diff --git a/src/forensictrails/core/case_manager.py b/src/forensictrails/core/case_manager.py
index c51eced..eaa29c1 100644
--- a/src/forensictrails/core/case_manager.py
+++ b/src/forensictrails/core/case_manager.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import config
+import utils.config as config
 from db.database import get_db_connection
 import logging
-import datetime
+from datetime import datetime
 
-class CaseManager(case_id=None, case_title=None, investigator=None, classification=None, summary=None):
-    def __init__(self, db_path=None, case_id=None, case_title=None, investigator=None, classification=None, summary=None):
+class CaseManager():
+    def __init__(self, db_path=None):
         if db_path is None:
             db_path = config.database_path
         self.db_path = db_path
@@ -12,13 +12,6 @@ class CaseManager(case_id=None, case_title=None, investigator=None, classificati
         self.cursor = self.conn.cursor()
         logging.debug(f"Connected to database at {self.db_path}")
         
-        self.case_id = case_id
-        self.case_title = case_title
-        self.investigator = investigator
-        self.classification = classification
-        self.summary = summary
-        
-        
     def create_case(self, case_id, case_title, investigator, classification=None, summary=None):
         with self.conn:
             self.cursor.execute("""
@@ -26,6 +19,16 @@ class CaseManager(case_id=None, case_title=None, investigator=None, classificati
                 VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, 'active')
             """, (case_id, case_title, investigator, classification, summary))
             logging.info(f"Created new case with ID: {case_id}")
+            
+    def get_case(self, case_id):
+        with self.conn:
+            self.cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM cases WHERE case_id = ?", (case_id,))
+            case = self.cursor.fetchone()
+            if case:
+                return dict(case)
+            else:
+                logging.warning(f"No case found with ID: {case_id}")
+                return None
     
     def list_cases(self, status=None, search_term=None):
         with self.conn:
@@ -80,28 +83,12 @@ class CaseManager(case_id=None, case_title=None, investigator=None, classificati
         return self.update_case(case_id, status='archived')
     
     def export_case_db(self, case_id, export_path):
-        with self.conn:
-            self.cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM cases WHERE case_id = ?", (case_id,))
-            case = self.cursor.fetchone()
-            if not case:
-                logging.error(f"No case found with ID: {case_id}")
-                return False
-            
-            with open(export_path, 'w') as f:
-                for key in case.keys():
-                    f.write(f"{key}: {case[key]}\n")
-            logging.info(f"Exported case {case_id} to {export_path}")
-            return True
+        # TODO: Implement export functionality
+        # should export a .sqlite file with only the data related to the specified case_id
+        pass
     
     def import_case_db(self, import_path):
-        with open(import_path, 'r') as f:
-            try:
-                with open(config.database_path, 'w') as db_file:
-                    db_file.write(f.read())
-                    get_db_connection(config.database_path)
-                logging.info(f"Imported case database from {import_path}")
-                return True
-            except Exception as e:
-                logging.error(f"Failed to import case database: {e}")
-                return False
+        # TODO: Implement import functionality
+        # should import a .sqlite file and merge its data into the main database
+        pass
             
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/forensictrails/db/database.py b/src/forensictrails/db/database.py
index a2b8974..a5a45e6 100644
--- a/src/forensictrails/db/database.py
+++ b/src/forensictrails/db/database.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def create_db_if_not_exists(db_path=None, schema_path=None):
 def initialize_database(db_path=None):
     if db_path is None:
         db_path = config.database_path
-    get_db_connection(db_path)
+    create_db_if_not_exists(db_path)
     if config.log_level == 'DEBUG':
         show_db_schema(db_path)
     logging.info(f"Database initialized at {db_path}")