Civil Procedure Flashcards
What is personal jurisdiction?
The court’s power over the parties
2-Step Analysis to Determine Personal Jurisdiction
- Must fall within state statute
- Must satisfy the Constitution
What actions satisfy the constitutional analysis for personal jurisdiction?
The defendant has minimum contacts with the forum so jurisdiction does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
What factors are assessed to determine if constitutionality is satisfied under personal jurisdiction?
- Contact - (1) purposeful availment (voluntary act within the forum state) and (2) foreseeability (foreseeable that defendant could be sued in the state)
- Relatedness - plaintiff’s claim must relate to defendant’s contact with the forum
If there IS relatedness: (Specific PJ)
3. Fairness - (1) burden on the defendant and witnesses, (2) state’s interest, and (3) plaintiff’s interest
If there IS NOT relatedness: (General PJ)
3. At Home or Service of Process - (1) defendant has been served with process in the state or (2) defendant is “at home” in state (humans = domicile; coporations = incorporation or principal place of business)
What is sufficient notice?
Notice must be “reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the action.”
Notice generally consists of:
1. Summons (formal court notice of suit and timing of response)
2. Copy of Complaint
Who can serve process?
- At least 18
- Not a party to the action
When must process be served?
Within 90 days of filing the complaint
How may processed be served to a person?
- Given to the defendant personally
- Given: (a) at the defendant’s usual place of abode, (b) with someone of suitable age and discretion; and (c) who resides there
- Delievered to the defendant’s agent if within scope of agency
- Permitted by the law of the state: (a) where the federal court sits; or (b) where service is made are permitted
How may process be served on a corporation?
- Delievering to an officer, managing agent, or general agent
- Using a method permitted by the state: (a) where the federal court sits; or (b) where service is to be made
May a defendant waive service of process? If so, how?
Yes, if the defendant executes and mails the waiver form to the plaintiff within 30 days
When is waiver of service of process effective?
When the plaintiff files the waiver in court
What is subject matter jurisdiction?
The court’s power over the case
How do state courts get subject matter jurisdiction?
All state courts have subject matter jurisdiction EXCEPT over:
* Patent Infringement
* Bankruptcy
* Federal Securities
* Antitrust Claims
Can personal jurisdiction be waived?
Yes
Can subject matter jurisdiction be waived?
No. If a case does not invoke federal SMJ, the federal court cannot hear the case. If it does, the judgment is void.
What are the two types of subject matter jurisdiction?
- Diversity Jurisdiction
- Federal Question Jurisdiction
What is diversity of citizenship jurisdiction?
- The case is either: (a) between citizens of different U.S. states; OR (b) between a citizen of a U.S. state and a citizen of a foreign country
- The amount in controversy exceeds $75,000
Who are the right kind of litigants in a diversity jurisdiction case?
If all plaintiffs are different citizens of the state as all defendants when the case if filed.
How do you establish a new domicile?
- Physical presence
- Intent to make that place your home for the indefinite future
Which state are unincorporated associations citizens of?
It is a citizen of each state its members are citizens of.
For class actions, what is the citizenship?
The citizenship of the named representative
What is aggregation of claims?
Adding two or more claims to meet the amount in controversy requirement of diversity jurisdiction.
When is aggregation of claims applicable?
Any single plaintiff may aggregate all of her claims against a single defendant, even if the claims are not related to each other.
In diversity jurisdiction, how do you determine the amount in controversy if the request relief is equitable relief?
- Plaintiff’s Viewpoint - If the plaintiff determines that the value is more than $75,000; or
- Defendant’s Viewpoint - If the defendant determines that the value is more than $75,000
Which cases are excluded from diversity jurisdiction?
- Divorce
- Alimony
- Child Custody
- Probate
May a plaintiff voluntarily change citizenship to establish diversity jurisdiction?
Yes, as long as the change is beofre the suit is commenced.
However, if a party attempts to create diversity by a sham transaction, the courts will ignore the transaction and declare that diversity does not exist.
What is federal question jurisdiction?
When the plaintiff’s claim arises under federal law
What is removal?
When a plaintiff sues a defendant is state court but the defendant wishes to litigate in federal court
When is removal proper?
An action originally filed in a state court may be removed by a defendant to federal court when the case could have been filed in federal court.
If the removing case is based SOLELY on diversity of citizenship:
1. The case should not be removed if any defendant is a citizen of the forum state
2. The case should not be removed more than 1 year after the case was filed in state court
How is a case removed?
When the defendant files a “notice of removal” in federal court, stating the grounds of removal, and serves a copy of the notice on adverse parties and the state court.
Note: State or federal court permission is not required. If the plaintiff wishes to challenge removal, they must file an appropriate motion.
When must a defendant remove a case?
The defendant must remove no later than 30 days after service of the first paper that shows the case is removable.
Who must join in removal?
All defendants who have been served with process must join in removal.
Can plaintiffs remove a case?
Never - even if the defendant files a counterclaim
If a case is removed, which venue is appropriate?
The federal district where the state court resides.
When must a plaintiff make a motion to remand to state court?
If the motion to remand is based on a reason other than lack of SMJ, she must remand no later than 30 days after the filing of the notice of removal.
If removal was improper because the federal court lacked SMJ, there is no time limit on ordering remand.
What is supplemental jurisdiction?
Supplemental jurisdiction allows claims to be added to a federal case even though the claims cannot use diversity or federal question SMJ
4-Step Analysis to Supplemental Jurisdiction
- Is there is a case already in federal court based on diversity or FQ SMJ?
- Does the court have diversity or FQ SMJ over the additional claim?
(If yes, analysis ends and court has SMJ over the additional claim. If no, proceed to next question) - Does the claim arise from a common nucleaus of operative fact?
- If the case is based on diversity (NOT FQ SMJ), the PLAINTIFF cannot invoke supplemental jurisdiction unless there are multiple plaintiffs and the claim by one of them does not meet the amount in controversy requirement.
3-Step Analysis to the Erie Doctrine
- Is there some federal law on point that directly conflicts with the state law? (If so, apply federal law)
- Is the issue substantive based on the following issues?
a. Conflict of law
b. Elements of a claim or defense
c. Statutes of limitation
d. Rules for tolling statutes of limitations
e. Standard for granting a new trial based on jury’s damages
(If so, apply state law) - Is the issue substantive or procedural?
a. Outcome determinative - affects the outcome of the case
b. Balance of interests - federal or state interest has a strong interest in having its rule applied
c. Avoid forum shopping - cause parties to flock to federal court
(If substantive, apply state law. If procedural, apply federal law)
What is venue?
Which court is the proper federal court to bring a case
Where may a plaintiff choose venue?
- Where all defendants reside; or
- Where a substantial part of the claim arose or a substantial part of the property involved in the lawsuit is located
Where does a human reside for venue purposes?
In the federal district where she is domiciled
Where does a corporation reside for venue purposes?
In all districts where it is subject to PJ for the case
When is transfer of venue proper?
- If the original district is proper, the court can order transfer based on convenies of parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice (public AND private factors)
- If the original district is improper, the court may transfer in the interest of justice or dismiss (private factors
If venue is transferred, which law applies?
- If the original district was proper, the transferee court must apply the choice of law rules of the transferor court
- If the original district was improper, the transferee applies its own choice of law rules
- If the parties agree to a forum selection clause, the rules of the FSC will apply unless it is unreasonable based on public factors
What is a complaint?
A commencement of action
What must a complaint contain?
- Statement of grounds of SMJ
- Short and plain statement of claim showing that the plaintiff is entitled to relief (must have sufficient facts to support a plausible claim)
- A demand for relief sought
For cases involving fraud, mistake, or special damages, which level of detail must complaints include?
Particularity or specificity
How must a defendant respond to a complaint?
- Motion; or
- Answer
When must a defendant respond to a complaint?
No later than 21 says after being served with process. If the defendant waived service, the defendant has 60 days from when the plaintiff mailed the waiver form to respond.
What motions may a defendant raise in a response?
- Rule 12(e) - Motion for more definite statement
- Rule 12(f) - Motion to strike
- Rule 12(b) - Motion to dismiss
Is a Rule 12(b) motion is not put in the first reponse (motion or answer), which defenses are waived?
- Lack of PJ
- Improper venue
- Improper process
- Improper service of process
If a Rule 12(b) motion is not put in the first response (motion or answer), which defenses ARE NOT waived?
- Failure to state a claim (availale until trial)
- Failure to join an indispensable party (available until trial)
- Lack of SMJ (available anytime)
If the court denies a motion to dismiss under Rule 12, when must the defendant serve her answer?
No later than 14 days after notice of denial
What must a defendant do in an answer?
- Admit some or all allegations
- Deny some or all allegations
- State that she has insufficient knowledge to admit or deny some or all of the allegations
If a defendant fails to deny an allegation in an answer, what is the result?
The allegation is admitted (except regard the amount of damages)
When does a plaintiff have the right to amend the pleading?
No later than 21 days after the defendant serves her first Rule 12 response
When does the defendant have the right to amend the pleading?
No later than 21 days after serving it
After the right to amend has expired, when may a party amend the pleading?
When the party receives leave of the court or gets written consent by the opposing party.
The court will grant leave “when justice so requires.” The court considers:
1. Length of delay
2. Prejudice to the other party
3. Futility of amendment
If a party fails to object to evidence that does not match the pleading, what is the result?
The party introducing the evidence may move to amend the complaint to conform the evidence
When may a party amend a pleading to join a claim not originally asserted after the statute of limitations has run?
If the amended pleading “relates back” (i.e., concerns the same conduct, transaction, or occurence in the original pleading)
When may a party amend a pleading to change a defendant after the statute of limitations has run?
- The amendment concerns the same conduct, transaction, or occurence as the original
- The defendant had such knowledge of the case such that she will be able to avoid prejudice; and
- The defendant knew or should have known that, but for a mistake, she would have been named originally
When does the Rule 11 signature requirement apply?
All papers except discovery
What is the signature requirement under Rule 11?
The lawyer or pro se party certifies to that to the ebst of her knowledge and belief:
1. The paper is not for an improper purpose
2. The legal contentions are warranted by law or a nonfrivolous argument for a law change; and
3. The factual contentions and denials of factual contentions have evidentiary support or are likely to after further investigation
What are the purpose of sanctions?
To deter a repeat of the conduct