> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rubicourt.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# File a case

> Creates the case, assigns an arbitrator at random, and emails each party a link to its case page. The respondent's answer deadline comes from the rules version.



## OpenAPI

````yaml /api-reference/openapi.json post /v1/cases
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Rubicourt API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    Two services. Resolve (/v1/policy, /v1/disputes): your platform's own
    dispute decisions, made by AI under your written policy, with your staff
    reviewing the cases the policy routes to them; binding only inside your
    platform. Arbitration (/v1/cases): binding small-claims arbitration, where a
    licensed attorney arbitrator decides every case and signs every award, with
    one appeal to a different arbitrator. A Resolve dispute can escalate to
    arbitration when your policy enables it. Authenticate with your platform API
    key as a bearer token. Rubicourt is a private arbitration provider, not a
    government court.
  contact:
    email: hello@rubicourt.com
servers:
  - url: https://api.rubicourt.com
security:
  - apiKey: []
tags:
  - name: Resolve
    description: >-
      Your platform's own dispute decisions, made by AI under your written
      policy.
  - name: Arbitration
    description: >-
      Binding small-claims arbitration decided by a licensed attorney
      arbitrator.
  - name: Webhooks
    description: Signed events Rubicourt sends to your webhook URL.
paths:
  /v1/cases:
    post:
      tags:
        - Arbitration
      summary: File a case
      description: >-
        Creates the case, assigns an arbitrator at random, and emails each party
        a link to its case page. The respondent's answer deadline comes from the
        rules version.
      operationId: fileCase
      parameters:
        - name: Idempotency-Key
          in: header
          required: false
          description: >-
            Retry safely: a repeat with the same key and body returns the first
            response. The same key with a different body returns 422.
          schema:
            type: string
            maxLength: 255
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/CaseInput'
      responses:
        '201':
          description: Case filed.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Case'
        '400':
          description: The request is malformed or a field is invalid.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
        '401':
          description: Missing or invalid API key.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
        '404':
          description: No such case for this platform.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
        '422':
          description: >-
            The case cannot be filed (claim too large, fast track not allowed,
            duplicate reference).
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
components:
  schemas:
    CaseInput:
      type: object
      required:
        - category
        - description
        - amount_cents
        - claimant
        - respondent
      properties:
        external_reference:
          type: string
          description: Your id for the dispute; unique per platform.
        category:
          type: string
          examples:
            - goods_not_received
            - goods_not_as_described
            - services_not_performed
        description:
          type: string
          maxLength: 5000
        amount_cents:
          type: integer
          minimum: 1
          description: Amount claimed, in cents. Limit set by the rules version ($10,000).
        currency:
          type: string
          const: USD
          default: USD
        claimant:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/PartyInput'
        respondent:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/PartyInput'
        seat_state:
          type: string
          minLength: 2
          maxLength: 2
          description: Two-letter state of the arbitration seat.
        track:
          type: string
          enum:
            - standard
            - fast
          default: standard
          description: The fast track is only for business-to-business cases.
        transaction:
          type: object
          additionalProperties: true
          description: >-
            Your records (order, messages, payments), stored as a
            platform-attested file.
    Case:
      type: object
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
        reference:
          type: string
        external_reference:
          type:
            - string
            - 'null'
        status:
          type: string
          enum:
            - filed
            - awaiting_response
            - evidence_open
            - summary_check
            - awaiting_determination
            - drafting
            - human_review
            - award_issued
            - appeal_pending
            - final
            - settled
            - withdrawn
            - dismissed
        track:
          type: string
          enum:
            - standard
            - fast
        rules_version:
          type: string
        category:
          type: string
        amount_cents:
          type: integer
        currency:
          type: string
        filed_at:
          type: string
          format: date-time
        parties:
          type: array
          items:
            type: object
            properties:
              id:
                type: string
              role:
                type: string
                enum:
                  - claimant
                  - respondent
              type:
                type: string
                enum:
                  - person
                  - business
              name:
                type: string
        deadlines:
          type: array
          items:
            type: object
            properties:
              kind:
                type: string
              due_at:
                type: string
                format: date-time
              status:
                type: string
    Error:
      type: object
      required:
        - error
      properties:
        error:
          type: object
          required:
            - code
            - message
          properties:
            code:
              type: string
            message:
              type: string
            details: {}
    PartyInput:
      type: object
      required:
        - name
        - email
        - type
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
        email:
          type: string
          format: email
        type:
          type: string
          enum:
            - person
            - business
  securitySchemes:
    apiKey:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      description: Your platform API key.

````

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