C Flashcards
Personal JX two-step analysis?
PJ must fall w/in 1)state statute and 2) satisfy the constitution
con analysis?
does the D have min contacts w/forum so jx does not offend trad notions of fair play and sub justice
factors for con analysis
1) contact 2)relatedness 3) fairness
1) contact factors
1) purposeful availment and 2) forseeability
1) purposeful availment
voluntary act of D reaching out to the forum and contact must result from D targeting forum (can be effects)
purposeful availment examples
(1) Marketing (2) using the roads
(3) establishing a domicile (4) travel
(5) sending a tortious email into the forum (note that the defendant
here need not be physically present in the state); and (6) maintaining an interactive website within the forum may be sufficient for PJ if
the defendant was targeting customers or readers within the forum
2) forseeability
is it forseeable D could be sued in the forum
2) Relatedness
does P’s claim arise from or relate to D’s contact w/ the forum; if yes then specific PJ, if No, general pj
general PJ
if P’s claim does not arise from or relate to D’s contact; D must be athome in the forum or must have registered to do busines in the state and have appointed and agent for service of process there
what if D is served w process in the state?
The
court also has general jurisdiction when she is served with
process in the state
Fairness (specific pj only)
1) burden on D and witnesses 2) states interest 3) plaintiffs interest
Notice= Service of Process (consists of 2 documents)
1) summons and 2) copy of complaint
Who can service process?
non party 18+ person, no ct appointment necessary
Options for service on individual (4)
1) personal service (in hand delivery. 2)substituted service at D’s usual abode on someone suitable age and discretion who resides there
3) service on agent
4) state law methods
service on business org
1) on officer or agent
2) state law methods
service on minor or incompetent
use state law where service is made
SOP on party in foreign country? (5)
A method allowed by international agreement (for example, the
Hague Convention) may be used. Or, if there’s no such agreement on point, the options (subject to the constitutional requirement that the
method must be reasonably calculated to give notice) are: As directed by the American court; or
* Method allowed by the foreign country’s law; or
* Method directed by foreign official in response to a letter of request (letter rogatory) from the American court; or
* Personal service in the foreign country (unless prohibited by its
law); or
* Mail sent by the clerk of the American court, requiring signed
receipt (unless prohibited by the foreign country’s law).
A defendant can waive service of process. To request this waiver:
the
plaintiff mails the defendant a notice and request to waive service.
The plaintiff must include 1) a copy of the complaint and
2) two copies of a
waiver form, with a prepaid means of returning the form (for example,
self-addressed, stamped envelope).
If the defendant executes and
mails the waiver form to the plaintiff within 30 days (60 days if the
defendant is outside the U.S.),
she waives service of process. Waiver
can be used for individuals and entities.
D does not waive ____ by waiving service
defenses
Defendant pays for ___ as penalty for not waiving (unless good cause)
service
Process may be served within the state in which the federal court
sits. It may be served outside that state
if state law allows. That is
why whether we have PJ is the same for federal court as it is for state
court.
D is immune from process while
appearing in another case
SMJ
courts power over the case
state courts have
general SMJ- which means they can hear any kind of case; within the state courts system
two bases for federal SMJ
1) federal question
2) diversity of citizenship
**smj cannot be waived (this is about gov structure)
diversity of citizenship reqs
1) right kind of litigant ( alienage = non us citizen and citizen of US state) &
2) amount in controversy exceeding 75K
who are the right kind of litigants
completely diverse litigants; no SMJ if any P is citizen of same states as any D (determined when case is filed)
No Fed SMJ? No Fed Q?
state court
a perm resident is not a citizen of a state for _____ purposes
diversity
if tht perm resident is domiciled in the same state as an adverse party
JX is withdrawn
citizenship of a human
domicile; but one domicile only
how to change domicile
1) phys presence in new place &
2) subj intent to make new place domicile
what is the citizenship of a corporation
1) any state or country where incorporated and
2) the one state or country where PBB is
PBB (nerve center)
where the coporations managers direct, coordinate, and control the business
an unincorporated association takes on the citizenship of
all members
a representative of decedent, minor, or incompetent takes on the citizenship of
person represented
amount in controversy; whats not included
prejudgment interest not included (interest as part of claim included)
good faith allegation by P usually controls UNLESS
to a legal certainty $75k+ not possible
aggregation
adding two or more claims to meet the amount req
a single P may aggregate all claims against a single D; multiple P’s ____
cant do this
look to _____ of claim for joint claim
total value
amount in controversy is determined by looking at value of relief to (injunction cost/worth)
plaintiff or defendant
fed cts decline actions for (4)
1) divorce 2)alimony 3)child custody 4)probate
genuine change of citizenship before action commenced creates diversity even if ___
that was the motive
fed Q
1) claim arises from fed law
2) determined by well-pleaded complaint
determining well pleaded complaint?
ask: is the plaintiff enforcing a federal right
removal
procedure allowing defendant to move case from state court to federal court
remand
send back to state court
standard for removal
case filed in state ct could have been brought in fed ct- diversity or federal question reqs met
how is a case removed?
def files a notice of removal in fed ct
timing of removal
30 days after service of paper showing case is removable (usually this is service of process- which includes a copy of the complaint)
who joins in removal?
all D’s served w process must join
Earlier served D may join later served D’s removal even if
30 day period expired
What cases can be removed
federal question, diversity of citizenship (SMJ)
limits on removal based on diversity (dont remove if…)
1) any D is citizen of forum state
2) one year limit
more limits on removal (timing)
1) 30 days to remove from the time it becomes removable
2) no removal more than 1 year after case filed (usually)
1 year rule exception - one year restriction does not apply if
P originally joined D to prevent removal (tough to show)
removal venue; case must be removed to
federal court embracing the state court **doesnt matter if not proper venue under venue statutes
remand- P must move to remand within __ days if defect other than lack of SMJ (fed Q or diversity)
30 days
30 day limit _____ apply if fed court has SMJ
does not apply;
if removal was improper; bc there was no SMJ then
theres no time limit on ordering remand
for cases based solely on diversity jx supplemental jx is ______ for claims by the P against persons made parties under the impleader rules when use of supplemental jx would be contrary to reqs for diversity
not available
supplmental jx
gets CLAIMS into a federal case (smj; diversity or fed Q)
step 1 for supplemental jx
look for SMJ in additional claim; no need for supplemental if claim SMJ over additional claim
step 2 for supplemental jx
must arise from common nucleus of operative fact as claim in existing fed ct case (SAME TRANSACTION OR OCCURRENCE ALWAYS SATISFIES COMMON NUCLEUS TEST)
Limitation on supplemental jx
P’s cannot invoke supplemental jx in diversity case
step 1 of an Erie question
is there a federal law on point that directly conflicts w state law? (IF SO, U APPLY THE FED LAW SO LONG AS ITS VALID)
If its a FRCP its presumptively valid if
it’s arguably procedural (& they are)
step 2 of an erie question
Fed judge must apply state law if issue is substantive and no applicable fed law
the 5 clearly substantive issues
1) conflict or choice of law rules
2) elements of a claim or defense
3) statute of limitation
4) tolling of statute of limitations
5) standard of granting a new trial bc the jury’s award was excessive or inadequate
step 3 of erie
determine whether issue is substantive; 1) outcome determinative 2)balance interest factors- does fed or state sys have a strong interest in having its rule applied
3)avoid forum shopping- if fed ct ignores state law on this issue will it cause parties to flock to fed ct
two possible venues
1) any district where all D’s reside
or
2) where substantial part of claim arose or substantial part of property is located
residental nuance- venue is proper in any district where D resides if
all D’s reside within state (D’s have to reside in same state for residential venue)
transactional venue
substantial part of claim arise in the district (substantial part does not equal all- more than 1 district can satisfy req)
for residental venue a business resides in
the district where it is subject to PJ
transfer from a proper venue
convenience of the parties and witnesses in the interests of justice
transfer and effect on choice of law
tranferee court usually must apply choice of law rules of transferor court
forum selection clause
1) ord enforced if not unreasonable 2) unless public interest factors say otherwise (unlikely) 3) transferee court applies own choice of law rules
if venue improper ct will
1) transfer if in interest of justice or 2) dismiss
forum non conveniens
center of gravity is elsewhere in another judicial system // stay or dismissal (transfer not possible) (p will sue in tht other ct)
pleading contents
1) grounds for SMJ (diversity, alienage, fed Q)
2) short and plain statement showing P is entitled to relief
3) demand for relief
P must plead sufficient facts to support
a plausible claim
matters req more detail or specificity (3)
1) fraud 2) mistake 3)special damages