Civil Procedure Flashcards
Types of personal jurisdiction
- in personam = forum has pj over D
- in rem = forum has power to adjudicate rights of all persons to a particular item of property; D not personally bound
- quasi in rem = 2 types
- type1 = court adjudicates rights of parties in property based on property being in forum; close connection between case and property provides minimum contacts
- type2 = court attaches property to bring defendant into forum on unrelated claim; defendant must have minimum contacts with forum
statutory limitations on personal jurisdiction
Federal court must analyze personal jurisdiction as if it were a court of the state in which it is located
- state law must authorize jurisdiction
- most, if not all, states authorize jurisdiction over a defendant who:
- is present in forum state and personally served with process therein
- is domiciled in forum state
- conducts systematic and continuous business in the state such that the defendant is essentially at home
- consents
- commits an act covered by the long arm statute
Constitutional limitations on personal jurisdiction
- traditional rule = physical power
- modern due process standard = contact and fairness
- defendant must have such minimum contacts with the forum such that the exercise of personal jurisdiction over him is fair and reasonable (consider whether defendant purposefully availed himself of the benefits and protections of state law and whether he could have anticipated being brought into state court)
- notice also required
complete diversity
- every D must be of a diverse state from each P
2. complete diversity when action commenced. interpleader exception.
questions of citizenship for complete diversity
- individuals = domicile
- corporations = every state/country where incorporated and where principal place of business (where corp’s high level officers direct and control its activities)
- unincorporated associations and limited liability companies = citizenship of each of its members
- legal representative = domicile of the represented person
- class action = domiciles of the named members
- nonresident US citizens = not a citizen of any state and not an alien
supplemental jurisdiction
- must be one claim with original jurisdiction
- supp claim must arise from a common nucleus of operative fact as the original jurisdiction claim such that the claims should be tried together
subsequent addition of parties and claims
- intervention of right = no supplemental jurisdiction
- substitution of parties = citizenship of original party controls
- impleader = supplemental jurisdiction as to claim of defendant v. third party defendant; claim of plaintiff v. third party defendant must have have original jurisdiction in diversity
- cross claim = supplemental jurisdiction
diversity jurisdiction
- complete diversity
- amount exceeds $75,000
- erie doctrine
Aggregation
- one plaintiff may aggregate claims against a single defendant
- one plaintiff may not aggregate separate claims against several defendants
- one plaintiff may sue several defendants on a joint liability claim if it exceeds 75,000
- several plaintiffs may aggregate claims against one defendant if seeking to enforce single title or right
counterclaims
- compulsory counterclaim may invoke supplemental jurisdiction
- permissive counterclaim needs original jurisdiction
- citizenship generally not an issue - if diversity exist between plaintiff v. defendant, it exists between defendant v. plaintiff
Federal Question Jurisdiction
- federal question must appear in complaint
- implied federal right of action possible
- supplemental jurisdiction
- pendent claims = federal court has discretion to hear state law claim if it arises from a common nucleus of operative fact as the federal claim such that the claims should be tried together
- pendent parties = must be common nucleus of operative fact
- specific statutory grants of exclusive federal jurisdiction
venue
- venue is proper in federal district where any defendant resides, where a substantial part of events of omissions occurred, or where a substantial part of the property is situated
- fallback provision = if no district satisfies above, venue proper where any defendant is subject to court personal jurisdiction
- unlike subject matter jurisdiction, venue can be waived
Residence for venue purposes
- individuals = domicile
- business entities = where subject to court’s personal jurisdiction
- non residents = any judicial district
Transfer
- original venue proper = transfer for convenience to venue where case might have been brought or to venue to which parties consent
- original venue improper = transfer to venue where case could have been brought to correct error - dismissal if transfer not available or if some extraordinary circumstance exists
Law applicable on transfer
- original venue proper = a transfer solely on convenience grounds carries the law of the transferor court (including choice of la) to the transferee court unless the transfer was ordered to enforce forum selection clause
- original venue improper = law of transferee court applies
procedure for removal
- time = 30 days
- generally starts to run after formal service of complaint
- if later pleading, mtn is filed that shows case is now removable, period begins to run on service of that pleading, mtn, etc.
- remand to state court if no federal subject matter jurisdiction
service of process
- personal service, abode service, service on agent, also state rules and waiver of service (by mail)
- parties served outside of state or in foreign country
- immunity from process for parties, witnesses, attorneys in another action, or fraud or deceit
interlocutory injunctions (maintain status quo until trial)
- preliminary injunctions - require notice
- substantive requirements = irreparable harm, harm to party seeking injunction outweighs harm to party to be bound, likelihood of success on the merits, public interest factors
- temporary restraining orders = necessary to prevent irreparable harm
Pleadings
- complaint = notice of plaintiff’s claim
- pre answer mtns
- answer
- special pleading for fraud, mistake, special damages etc.
- reply by plaintiff - not generally required
- amendment of pleading and supplemental pleadings
- rule 11
pre answer mtns
- mtn to dismiss for
- lack of subject matter jurisdiction
- lack of personal jurisdiction
- improper venue
- insufficient process or service of process
- failure to state a claim
- failure to join a party
- mtn for more definite statement
- mtn to strike
Answer -specific or general denials by defendant
- compulsory counterclaims - arises out of same transaction or occurrence; must be pleaded
- permissive counterclaims - any other counterclaim
- inconsistent claims or defenses allowed
amendment of pleading and supplemental pleadings
- relates back to filing date of original complaint if it concerns the same conduct, transaction or occurrence.
- if party is charged, relates back if, within period for service of process, new party
- received notice of the action such that party will not be prejudiced
- knew of should have known that, but for the plaintiff’s mistake concerning identity, new party would have been made a party originally
rule 11
- attorney certifies proper purpose upon presenting paper to court
- sanctions - judge has discretion limited by deterrence factor
compulsory joinder
- court cannot accord complete relief without absentee
- absentee has interest that will be impaired by lawsuit
- parties are at substantial risk for multiple or inconsistent judgments without absentee
- if above are true and absentee;s presence will not destroy subject matter jurisdiction or venue, and the court can obtain personal jurisdiction over absentee, he must be joined
- if absentee cant be joined court must consider to proceed without absentee looking at:
- prejudice to absentee and parties
- whether judgment can be shaped to avoid prejudice
- adequacy of judgment without absentee
- whether another forum can hear entire case