Bar Exam Flashcards
When is opposing counsel entitled to depose a consulting expert?
upon a showing of exception circumstances and that it would be impracticable to obtain the information by other means.
When must a demand for jury trial be filed?
within 14 days after the service of the last pleading directed to that issue
What is judicial notice?
when a judge accepts a fact as true even though no evidence to prove it has been offered; a fact not subject to reasonable dispute
How must a court instruct the jury of judicial notice in a criminal case?
that the jury may or may not accept the noticed fact as conclusive
How must a court instruct the jury of judicial notice in a civil case?
that the judicially noticed fact is conclusive
What is a supplemental pleading?
an addition to an original complain of an event, occurrence, or transaction that occurred after the date of the original pleading
What standard should the court apply to ruling on a renewed judgment as a matter of law?
whether there is legally sufficient evidence to support the verdict
When is a prior inconsistent statement admissible for substantive purposes?
when the statement is made under oath at trial, a prior hearing, proceeding, or deposition
What must the court decide if a required party cannot be joined?
IF 1) in equity or good conscience the case should proceed without the required party, or 2) if the absentee party is indispensable meaning the case should be dismissed
What is accord and satisfaction?
- original contract between two parties,
- a promise by one party to render substitute promise in the future,
- promise by the other party to accept the substituted performance in exchange for the original duty,
- original contract remains enforceable until substituted duty is satsified.
What is the common law approach on a dispute of debt amount in accord and satisfaction?
if there is a disputed debt and the debtor sends a check for x amount with a notation that the amount is “full payment” and the creditor cashes the check, then the debtor is discharged
What is the modern approach on a dispute of debt amount in accord and satisfaction?
If there is a disputed debt and the debtor sends a check for x amount with a notation that the amount is “full payment” and the creditor cashes the check, the creditor loses if: 1) the statement of full payment is conspicuous, 2) there is a bona fide dispute, and 3) the debtor acted in good faith.
What is the best evidence rule?
in proving the terms of a writing (recording, photo, or x-ray), where the terms are material, the original writing must be produced.
When is a civil action, where the court has subject matter jurisdiction, not removable?
when there is an in-state defendant.
a forum defendant may not remove an action from state to federal court.
What are the elements of issue preclusion?
- final valid judgment,
- issue was litigated,
- issue was essential to the judgment,
- asserted against someone who was a party to case 1,
- asserted by someone who was a party to case 1 or meets nonmutual elements.
What are the requirements of nonmutual defensive claim preclusion?
- all elements of issue preclusion are met,
- the person using preclusion was not a party to case 1,
- the person using preclusion is the defendant in case 2
- the plaintiff (party to case 1) had the full chance to litigate in case 1.
when is nonmutual offensive claim preclusion permissible?
- all elements of issue preclusion are met,
- state allows for consideration of fairness factors and deems the use reasonable fair.
generally nonmutual offensive (by P) claim preclusion impermissible.
When can the clerk of the Court enter a default judgment?
- the defendant has not appeared,
- the claim is for a sum certain,
- the palintiff gives an affidavit of the sum owed,
- the defendant is not a minor or incompetent.
What law applies? (Erie analysis)
- is there a controlling federal law that is on point? if yes, no Erie problem.
- if no, is the issue at hand substantive or procedural?
Federal court sitting in diversity must apply substantive law of state in which it sits and apply federal procedural law
What issues are well established substantive law?
Statute of limitation
Rules for tolling of statute of limitations
What is “tried by consent”?
when an issue not raised by the pleadings is tried by the parties’ express or implied consent (no objection by OP), it must be treated in all respects as if raised in the pleadings.
party can move to amend pleadings to conform to evidence at any time, even after judgment.
Can a judge order a new trial on his own motion
Yes. The court may order a new trial for any reason that would justify granting one on a party’s motion.
What are the exceptions to new issues not being raised for the first time on appeal?
pure matters of law may be considered for the first time on appeal if not properly presented at trial when all necessary facts are complete in the record.
Under FRCP, when may a court relieve a party from a final judgment?
- mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect,
- newly discovered evidence that could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial with reasonable diligence,
- fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct by OP,
- judgment is void,
- judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged, and/or
- any other reason that justifies relief.
What requirements must be met for a judgment as a matter of law to be granted?
- moving party must establish that there was no substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict, AND
- the motion was first made after the opponent has been fully heard but before the case has been given to the jury.
what are the grounds that support a motion for new trial?
- jury misconduct, and 2. insufficiency of the evidence
what is required for a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim to be successful?
the motion must demonstrate that even if every fact asserted in the complaint is taken as true, no recovery is plausible under any legal theory.
When can a party avoid a contract based on mutual mistake?
- the mistake concerns a basic assumption on which the contract was made,
- the mistake had a material effect on the agreed exchange of performances, and
- the adversely-affected party must not bear the risk of the mistake.
will one party get an unexpected unbargained for gain and the other suffer an unexpected loss?
When are reliance damages awarded?
when the benefits for a party to a contract are unclear or too speculative
When does risk of loss pass to the buyer on a shipment contract (3rd party carrier)?
When the seller duly delivers the goods to the third party carrier and gives notice to the buyer that the goods are with the third party carrier.
When can a plaintiff use permissive joinder to join together claims?
claims arise from a single transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences AND there is a common question of law or fact.
When is a cause of action “merged” into a judgment?
when the claimant wins
When is a cause of action “barred” by the earlier judgment?
when the defendant wins.
What is the federal rule on what law applies to claim preclusion?
an involuntary dismissal generally will bar a subsequent suit
What is anticipatory repudiation?
when a party to a contract communicates to the other party before performance is due that the party will not perform.
What can a party due if the other party repudiates?
- sue immediately,
- cancel the contract,
- suspend performance,
- wait until the date of performance to see if the repudiating party performs,
- urge the repudiating party to perform.
Can a repudiating party withdrawal their repudiation?
Yes until the other party relies on the repudiation or cancelation of the contract.
What are the common law crimes for homicide?
murder - malice aforethought
voluntary manslaughter - adequate provocation
involuntary manslaughter - criminally negligent or killing by unlawful act
What are the elements of duress?
1) reasonable belief,
2) of imminent infliction of death or serious bodily injury,
3) if the defendant did not commit the crime
When can a court enforce a contract lacking consideration based on promissory estoppel?
1) promisor should have expected the promisee to change his position in reliance on the promise,
2) the promisee did change his position, and
3) the change in position was to the promisee’s detriment.
What is attempt?
When a person takes a substantial step, beyond mere preparation, to commit a crime with the intent that the crime takes place
What are the elements of robbery?
1) taking,
2) carrying away,
3) of personal property,
4) with the intent to permanently deprive,
5) accomplished by means of force or threat
What rights are included under the 4th amendment?
prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure AND exclusionary rule
What rights are included under the 5th amendment?
privilege against compulsory self-incrimination AND prohibition against double jeopardy
What rights are included under the 6th amendment?
right to speedy trial, public trial, trial by jury, confrontation clause, and assistance of counsel
What is probable cause?
trustworthy facts or knowledge sufficient for a reasonable person to believe that the suspect has committed or is committing a crime for which an arrest is authorized by law
What is required for a valid Terry stop?
the police have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or involvement in a completed crime supported by articulable facts.
What is required for a valid Terry frisk?
the police have reasonable suspicion that the detainee is armed and dangerous
Does a police officer’s reasonable mistake of law invalidate a seizure?
NO
What is the 4-step process for search and seizure?
- Was the search or seizure conducted by a government official? (no = not 4th amendment)
- Did the defendant have a reasonable expectation of privacy? (no = not 4th amendment)
- Did the police officer have a valid warrant? (yes = valid)
- If not, did a warrantless search exception apply?
What makes a warrant valid?
probable cause and particularity (as to place and items)
Does a violation of the knock-and-announce rule result in suppression of evidence?
No
What are the exceptions to having a warrant?
- search incident to arrest,
- automobile exception,
- plain view,
- consent,
- stop-and-frisk (Terry frisk),
- Hot pursuit, evanescent (fleeting) evidence, and emergency aid
Where may the police search based on incident-to-arrest?
the person, the person’s wingspan, and the passenger compartment if a) arrestee in unsecured and still may gain access to the interior of the vehicle, or b) the police reasonably believe that the evidence of the offense for which the person is arrested may be found in the vehicle.
Where may the police search based on the automobile exception?
IF the police have probable cause that the vehicle contains fruits, instrumentalities, or evidence a crime, THEN the police may search the whole vehicle and containers that might reasonably contain the item for which they have probable cause to search.
When is a Terry frisk justified?
when the officer has articulable and reasonable suspicion that the suspect is armed and/or presently dangerous.
What are the requirements for “hot pursuit”?
- a fleeing felon, and
- police are within 15 minutes of the suspect
What administrative searches are permitted without a warrant?
inventory searches,
airline passengers,
railroad employees after an accident,
public school students
When does the 6th amendment right to counsel attach?
once the defendant is charged
Will a statement obtained in violation of the 5th or 6th amendment be admissible?
not admissible in the prosecution’s case-in-chief, but is admissible as impeachment evidence if the defendant testifies at trial
For Miranda purposes, what is custody?
- would a reasonable person under the circumstances feel free to terminate the interrogation and leave?
- if so, does the environment present an inherently coercive pressure?
For Miranda purposes, what is interrogation?
any words or conduct by the police that they should know would likely elicit an incriminating response from the detainee.
What is the exclusionary rule?
unconstitutionally obtained evidence is inadmissible at trial and all “fruit of the poisonous tree” must also be excluded absent a showing that the cost of excluding outweighs the deterrent effect to police misconduct.
What are the exceptions to the exclusionary rule?
- Independent source,
- intervening act of free will, and
- inevitable discovery
What are the considerations on whether a defendant’s right to a speedy trial has been violated?
- length of delay,
- reason for delay,
- whether the defendant asserted their right, and
- prejudice to the defendant
(LRAP)
What material is exculpatory under Brady?
- evidence favorable to the defendant because it impeaches or is exculpatory, and
- prejudice has resulted (reasonable probability that the result would have been different if evidence was properly disclosed)