２８歳だったことになる。;IWCスピットファイアー;IWCポルトギーゼ ロレックスサブマリーナ;ロレックスヨットマスター;ロレックスターノグラフ ロレックスミルガウス;ロレックスエアキング;ロレックスパーペチュアルデイト ロレックスチェリーニ　チェリニウム;姫路市が２６日、発表した２００９年度決算見込みで、法人市民税が約７１億１千万円と、０８年度から３８％（約４３億６７００万円）も減ることが明らかになった。

    ９１億４６００万円の法人田中陽一）ロレックスデイデイト;ロレックスプリンス オメガコンステレーション;IWCクラシックパイロット;IWCポートフィノ;ロレックスデイトジャスト 020bagss.com エルメス バーキン;エルメス ケリー;エルメス 財布;エルメス ベルト;エルメス その他;エルメス 市民税収を見込んだが、担当者は「景気低迷の影響が予想以上に大きかった」としている。市によると、これまで、法人市民税収の落ち込み幅が最も大きかったのは、バブル崩壊後の１９９３年度で、２２・９％減だった。
    　市税全体を見ても、約９０５億８６００万円と２００８年度から約５３億３千万円減ったが、国からの普通交付税や臨時財政対策債が計約４７億円増加。一般会計決算は歳入約２１９６億円、歳出約２１０３億円で、黒字を確保した。
    （真レザー;エルメス アクセサリー bag-brand ルイヴィトンバッグ|ルイヴィトンバッグ バッグ|ルイヴィトンバッグ 財布 モノグラム;ダミエ;ダミエ・アズール;ダミエ-グラフィット;ヴェルニ;エピ;モノグラム・ミニ・ラン;タイガ;マルチカラー;モノグラム・デニム;モノグラム・ミニ・ランクロワゼット;モノグラム・ミロワール;スハリ・ライン;マヒナ;モノグラム・ダンテェル;ダミエ・ジェアン;スティーブン・スプラウスコレクション モノグラム;ダミエ;ダミエ・アズール;ダミエ-グラフィット;ヴェルニ;エピ;モノグラム・ミニ・ラン;タイガ;マルチカラー;モノグラム・デニム;モノグラム・ミニ・ランクロワゼット;モノグラム・ミロワール;スハリ・ライン;マヒナ;モノグラム・ダンテェル;ダミエ・ジェアン;スティーブン・スプラウスコレクション グッチ;10年新作·バッグ;10年新作·財布;

    [Reply to this comment]

  3. 45
    replicas relojes says:
    August 27, 2010 at 7:25 AM

    ————————————
    Well.I like it, Its a really nice article I’ve saw :) , now, please allow me introduce a site made by my friend. you can click the link to view his site and

    find yours favourite
    Replicas-relojes.net supply
    REPLICAS RELOJES
    REPLICAS DE RELOJES ROLEX
    IMITACIONES DE RELOJES SUIZOS LUJO
    replicas de relojes
    imitaciones de relojes
    REPLICAS RELOJES SUIZOS LUJO

    [Reply to this comment]

  4. 46
    Windows 7 Product Key says:
    August 29, 2010 at 8:03 PM

    ph The web Discount Windows Product Key has cheap Windows Key changed wholesale Office Product KeyAnd DiscountWindows Activation there’s a cheap wholesale Windows Activation Key new way wholesale DiscountOffice Activation Key of Discount thinking cheapWindows Generator about wholesaleWindows Key Generator your DiscountOffice Key Generator applications.cheapWindows Keygen You wholesaleWindows Key can’t DiscountOffice Keygenjust write cheapWindows Upgradesome wholesaleOffice UpgradeHTML and DiscountMicrosoft UpgradesCSS cheapWindows 7 Product Keyanymore wholesale and DiscountWindows 7 Keyexpect cheapWindows 7 Ultimate Keyto be wholesaleWindows 7 Home Premium Keythe next DiscountWindows 7 Professional Key Twitter. Hear cheapWindows 7 Product Keyhow to wholesaleMicrosoft Office 2010 Product Keymake your site wholesaleMicrosoft Office 2007 Product Keysocially

    [Reply to this comment]

  5. 47
    ブランド腕時計 says:
    August 29, 2010 at 9:22 PM

    this is my stUggsudy.there is a desk in it.on the desk,there are a lot of books,a walkman and a clock.behind the desk,there is a winDiscount Uggs boots on sale dow. 　　on the window,there is a beUGG Fluff Flip Flop Slipper autiful curtain.in front of the desk,there is a chair.look at the wall!there is a map of china on the wall.next to the map,there is a photo of my fUGGamily. 　　my study is small.but it is nice and clean.i like it very much i earnestly hope to lead a healthy and prosperous life iUGG Classic Argyle Knitn the future. UGG Gypsy Sandals judging fro 2010 Ugg New Arrivalsm my aptitude inclination and personality streaks, my ideal life will be that of a scientist, researching, lecturing, an Wholesale Uggsd writing books. as i am from a farming family, i paUGG Fluff Flip Flop Slipper 5304  rticularly enjoy being close to earth. if i can afford to UGG Bailey Button Boots live a pastoral life in the countryside, i wUGG Fluff Scuff Ii ill feel most blessed. as far as social life is concerned, simplicity is what i intend to pursue, so i really don’t need too many friends. all tUGG Tasmina Sandals 1647 hese will be mere talk if i am idle now. 　　to attain my goaUGG Bags l, i must make a point of training my body an UGG Sundance Ii Boots d mind. this is a hiUGG Ascot Slippers ghly competitive society in which everyone is eager to come out on toUGG Gypsy Sandals 1759 p. that is not only a competition ofUGG Bailey Button Boots  physical strength and mental power, but a marathon of patien2010 Ugg New Arrivals ce, faith, and perseverance. life is not all rUGG Tasmina Sandals 1647 oses, but with what i am being equipped with by the top teachers in this elite school, i surely deserve a promising prospect.  Discount Uggs boots on sale

    [Reply to this comment]

    ブランド腕時計 Reply:
    August 31st, 2010 at 1:55 AM

    ８月の日本列島は、沖縄・ルイヴィト奄美を除く地域の月平均気温が地域別のデータの取りまとめを開始した１９４６年以降、最高となブランド腕時計る見通しであるエルメスコピーことが３０日、分かった。気象庁が２９日までの暫定値で解析した。地点別でも、全国１５４カ所の気象台、測候所などのうち、半数を超す８５カ所で月平均気温が観測史上最高（過去タイ含む）となり「スーパー猛暑」がデータでも裏付けられた。 　全国の観測点９２１カ所のうち、３５度以上の「猛暑日」の観測点が最多だったのは８月６日で、１７９地点だった。 　暫定値によると、北日本（北海道、東北）は平年を２・６度、東日本（関東甲信、北陸、東海）は２・２度、西日本（近畿‐九州）は２・１度上回った。沖縄・奄美オメガ時計;は平年より０・７度高く、戦後５位の高温。 　月平均気温が過去最高の主な地点は京都３０・０度（平年比プラス２・２度）、大阪３０・５度（同２・１度）、広島３０・３度（同２・ロレックスGMTマスターII４度）、高松３０・４度（同３・０度）、福岡３０・４度ロレックス時計（同２・８度）と平均気温が「真夏日」（最高気温３０度以上）状態だった。 【神戸、姫路連日３０度超　豊岡、７月以降「猛暑」計３１日】 　兵庫県内でも各地で８月の平均気温が、観測史上最高になる見通しとなった。２９日現在、県内の主要４観測所のうち、神戸（２９．８度）▽豊岡（２９．４度）▽姫路（同）‐でこれまでの記録を上回っており、洲本も２８．０度で史上３番目タイとなっている。 　特に暑さが厳しかった豊岡ルイヴィトンバッグ 財布では３０日も最高気温が３７．０度となり、７月以降、３５度を超える「猛暑日」の日数は計３１日に達した。８月１９日以降、猛暑日が連日続いており、３１日に３５度スティーブン・スプラウスコレクションを超えると、１９９４年８月に記録した１３日連続に並ぶ。 　またエルメス バーキン、神戸と姫路では８月に最高気温が３０度を下回る日はなかった。神戸ではヒートアイランド現象などの影響で、最低気温も２５度を超える「熱帯夜」が７月３０日以降続いており、連日暑い夜となっている。日本政策投資銀行は３０日、２０１０年の近畿２府４県の製造業の設備投資額が２兆１２７０億円となり、三大都市圏でトップの東海４県（岐阜、静岡、愛知、三重）の約２兆１４６０億円に迫る水準になるとの見通しを発表した。関西は１９７７年から東海に引きンバッグ|離されているが、リチウムイオン電池や液晶パネルなど環IWC腕時計境関連分野がけん引役となっているという。 　同行が、６月に資本金１億円以上の全国１万２７５９社を対象に行った設備投資計画調査などを基にまとめた。 　関西の設備投資額は全国シェア１９・９％に対し東海は２０・１％で、サービス業などが中心になりつつある首都圏は１３・２％（１兆４１２０億円）と予想。リーマン・ショック前の０７年と比べ、東海は４割以上、首都圏は３割以上減るが、関西は10年新作·財布; ６・７％増える。 　また、関西は中・長期的な投資意欲も高く、金融危機後に減額修正した企業は５４・８％で、東海10年新作·バッグ;と首都圏に比べて少なかった。また、そのうち約半分は１０年度に入って増額修正した。 　同行は「環境産業は新しい市場を創造しており、景気に左右されにくい。製造拠点としての関西の潜在力が上がってきている」としている。（松井　元）

    [Reply to this comment]

  6. 48
    cheap gucci belts says:
    August 29, 2010 at 10:09 PM

    Many mens gucci belts Internet users cheap gucci belts from the end of mens designer belts July, the gucci belts on sale Empress Dowager louis vuitton belt for men Cixi mens fabric belts of the Department armani belts of administrative versace belts ed hardy belts barriers oppose Westgate chanel belts Dolce & Gabbana Belts speech promoting mountain Taiga forums prada belts frequented boss belts by 18 to the city. Under, but provides common common³µáñdoes does my license plate e-friends photos two stimulating mountain city management and district and Ward Valley and the new emperor, Simon 18, the Eastern Gateway Security Department in c o m m o n d µ ³ á ñ o e s Castle tube seems to go out of your own. License plate

    [Reply to this comment]

  7. 49
  8. 50
  9. 51
    Coach bags says:
    August 31, 2010 at 2:17 AM

    coach bags, coach bags
    vibram shoes, vibram shoes
    chanel bags, chanel bags
    MBT Shoes, MBT shoes

    [Reply to this comment]

  10. 52
    michael jordan shoes says:
    August 31, 2010 at 3:10 AM

    ugg boots ugg boots
    ugg boots uk ugg boots uk
    ugg boots sale ugg boots sale
    discount ugg boots discount ugg boots
    ugg outlet ugg outlet
    ugg zipper boots discount ugg boots outlet
    ugg boots under under 50 dollars discount ugg boots sale
    ugg boots under under 100 dollars discounted ugg boots
    ugg boots uk sale online discount ugg boots online
    ugg boots uk sale discounted ugg boots cheap
    ugg boots uk outlet discount ugg boots sale onle
    ugg boots uk online with free shipping discount ugg boots outlet online
    ugg boots uk online discount ugg boots outlet sale online
    ugg boots outlet stores discount ugg boots free shipping
    discounted ugg boots cheap ugg boots uk outlet
    discounted ugg boots ugg boots uk sale
    discount ugg boots uk sale discount ugg boots uk outlet
    discount ugg boots uk outlet discount ugg boots uk sale
    discount ugg boots sale onle ugg boots uk online
    discount ugg boots sale ugg boots uk sale online
    discount ugg boots outlet sale online ugg boots uk online with free shipping
    discount ugg boots outlet sale ugg boots under under 50 dollars
    discount ugg boots outlet online ugg boots under under 100 dollars
    discount ugg boots outlet ugg zipper boots
    discount ugg boots online ugg boots outlet stores
    discount ugg boots free shipping discount ugg boots outlet sale

    [Reply to this comment]

  11. 53
    Discount Christian Louboutin Pumps says:
    September 1, 2010 at 2:56 AM

    Far out in the sea there was an island,on the rocky edge of which lived three Sirens,Nike Air Yeezy
    the three sisters of magic song.Half human and half bird,Air Yeezy Sale
    the Siren sisters sat in a field of flowers,Kanye Air Yeezy
    singing in voices that excited the hearts of men.Cheap Air Yeezy
    The attractive songs were so sweet that ships were attracted to the island and struck to pieces on the rocks.
    Pink Air YeezyOdysseus had himself tied to the mast ,
    Nike Air Yeezy stopped the ears of his men with wax and ordered them to ignore his orders and gestures when they were passing the fatal island . There is large product selection for you on our website cheapairyeezy.com.
    These Air Yeezy Sale Soon they came in sight of the rocky island,and the attractive song reached the ears of Odysseus,
    Air Yeezy Shoes. It moved him so much that he struggled in despair to free himself and shouted for his men to turn towards the rich and flowery grass land of the singing sisters.
    Cheap Air Yeezy.But no one paid any attention to him.
    Kanye Air Yeezy.The eldest of the sisters,Partherope,loved Odysseus so much that she threw herself into the sea after his ships had passed.Our large varieties of Nike Aix Max Shoesare available in many different designs and attractive colors.These Nike Air Max offer you the latest fashion
    Air Max Shoes with the most favorable price.
    These Air Max 2009 and
    Air Max 90are instantly command respected from any player or fan. The products listed on our website nikeairmaxshoes.net are available for shipping in stock. Don’t wait to buy !zhuyan

    [Reply to this comment]

  12. 54
  13. 55
    mbtshoes says:
    September 1, 2010 at 4:54 AM

    mbt sandals on http://www.mbt-footwears.com can save 57% off for you. Besides, buying two Vibram Five Fingers can get one five toes socks. Therefore,you can come to take mbt women’s sandals or Vibram FiveFingers Sprint or more to your home before out of stock.

    Reebok ZigTech is attracting more and more attention when Hollywood star wore it firstly.they are a unique shoe made by
    mbt women’s sandals. vibram FiveFingers is most known for making the soles of popular hiking shoes.The reason reebok zig pulse are so unique is because they feature five toe sections and fit much like a glove.

    [Reply to this comment]

  14. 56
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply

Spam protection by WP Captcha-Free