Trellis.Law
Joe C
Winning a legal case is a significant relief, but you might still find your name appearing on online legal databases like Trellis Law. This can be concerning, especially if you expected your case details to disappear after a favorable outcome. Understanding why your name remains on Trellis Law and how you can work to get it removed is essential for protecting your online reputation and privacy.
Why Is My Name Still on Trellis Law?Even if you win your case, your name may still appear on Trellis Law due to the nature of public records. Legal cases, regardless of their outcomes, are typically part of the public record, and many online platforms aggregate and display this information. Trellis Law is one such platform that collects and publishes court records to provide public access to legal information. Here’s why your name might still be listed:
Public Record Laws: Court cases are generally considered public records. This means that the details of your case, including your name, are accessible to the public and can be published by legal databases like Trellis Law. Winning your case doesn’t automatically result in the removal of your name from these records.
Transparency and Accountability: Legal databases aim to maintain transparency and provide access to court records as part of the public’s right to information. This includes records of both ongoing and resolved cases. The presence of your name helps ensure that the legal process is documented and available for review.
Data Retention Policies: Trellis Law and similar platforms often have policies in place to retain case information for a certain period, regardless of the outcome. These platforms may argue that keeping the records accessible serves a public interest, especially in understanding legal precedents and outcomes.
While the presence of your name on Trellis Law might seem unavoidable, there are steps you can take to request its removal or reduction in visibility:
Contact Trellis Law Directly:
- Start by reaching out to Trellis Law’s support team. Explain that you won your case and request the removal of your name or personal information. Be polite but firm in your request, providing any relevant details or documentation to support your case.
- It’s possible that Trellis Law may offer to redact your personal information instead of removing the entire page. Redaction involves concealing specific details while leaving the rest of the document intact. If complete removal isn’t possible, this might be a viable alternative to protect your privacy.
Legal Action:
- If Trellis Law declines your request for removal, you may need to consult with a legal professional. They can advise you on whether you have grounds to pursue legal action to compel the removal of your name from the website. This might involve demonstrating that the continued presence of your name causes harm or violates specific privacy laws.
Request Expungement:
- In some cases, particularly where the case involves criminal charges that were dismissed or you were acquitted, you might be eligible to have the case record expunged. Expungement is a legal process that effectively seals the record, removing it from public access. Once expunged, you can then request that Trellis Law remove or update their records to reflect this change.
Search Engine De-indexing:
- If removal from Trellis Law isn’t possible, you might consider requesting that search engines de-index the page containing your name. This won’t remove the page from Trellis Law, but it will make it less likely to appear in search results when someone searches for your name. Google, for example, offers a removal tool for this purpose, especially if the information is outdated or irrelevant.
Reputation Management Services:
- Consider hiring an online reputation management service that specializes in content removal and suppression. Defamation Defenders and ReputationDefender are a couple firms that offer trusted solutions to remove information from Trellis Law and other court record websites. These professionals can work on your behalf to either remove the content or push it down in search engine results, reducing its visibility.
The persistence of your name on Trellis Law after winning a case is often a result of public record laws and the platform’s commitment to transparency. While complete removal can be challenging, there are various steps you can take to reduce your online exposure and protect your privacy. Whether through direct requests, legal action, or professional services, it’s possible to manage the visibility of your personal information online.