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Paralegal Course > Civil Litigation > Flashcards

Civil Litigation Flashcards

1
Q

Pleadings

A

the paperwork that is filed with the court to initiate or respond to a lawsuit is referred as the pleadings.

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2
Q

The two major pleadings are

A
  1. the complaint or petition

2. The answer

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3
Q

In federal court it’s(pleadings) a _____________.

A

complaint

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4
Q

In Texas state court, it’s (pleadings)a __________________.

A

petition.

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5
Q 
The complaint or petition contains 
1.
2.
3.
4.
A
  1. the names of the parties to the lawsuit;
  2. the facts of the case;
  3. the law that was violated; and
  4. the prayer for relief
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6
Q

Once a complaint/petition has been filed, the court issues a _____________________.

A

summons.

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7
Q

A summons is ______________________________________________________________________.

A

a court order directing the plaintiff to appear in court and answer the complaint or petition.

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8
Q

A ___________________ is a court order directing the defendant to appear in a court and answer the complaint or petition.

A

summons

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9
Q

Who may serve the complaint/petition on the defendant?

A

a sheriff, govt official, or a private process server

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10
Q

What is an intervention?

A

if other persons have an interest in a lawsuit, they may step in and become parties to the lawsuit.

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11
Q

If other persons have an interest in a lawsuit, and they step in and become parties to the lawsuit, it is called an ________________.

A

intervention

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12
Q

What is Consolidation?

A

If several plaintiffs have filed separate lawsuits stemming from the same fact situation against the same defendant, the court can initiate a consolidation of the cases into one case if it would not cause undue prejudice to the parties?

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13
Q

What’s a good example of consolidation?

A

airplane crashes

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14
Q

If several plaintiffs have filed separate lawsuits stemming from the same fact situation against the same defendant, the court can initiate a _____________________ of the cases into one court case if it would not cause undue prejudice to the parties.

A

consolidation

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15
Q

What is “statute of limitations”

A

plaintiff must bring suit within a certain period of time after the action that gives rise to the complaint, or lose the right to use the courts to enforce the civil right and remedy.

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16
Q

the period of time that the plaintiff must bring suit after the action that gives rise to the complaint, or lose the right to use the courts to enforce the civil right and remedy is called the

A

statute of limitations

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17
Q

If a judge decides that the claim “has no basis in law or fact” the loser may be ordered to pay the defendants costs or if a plaintiff rejects a settlement offer, and later wins an award that is less than 80% of the rejected offer, the defendants can recover litigation costs out of the jury award, is referred to as______________.

A

“loser pay”

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18
Q

When you are first assigned a new case what are the first 4 things to do:

A
  1. Create a Cast of Characters;
  2. Draft a Chronology;
  3. Make an Issue List; and
  4. Make a Question List.
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19
Q

What is a “Cast of Characters”

A

List of the individuals and organizations you know are involved in the dispute.

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20
Q

What else should be in a cast of characters besides the list of individuals and organizations involved in the dispute?

A

catalog of key documents and other important pieces of physical evidence as well as capturing each player’s name and a description of the role the person, entity, or document plays in the case.

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21
Q

What is a Chronology?

A

A timeline.

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22
Q

What does the chronology list?

A

the facts and the dates and include significant details and the sources for each fact. Include a “key fact” column to check off so that you begin to separate key facts from other facts.

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23
Q

What is an Issue List?

A

List of each case issue, including both legal claims and critical factual disputes. The description could include a brief summary of each party’s position on the issue.

If it’s a legal issue, include the potential language of the judge’s instruction.

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24
Q

What is a Question List?

A

List of questions that arise when doing analysis of case.

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25
Q

What is Discovery?

A
  1. Depositions
  2. Interrogatories
  3. Request for Production
  4. Physical or Mental Exam
  5. Request for Admissions
  6. Request for Disclosure
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26
Q

Depositions?

A

oral testimony given by a party or witness prior to trial, under oath, with a record.

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27
Q

oral testimony given by a party or witness prior to trial, under oath, with a record

A

deposition

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28
Q

Interrogatories

A

written questions submitted by one party to another party

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29
Q

written questions submitted by one party to another party

A

interrogatories

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30
Q

Request for Production

A

request by one party to another party to produce all documents relevant to the case

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31
Q

request by one party to another party to produce all documents relevant to the case

A

request for production

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32
Q

Ex Parte

A

“from one party”

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33
Q

Ex Parte as a legal term ______________________________________________________________________.

A

refers to a situation in which one party has communication with the judge without the participation of the opposing party.

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34
Q

“from one party”

A

ex parte

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35
Q

situation in which one party has communication with the judge without the participation of the opposing party

A

ex parte

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36
Q

Pro Se

A

A pro se litigant is a person who represents him/herself.

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37
Q

A _____________ litigant is a person who represents him/herself.

A

pro se

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38
Q

2 Pretrial Motions

A
  1. Motion to Dismiss

2. Motion for Summary Judgment

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39
Q

Motion to Dimiss

A

even if the facts in the plaintiff’s petition are true, there is no reason to continue the lawsuit

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40
Q

Motion for Summary Judgment

A

there are no factual disputes and only matters of law are disputed. The judge can apply the law to the facts and dispose of all or part of the case. If there is a factual dispute, the motion must be denied.

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41
Q

Pretrial motion that says even if the facts in the plaintiff’s petition are true, there is no reason to continue the lawsuit

A

Motion to Dismiss

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42
Q

Pretrial Motion that says there are no factual disputes and only matters of law are disputed. The judge can apply the law to the facts and dispose of all or part of the case. If there is a factual dispute, the motion must be denied.

A

Motion for Summary Judgment

43
Q

Pretrial motions “motion to dismiss” and “motion for summary judgment” are both _______________________.

A

dispositive motions

44
Q

The attorneys may be directed to appear before the court for a ____________________, or settlement conference.

A

pretrial hearing

45
Q

One purpose of a pretrial hearing is to ____________________.

A

facilitate settlement.

46
Q

Pretrial hearings are usually heard ___________________.

A

in chambers.

47
Q

If settlement isn’t possible in a pretrial hearing, then the hearing is used to _________________________________________________________.

A

identify major issues and other relevant facts.

48
Q

At a pretrial hearing, cases may be referred to ______________________________.

A

ADR alternative dispute resolution.

49
Q

Phases of Trial

A
  1. Jury Selection
  2. Opening Statements
  3. Plaintiff’s case in chief
  4. Defendant’s case in chief
  5. Rebuttal and rejoinder
  6. Closing Arguments
  7. Jury instructions and deliberation
  8. Entry of judgment
50
Q

Voir dire

A

“to speak the truth”

51
Q

“to speak the truth”

A

voir dire

52
Q

How does jury selection work?

A
  • pool completes questionnaire,
  • voir dire,
  • jurors can be stricken for cause if the court believes that the potential juror is too biased to render a fair verdict,
  • preemptory challenges are used to exclude a juror without giving a reason
  • once the right number is chosen, they are impaneled and sworn
53
Q

Jurors can be _________________________ if the court believes that the potential juror is too biased to render a fair verdict.

A

stricken for cause

54
Q

_______________________ are used to exclude a juror without giving cause.

A

Preemptory challenges

55
Q

Once the right number is chosen during jury selection, the jurors are ___________________________.

A

impaneled and sworn

56
Q

During ________________________ attorneys summarize that main factual and legal issues and why their client’s position is valid.

A

opening statements

57
Q

What do the best opening statements do?

A

tell a story

58
Q

Some studies show that _____________of jurors make up their minds by the end of the opening statements.

A

80%

59
Q

On plaintiff’s case, the plaintiff has the _______________________________ to persuade the __________________ of the merits of its case.

A
  • burden of proof

- trier of fact

60
Q

Plaintiff’s attorney calls ________________.

A

witnesses

61
Q

Witnesses are sworn in and answer questions on ____________________.

A

direct examination

62
Q

______________________-can be introduced through witnesses.

A

Documentary evidence

63
Q

When the other side asks plaintiff’s witnesses questions, that’s called ______________________________.

A

cross examination

64
Q

After cross examination there is _____________-and _________________.

A

redirect and recross

65
Q

When the plaintiff rests, the defense presents its _______________.

A

case in chief

66
Q

The defendant must (during defendant’s case) 3 things

A
  1. Rebut the plaintiff’s evidence
  2. Prove any affirmative defenses asserted by the defendant; and
  3. Prove any allegations contained in the defendant’s cross-complaint.
67
Q

What is rebuttal?

A

When the defendant rests, the plaintiff’s attorney can call witnesses and put on evidence to rebut the defendant’s case.

68
Q

When the defendant rests, the plaintiff’s attorney can call witnesses and put on evidence to rebut the defendant’s case. This is called ______________________.

A

rebuttal

69
Q

After rebuttal, the defendant’s attorney can then call additional witnesses and introduce other evidence to counter the rebuttal. This is called______________________.

A

rejoinder

70
Q

What is rejoinder?

A

When the defendant’s attorney calls additional witnesses and introduces other evidence to counter the rebuttal.

71
Q

During, ________________________ each attorney tries to convince the jury to render a verdict for his or her clients by pointing out the strenghts in the clients’ case and the weaknesses in the other side’s case.

A

closing argument

72
Q

During closing argument, ___________________ cannot be presented and ________________are not considered to be evidence.

A

new evidence

closing arguments

73
Q

Jury Charge is also called

A

jury instructions.

74
Q

Jury instructions also called

A

jury charge

75
Q

The judge reads the ______________ or instructs the jury on what law to apply in deciding the case.

A

jury charge

76
Q

The _______________is very important to both sides because the wording of the ______________ and the jury questions can determine the outcome of the case.

A
  • jury charge

- charge

77
Q

When the jury goes into the jury room (not required in TX, but almost always down) to deliberate its findings, this is called _____________________________.

A

jury deliberation

78
Q

After jury deliberation, the jury announces its _______________ (in federal court). In Texas court, the ____________ reads the _______________.

A

verdict
clerk
verdict

79
Q

The jury also assesses ______________.

A

damages

80
Q

The judge ________________ to the successful party, based on the verdict.

A

enters judgment

81
Q

When the judge enters judgment to the successful party, based on the verdict, this is called

A

entry of judgment

82
Q

The ____________________-is the official decision of the court.

A

entry of judgment

83
Q

JNOV stands for

A

judgment non obstante verdicto

84
Q

JNOV (judgment non obstante verdicto) means that ______________________________.

A

.

85
Q

The judge may reduce the amount of damages awarded if it finds the jury was biased, emotional, or inflamed. This is called __________________-.

A

remittiur

86
Q

What is remittiur?

A

When the judge reduces the amount of damages awarded because finds jury was biased, emotional, or inflamed.

87
Q

Either side in a civil case can ____________ once a final judgment is entered.

A

appeal

88
Q

Appeal is to the appropriate _______________________.

A

appellate court.

89
Q

A __________________ must be filed within a prescribed amount of time after judgment is entered.

A

notice of appeal

90
Q

The appealing party is the ______________ or _____________________.

A

appellant or petitioner.

91
Q

The responding party to an appeal is the ______________________ or _________________________.

A

appellee or respondent

92
Q

An ________________, called a supersedeas bond in Texas, may be required.

A

appeal bond

93
Q

An appeal bond, called a _______________________ in Texas, may be required.

A

supersedeas

94
Q

The appellant’s attorney may file an ______________, setting forth legal research and other supportive information.

A

opening brief

95
Q

The appellee can file a _______________.

A

responding brief

96
Q

In an appeal, a request for oral arguments can be made by _________________.

A

either side

97
Q

In an appeal, __________________ take place without the presence of clients or witnesses.

A

oral arguments

98
Q

In an appeal there are no additional fact finding, only ____________________________-.

A

legal arguments

99
Q

What’s the standard for appeal?

A

“We will not reverse a determination for clear error unless it strikes us as wrong with the force of a 5-week-old unrefrigerated, dead fish” Bauer, Chief Justice

100
Q

Who said “We will not reverse a determination for clear error unless it strikes us with the force of a 5-week-old unrefrigerated, dead fish” and what was s/he referring?

A

Bauer, Chief Judge, the standard for appeal

101
Q

What are the actions that can be taken by appellate court?

A
  1. Affirm
  2. Reverse
  3. . Remand
102
Q

Affirm is when _________________________________.

A

the court believes there were no errors in the application of the procedural or substantive law so the prior decision stands.

103
Q

Reverse is when ____________________________________________________________.

A

the court rules that lower court made substantial error and reverses the decision.

104
Q

Remand is when _______________________________________________________________________.

A

the court finds that lower court made and error that it can correct.

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