Civ Pro Flashcards
What is the minimum contacts test for stream of commerce?
Court has specific jurisdiction over a manufacturer if the manufacturer puts goods into the stream of commerce + purposefully targets the state
Does the court’s general jx over a parent corporation give it jx over the subsidiary?
No, unless the subsidiary was acting as the parent corporation’s agent or alter ego
What are the 3 kinds of mandatory disclosures that parties are required to make?
1) Initial disclosures - Names, contact info, copies of documents that may support claims & defenses, computation of damages & insurance agreements
2) Experts who will testify
3) Pre-Trial Disclosures - List of witnesses & exhibits
How many days do you have to file a notice of appeal in the trial court after the final judgment is entered?
30 days
Or, if party files a posttrial motion within 28 days after entry of final judgment, then notice of appeal need not be filed until 30 days after court enters an order disposing of that motion
Or, 60 days if one of the parties is the U.S., a federal agency, or a federal officer/employee sued in official capacity
How many days do you have to file a posttrial motion for relief of judgment after final judgment is entered?
28 days
What are the elements required for a class action?
Numerosity that joinder of all members is impracticable
Questions of law or fact common to the class
Claims/defenses of the rep parties are typical of claims/defenses of the class AND
Rep parties will fairly & adequately protect the interests of the class
Remittitur
D requests for court to reduce jury award of excess damages. Allowed if P is given choice between reduced damages and new trial on damages.
Additur
P requests court to increase jury award of inadequate damages. Never allowed in federal court.
Who does Bulge Rule apply to?
Impleading 3rd parties and joining necessary parties
What are the two exceptions where even if they meet the requirement of diversity jx they cannot be brought into federal court?
Probate and domestic relations
When is minimal diversity OK?
Statutory interpleader, class actions of 100+ members w/5mil at stake, interstate mass torts where 75+ deaths in a single accident
When can you aggregate monetary damages with one P vs. Multiple Ds?
Only when Ds are jointly liable
When can you aggregate monetary damages with multiple Ps vs. multiple Ds?
Only if Ps suffered a common undivided interest
For supplemental jx, and OG jx is based SOLELY on diversity and the supplemental claims do not meet diversity requirements, what claims MUST qualify independently for jx?
Claims by P against persons added through joinder, intervention, impleader
Claims by persons proposed to be joined as Ps through compulsory joinder
Claims by persons seeking to intervene as Ps by joining through intervention
When is it OK to remove a federal question case?
When P could have chosen to file in federal claim to begin with
When is it OK to remove a diversity case?
Only when action was brought in a state where no D was a citizen and removal occurs within 1 year of when action commenced in state court unless P acted in bad faith
What are some general requirements for removal?
Removal is consented to by all Ds, brought within 30 days of service of pleadings/summons or within 30 days of an amended complaint that adds a diversity or FQ where there wasn’t one before, and removal is to a federal district court embracing the state court in which the case was originally filed
Where is venue proper? 3 options
All Ds reside in forum state, then venue is proper in any district where any D resides
Venue is proper in any district in a state where a substantial part of events/omissions giving rise to the claim occurred or a substantial part of property
If there’s no single proper venue in US, venue is proper in any district in which D is subject to PJ. If D is a non-resident, venue is proper in any judicial district
Where is venue proper when suing a federal officer or employee?
District where any D resides, a substantial portion of events occurred or property located, or P resides if no real property is involved
When is transfer of venue OK?
To a district with proper venue, or any venue if all parties consent.
What is the Klaxon Rule?
Federal courts apply choice of law rules of the state in which the courts sit, except when a diversity suit is transferred from one federal court to another, apply the first state’s choice of law rules
What is the deadline to file an answer after the pre-answer motion is denied?
14 days
What is the deadline to respond to an amended pleading?
14 days
What is the deadline to submit a proposed discovery plan after initial conference and make initial disclosures?
14 days
What is the deadline to demand a jury trial after the last pleading is served?
14 days
What is the deadline to serve a pre-answer motion or answer after service of a complaint/counterclaim/crossclaim?
21 days
What is the deadline to amend pleadings as a matter of course after the pleading was served?
21 days
What is the deadline to reply to an answer?
21 days
When do you need to plead special matters with particularity, more information than Twiqbal?
In alleging fraud or mistake, or if an item of special damages is claimed (punitive, damages for lost business profit)
What are the four motions that must be made at earliest opportunity or else are waived?
Lack of PJ, improper venue, insufficient process, and insufficient service of process
What is the standard under which federal appellate courts will review district court’s discretionary certification of class actions?
Abuse of discretion