This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
When a case is filed in superior court, the clerk must record it in an official docket book and assign it a number. This number stays with the case for its entire life in the court system.
The clerk also keeps an index so that anyone can look up a case by the names of the people involved. Both the plaintiff (the person who filed the case) and the defendant (the person being sued) must be listed in this index. This makes it possible to search for a case using either party's name.
These records are public, which means anyone can go to the courthouse and look up case information. Keeping accurate records helps the court stay organized and lets people track the status of a case.
