Civ Pro Flashcards
How long does a party have after the initial meeting to provide names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals likely to have discoverable information supporting the party’s claims or defenses?
14 days
Electronic Information must be produced unless?
It is not reasonably accessible due to an undue burden or cost
Work product
Any document or tangible thing created in anticipation of litigation. This is not discoverable.
The exception to Work Product Exception
If the information in the work product is discoverable when the other party can show a substantial need and undue hardship if there is no disclosure. This is usually when things in the work product can no longer be obtained
Does evidence need to be admissible to be discoverable?
NO, any info admissible or not is discoverable. This includes medical opinions after a car accident. Any info relevant to a claim or defense of that party is discoverable. Costs are considered to determine if discoverable.
Expert Testimony and Discovery
The opinion of an expert who is retained in anticipation of litigation but who is not expected to testify at trial is discoverable upon a showing of exceptional circumstances which is impracticable to obtain facts or opinion by other means. Absent that, non-discoverable.
When is the venue waived?
there is no presumption to waiving venue however, venue can’t be waived unless an objection is made timely. The venue also can be conferred by agreement.
What is the venue for a business entity?
A business entity is deemed to reside in any judicial district in which it is subject to personal jurisdiction
What law applies when transfer is based on improper venue?
This is the transfer to the venue where the case could have been brought to correct an error. The law of the new (Transferee) court.
What law applies when the transfer is based on convenience?
This is the transfer for convenience of location. The law of the old (transferor) court.
When must the request to transfer to another proper venue be raised?
There is no time limit, it’s up to the judge dependent on the interests of justice.
What federal district is the proper venue for a case?
The district where any defendant resides if they are all in the same state or the district in which a substantial part of the event happened. If neither of the first two applies, any jurisdiction with personal jurisdiction where the defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction. Venue can be waived.
Domicile
Where someone is physically present and there is intent to make the place a permanent home.
Default by Defednat
The clerk may sign and enter judgment for the amount in P’s affidavit if D is not an infant or incompetent and the claim is for a certain sum of money and D failed to appear.
Ex Parte TRO
granted when the moving party gives specific facts in an affidavit or in a verified complaint to establish immediate irreparable injury ill result to the moving party before the adverse party can be heard
TRO Notice Exception Requirements
- Certify in writing all the efforts made to give notice and reasons why the notice isn’t required
- provide security to pay for costs and damages incurred by the adverse party if wrongfully enjoined or restrained. The US and its officers and agencies don’t need to give security
How to serve a D in federal court?
- Follow the state rules
- Leaving papers at the person’s home with someone of suitable age who lives there
- Serving the person agent
- Waiver of service
- If outside of the country can serve based on agreement or by American terms the foreign country terms, mail sent by American court with required signature, personal service, or by how a foreign official allows
How to request a waiver of service?
Can mail or email, then serve however you like.
When is a federal question case commenced for SOL purposes?
When the complaint is filed
When is a diversity case commenced for SOL purposes?
Follow the state rule (either complaint filed or when D is served)
Motion for a new Trial
Can move later than 28 days after judgment was entered. However, If it is based on newly discovered evidence that by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial, you can move in a reasonable time that doesn’t exceed a year.
Motion for Summary Judgement
Before Trial Begins. Granted if from the pleadings, affidavits, and discovery material, it appears that there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the moving party is entitled to JMOL. The court can’t decide disputed fact issues, if there is a disputed fact the case must go to trial. Evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Summary judgment may be partial as well as complete.
Motion for Judgement as a Matter of Law (JMOL)
Evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Evidence needed is that such a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient basis to find for the party on that issue. Before submission of the case to the jury. The moving party must specify in its motion the judgment sought and the law and facts to which the party is entitled to its judgment. Also, the nonmoving party must have been heard on this issue.
Renewed Motion for Judgement as A Matter of Law (JNOV)
28 days after entry of judgment AND must have moved for JMOL during the case
Implead
A d can implead a nonparty when the nonparty is or may be liable to the party for any part of the judgment P can recover. There is supplemental jurisdiction over claims from D to third-party defendants. Claims from P to 3rd party D must have original jurisdiction.
Preliminary Injunctions
Are appealable and require notice. Need to show irreparable harm if the injunction isn’t issued, likely to win on the merits of the underlying case, the balance of hardship factors applicant, and the injunction is in favor of public interest.
How to receive a jury trial
File a written demand and service it to all parties within 14 days after the service of the last pleasing directed to the jury triable issues. These are issues legal issues, not equity issues.
What happens when equitable and legal claims are joined in one suit?
Legal issues are tried first with a jury, then equitable issues second with a judge. The jury’s finding will bind the equitable claim. The jury is only for legal issues.
Interlocutory Appeals Act
The Interlocutory Appeals Act also may permit a review of an interlocutory order, but it is discretionary and may be available only when (i) the trial judge certifies that the interlocutory order involves a controlling question of law, as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion, and immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation; and (ii) the court of appeals then agrees to allow the appeal. A party obtaining such a certificate from the trial judge must, within 10 days, apply to the court of appeals, where two out of three judges must agree to hear the appeal.
Interlocutory Order that can be immediately appeled
Injuctions
Appoint a receiver or refuse to wind up or take steps to accomplish purposes of receivership
decrees in admiralty cases that find liability but leave damages to be assessed later
A patent infringement order when only accounting is wanted
an order whereby possession of the property is changed or affected
When and where must a notice of appeal be filed?
At the district court 30 days from the entry of judgment
When can you appeal the motion for summary judgment?
When it is a final appealable order, this means that all claims in the action are determined. An appeal can be filed on some of the issues only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason to delay entry of judgment.
How to reserve the right to appeal an error in instruction or failure to instruct?
A party must object on the record before instructions are given. If adequately preserved, instructions are reviewed using an abuse of discretion standard. if it’s not preserved by objection, the plain error standard.
Appellate review standard for JMOL?
De novo
Appellate review standard for denial of a motion for a new trial?
Abuse of discretion
When can a party be relieved from final judgment or order?
When there is a mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect or newly discovered evidence that by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial or fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party or the judgment is void or the judgment has been satisfied, reales or discharged or a prior judgment on which it has been based on was revered/vacated or it is no longer equitable or any other reason for justifying relief. Motion must be made within a reasonable time not to exceed one year.
Where is a proper federal venue in a removed case?
The venue is proper in the federal court of that state where the case was pending, even if that venue would have been important if P originally filed in federal court.
Who has the right of removal?
Defendants.
When can a diversity case be moved to federal court?
It must be removed within 30 days of D’s receipt of a copy of the paper that makes it removable and it can’t be removed more than one year after the action was commenced. Dismissal of nondiverse party allows removal.
Issue Preclusion (Collateral estoppel)
A judgment binds P or D in subsequent actions on different causes of action as to issues that were litigated and essential to the judgment. There must have been a final judgment, the issues must have been litigated and essential to the judgment, and the party to be bound must have been a party to the prior action or in privity to a party. Applies only to issues, not entire cases. Due process requires that issue preclusion may be asserted only against someone who was a party (or in privity with a party) to the previous case (the case in which the issue was actually litigated and determined).
when dealing with the preclusive effect of a judgment, the recognizing court should not give a judgment any greater effect than the rendering state would.
Claim Preclusion (Res Judicata)
All claims relating to the same transaction or occurrence generally are required to be asserted at the first trial. A claim is barred when there was a previous final judgment on the merits judgment is on the merits unless the court states otherwise, it involves the same P’s and D’s, and the claim is from the same transaction as the prior suit.
Merger
When P wins. Shows that claim preclusion is in effect. When a claimant won’t the earlier lawsuit, the claim is said to be merged into the prior judgment
Bar
When D wins. Shows that claim preclusion is in effect. When a defendant won the earlier lawsuit, the claim is said to be barred by the prior judgment.
Voluntary Dismissal
A P may of right dismiss an action one time without prejudice before D serves its answer. A voluntary dismissal is not a final judgment on the merits, and there is no defense of claim preclusion for D. A dismissal by notice is without prejudice unless the plaintiff has previously dismissed any federal or state court action on the same claim, in which case the dismissal by notice is with prejudice. (This is known as the “two dismissal rule.”) Thus, the second dismissal by the plaintiff here operates as an adjudication on the merits. Must be done before D files an answer or MSJ. Leave of court to dismiss is not required if the only pending motion is a motion to dismiss.
EXCEPTION: When can a nonparty use issue preclusion?
When it is fair and equitable to use it offensively.
Cross-Claim
Generally, a party may assert a claim against a co-party if it arises from the same transaction or occurrence. All cross-claims are permissive. There is supplemental jurisdiction over cross-claims.
Federal Question Jurisdiction
A type of Subject Matter jurisdiction where a P, in a well-pleaded complaint, alleges a claim that arises under federal law.
Supplemental Jurisdiction
A court has the discretion to implement jurisdiction over claims that are not typically heard in federal court when the original claim is proper in federal court and the extra claims are part of the same common nucleus of fact that are such that a P would ordinarily be expected to try them in a single proceeding. Can have supplemental jurisdictions over claims by permissively joined plaintiffs not exceeding $75,000 possible in diversity cases.
Diversity of Citizenship Jurisdiction
A type of subject matter jurisdiction where the court has jurisdiction over the case because all P’s are different citizens than all D’s and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Must have diversity when the case is commenced.
Indemnify
Bring in a third party to a case who is also liable.
Domicile of a Corporation
Where it is incorporated and where its principal place of business is located.
Rule 26(f) Conference
Where the parties discuss their discovery plan, considered claims and defenses, the possibility of settlement, and initial disclosures. They must submit a purposes discovery plan to court and address the timing of required discloses, subject, and timing of limitations.
What can be discovered?
Any non privilege matter that is relevant to the claim to defense and is proportional to the needs of the case
When can the court grant motions to amend?
Amendments are freely given when justice so requires. For statute of limitations purposes, proposed claims may be considered to relate back to the original filing date.
How many amendments is a plaintiff entitled to?
One 21 days after service, any other amendments are at the leave of the court by request.
What is required to be produced?
Relevant physical material such as insurance coverage, videos, list of people with discoverable information.
Motion for failure to state a claim for which relief may be gratned
pre answer motion states that there is nothing from which P can get relief from for which is in her complaint
Motion for Judgment on the pleadings
made after pleadings are closed (once D answers)