Civ Pro Flashcards
Rules Enabling Act Section 2071 a
Supreme Court and other courts can make their own rules as long as they align with congress.
This is relates to the to the pleadings.
Rules enabling Act Section 2071 b
Non Supreme Courts can make rules too after public notice
Rules enabling Act Section 2071 e
Non Supreme Courts can make rule immediately if needed but afterwards they must allow public comment
Rules Enabling Act Section 2072 a
Supreme Court makes rules for all federal district courts
Rule 3
A civil action begins with the filing of a complaint. It gives method for relief, lets courts do something for relief, and notifies defendant to respond
Rule 7(a) Types of Pleadings
List of which pleadings are allowed. Complaint, answer, cross claim etc.
This is relates to the to the pleadings.
Rule 7(b) Motion must be…
Motions must be made in writing or on the record
This is relates to the to the pleadings.
Rule 8(a)(2)
A complaint must have a short and plain statement of the claim showing the plaintiff is entitled to relief
Rule 8(e) Pleadings Construed
Pleadings must be construed and interpreted as to do justice
Rule 8(b)(1) Basic Answers Rule
State in short and plain terms the answers to allegations against it and admit or deny allegations from opposing party
Rule 8(b)(3) General Denial
Party may administer a general denial but if there party won’t deny all claims, they must deny specifically
Rule 8(b)(4) Part Denial
Good faith to deny only part of allegations must admit part that is true and deny rest
Rule 8(b)(5) Lack of Knowledge
A party with lack of knowledge can say so and it is not an admission of guilt
Rule 8(b)(6) Required Allegation
If allegation requires a response, and none is given, it is admitted as true.
Rule 12(b)(6)
Failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
Tied with Rule8a2.
Rule 9(b)
Heightened pleading. One must state with particularity allegations of fraud and mistake. Knowledge, intent, malice can be proven under 8(a)(2).
Dioguardi Case
Pleadings do not require facts, just short plain statement
Conley Case
Complaint should not be dismissed unless it appears beyond doubt plaintiff can bring NO SET OF FACTS that would entitle them to relief.
Twombley
More than possibility or conceivability is required. Is the claim “plausible”
Twombley 2 Step Analysis
- Do not accept legal allegations as true
2. Are remaining allegations plausible?
Old 26(b)(1)
Parties may obtain discovery regarding any non privileged material relevant to the defense
New 26(b)(1)
Parties may obtain discovery for non privileged material relevant to parties claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case.
Long list see outline for paragraph.
One can discover non-admissible material
Rule 26(f)(1)/(2) Discovery Conference
Parties must confer before discovery to discuss the case, issues with discovery, and have a discovery plan to submit to judge. Discovery plan will be submitted within 14 days of conferring.
Rule 26(f)(3) Discovery Plan
The game plan saying when discovery will be done, issues about privilege, and other issues in sharing information
Rule 16(b)(3) Scheduling Order
Roadmap for how litigation will proceed. Time limits on joining parties, amending pleadings, completed discovery, and filing motions
Rule 26(a)(1) Initial Disclosures
Without waiting for a request a party must provide information (names, address, phone numbers) of people likely to have discoverable information
Rule 30 Depositions
A dependent testifies orally under oath. Can be party or non party. The goal is to avoid surprises in court.
Rule 30(b)(6) Deposition of organization
Organization designates someone with information to be deposed on a matter.
Rule 33 Interrogatories
Written questions answered under oath. Objections must be stated with specificity and can only be sent to parties not non-parties
Rule 34 Request to produce
Request access to document, electronic material, tangible things, and access to land
Rule 26(b)(2)(C) General limitations on discovery
Court can limit discovery if
- Unreasonable cumulative or duplicative or can be acquired in a more convenient way and
- If party had ample time to ask for it already.
Rule 26(b)(2)(B) Electric Discovery Burden
A party doesn’t have to provide discovery of electronically stored information that is not reasonably available due to burden or cost.
Party may still get discovery if there is good cause subject to Rule 26(b)(2)(C)
Rule 26(c) Protective orders
Allows parties to protect their info from being publicly known. See outline for full list of actions.
Rule 37 Motion to compel discovery
Threat of sanctions if rules of discovery are not carried out or party responds incompletely
Rule 26(g) Last Thing of Discovery
Required signing of disclosure, requests, responses, and objections, certifies that discovery is complete.
Rule 26(b)(3) Work Product Doctrine (3 Prong)
- You ordinarily cannot use discovery for documents that other party is preparing for trial.
- If info cannot be recovered any other way and there is substantial need, party can request documents under 26(b)(1).
- Courts must protect against disclosure of mental impressions, conclusions, opinions, or other legal theories of other party’s attorney.
Purpose of Work Product Doctrine
To extend attorney client privilege to prompt orderly prosecution and defense
Rule 26(b)(5) privilege log 3 prong
- If a party claims privilege for not recording something, they have to keep a record of that
- If a party receives a privileged item, the sending party can request it be destroyed and the receiving party must do so.
- Receiving party may ask judge to determine if they can use that material
Hickman Case
Lawyer took notes from interviews of witnesses. They are work product with mental impressions
Upjohn Case
Attorney client privilege protects communications that help lawyer give advice. This extends to lower employees in corporation, not just control group.
Rule 56(a) main summary judgment rule
The court shall grant summary judgment if movant shows there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law
Purpose of summary judgment
- Efficiency avoiding useless trials
2. lessening costs
Rule 56(a) and (b) Specific Sum judge
Movant must identify each claim or defense on which party seeks summary judgment or part of each claim and defense which they seek summary judgment
Rule 56(c) Disputed Claims
When a party asserts a fact is not genuinely disputed or is disputed, this is the rule dictating what must be shown to support that. Long list see outline.
Rule 56(d) Aids Non-moving party Sum judge
If nonmoving party shows that for specified reason it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition to motion, courts have ways to aid non-movant
Rule 56(e) Party fails to dispute facts
If party fails to support or address whether there is a genuine dispute of material fact as required under 56(c), court may rule however it wants
Rule 56(f) Judgment independent of motion
After notice and reasonable time to respond, court may grant summary judgment or rule for movant without being prompted.
Pre-Trilogy summary judgment
A litigant has a right to trial when there are slightest doubt to facts. Summary judgment was seen as exception not rule
Lundeen v Cordner
Party may not withstand motion for summary judgment on vague superstition that something might turn up
Cross v United States
There should not be summary judgment when there is dispute of fact
Trilogy Cases
Matsuhita v Zenith/Anderson v Liberty Lobby/Celotex v Catrett
Effect of Trilogy
“a reasonable jury could not return a verdict for the non-moving party
Celotex v Catrett
Defendant/moving party is not required to provide affirmative evidence to support its motion
Scott v Harris modern summary judgment
Irony that standard is no reasonable jury could find for non movant and the Supreme Court cannot agree on facts of this case
Kahan Study
Differences between group viewing videotape. Speaks to what a reasonable jury is and what they would find.
Rule 50(a)(1) Motion for JMOL
Once plaintiff has been fully heard, defendant can ask judge to rule if court think reasonable jury would not have legal sufficient basis to rule for non movant.
Rule 50(a)(2) and (b) JMOL Timing
JMOL motion can be made at any time before case is submitted to jury.
IMPORTANT: If you don’t file before trial, you can’t file after jury ruling
Rule 59(a)(1)(A) New Trial
After a jury trial, a judge can order a new trial for any reason that a new trial has been granted before in federal court
Happens after trial
Rule 50(c) JMOL Rule on All Cases
When court grants a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law, it must also rule on any motion for a new trial in case judgment is reversed or vacated
Rule 50(d) JMOL New Trial Timing
A party against whom JMOL is rendered has 28 days to file any motion for new trial
Rule 50(e) JMOL Apply New Trial
If a trial court denies JMOL, prevailing party can assert grounds for new trial in event appellate court says JMOL should have been granted
Galloway v United States
Supreme Court case saying JMOL does not violate the 7th amendment
Iqbal
Confirms Twombley applies to all cases
The court must draw on its judicial experience and common sense
Rule 8(c)(1) Raises…
Raises affirmative defenses
Rule 12(c) Judgment on…
Judgment on the pleadings. Same as 12(b)(6) but it comes after complaint and answers were filed
Rule 12(e) Motion for a…
Motion for a more definite statement. Helps party respond better
Rule 12(f) Motion to…
Motion to strike, usually filed before answer and is generally not a favored motion