Civil Procedure Flashcards
What standard of review does an appellate court use for pure issues of law?
If the issue is a pure question of law, the appeals court typically reviews the issue de novo
What does the de novo standard of review mean?
no deference will be given to the trial court’s ruling, and the appellate court will decide the issue from scratch
What standard do appellate courts use when reviewing the fact finding of a judge in a bench trial?
Clearly erroneous standard
What does a clearly erroneous standard mean?
Federal courts must not set aside findings of fact made from the bench unless those findings were clearly erroneous.
What standard do appellate courts use when reviewing discretionary rulings by the trial court? (like evidence or discovery?)
Abuse of Discretion - highly deferential to judge’s fact finding ability
If facts are tried without a jury or without an advisory jury, what is necessary?
- The court must find its facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately.
- The findings and conclusions may be stated on the record after the close of the evidence or may appear in an opinion or a memorandum of decision filed by the court.
- Findings of fact, whether based on oral or other evidence, must not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, and the reviewing court must give
due regard to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the witnesses’ credibility.
What is a final judgment/order?
A final order is one that disposes of the whole case on its merits, by rendering final judgment not only as to all the parties but as to all causes of action involved.
What is the collateral order doctrine?
It is a narrow exception to the finality requirement for appeals.
Typically, only final orders are reviewable by the appellate court, however, under this doctrine, a claim or issue may be immediately appealable if
it is too important to wait.
There are three requirements.
What are the requirements of the collateral order doctrine?
(i) the lower court must have conclusively determined the disputed question;
(ii) the issue must be separate from and collateral to the merits of the main issue of the case; AND
(iii) the issue must be effectively unreviewable on an appeal from the final judgment.
What are examples of things that do not count as final orders?
- certain involuntary dismissals (lack of jx, improper venue, failure to join indispendable party)
An appellate court would not have jx over these.
If there is a final judgment on one claim, but others in the suit remain, does FRCP allow for an appeal?
The court may direct entry of a final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims or parties only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay
If the court does not expressly determine that there is no just reason for delay, there can be no appeal.
What are writs of mandamus? When are they available?
A way around the final judgment rule. They compel a trial judge to act. They are available only if an appeal will be insufficient to correct a problem and the trial court’s actions constitute a serious abuse of power that must be immediately corrected.
What is the standard for a writ of mandamus?
Involves reviewing the record to determine that:
1. an appeal would be insufficient
2. the trial court’s actions constitute a serious abuse of power
In a proceeding with a federal and state claim in federal court, if court grants a motion to dismiss over the federal claim, is a regular appeal proper?
No, because the state law claim is yet to be decided and there is not yet a final judgment on the merits of the action because the two claims overlap.
A party can ask the court to certify a final judgment as to a resolved claim when it is separate and distinct from the unresolved claims and then appeal that decision. The court would reject such a request if the federal and state claims overlap.
Will an appellate court ever reverse a ruling if it finds harmless error?
No
What is a harmless error?
One that does not affect the substantial rights of the parties?
When will a federal appeals court overturn a jury verdict?
Because of what it percieves as a fact-finding error only if there is a complete abscence of proof on some material issue.
If a party argues that the testimony/evdidence should have been excluded as irrelevant and highly prejudicial, what is the standard of review on appeal?
Abuse of discretion (discretionary issue)
What is the test for clearly erroneous?
An appellate court will conclude that a finding was “clearly erroneous” if it has a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.
What is the FRCP rule for an agent recieving service?
An individual defendant may be served by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to an agent authorized by appt or law to recieve service of process on behalf of the defendant.
Can service be properly served on a third party at a defendant’s workplace? Under FRCP?
NO, unless that person is the defendant’s agent.
When is an action removable?
If it could have originally been filed in federal court?
What is the forum defendant rule?
A suit that is removable solely on the basis of diversity may NOT be removed if any of the parties in interest, properly served and joined, is a citizen of the state in which the action is brought.
So, if you are ONLY in federal court because of diversity JX, and any of the defendants are from the state in which the suit is brought, it cannot be removed to federal court there.
**DOES not apply if there is federal question jx
When is notice of removal timely?
Notice of removal is valid within 30 days of service of the complaint on the defendant.
How does having multiple defendants affect notice of removal?
If multiple defendants are served at different times and a later-served defendant initiates removal, the earlier-served defendants may join in the removal, even if their original 30 day window has closed.
How is diversity determined for class action suits?
Diversity of citizenship is based on whether the named parties are diverse from one another, so the citizenship of the unamed class members is not considered.
If a court has SMJ and PJ, but the venue is improper, can the case possibly be dismissed?
Yes
Where is venue proper?
In any federal district court where:
1. any defendant resides, as long as all the defendants reside in the same state; OR
2. where a substantial portion of the events giving rise to the claim occured OR IF FIRST 2 NOT AVAILABLE
3. any district where the D is subject to court’s PJ
What can a court do if case is filed in improper venue, but there is PJ and SMJ?
Court can either transfer the claim to a proper venue where the state would have been filed or dismiss the claim
If a suit has a federal and state claim (through supplemental jx), and the federal claim is dismissed, does the court need to hear the state claim or can it remand it?
The court can exercise its discretion to decline to hear the remaining claim without an independent basis for jx (note that it has DISCRETION)
If something is a civil action in state court arising under the worker’s compensation law of that state, can it be removed to federal court?
NO - this is an exception to the general rule that diversity cases can be removed to federal court
What are the non-removable actions under federal court?
- certain clams under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
- some actions against railroads
- claims that arise under a state worker’s compensation law where the action was filed
What type of claim arises under Title VII of th Civil Rights Act?
Federal Question - can be brought or removed to federal court
In diversity jx over the claim of one plaintiff, how can the court exercise jx over the claim of another plaintiff?
Supplemental jx over the other plaintiffs claim IF:
1. it is so related to the first plaintiff’s claim that it forms part of the same case or controversy (common nuceus of operative fact) AND
2. if the additional plaintiff is not a citizen of the state of any of the defendants (AKA does not destroy diversity)
What is the doctrine of forum non conveniens?
Allows a federal court with proper jx to decline to hear a civil case out of fairness to the parties if there is a more convenient federal court available (discretionary)
WHo carries the burden with forum non conveniens?
The party asserting why another venue would be more proper has to show why another venue would be more proper
Can a party assert a claim in federal court based solely a federal defense?
NO - does not establish FQJ
Where can a district court transfer a civil action?
Where the action originally could have been brought or where all parties consent
**note: can only transfer if OG venue is proper
What is a forum selection clause?
This is where parties to a contract designate the forum in which any litigation must occur (can ask the court to enforce it)
Is a forum selection clause in a contract enforceable?
Possibly:
1. When forum is proper, but not what was designated under the clause, defendants generally cannot demand a dismissal or transfer to that forum
2. BUT, they can make a motion to give the trial judge discretion to transfer a case for convenience
If a state uses a federal statute as a basis for passing a law, does a violation of that state law create a federal question?
NO
Where is a venue proper for removal?
In the federal district where the original state court action is pending
What happens if a defendant refuses waiver of service?
If it does not show good cause for the refusal, the court must impose on the defendant expenses later occured in making service and costs of any motion to collect those service expenses
Under Erie (courts sitting in diversity jx) what law do federal courts apply on procedural issues?
Federal Law
Is putting something in the stream of commerce enough to be subject to PJ? (like putting tires into a market?)
No, not enough for general personal jx
What does a court consider in deciding whether to dismiss an action for forum non conveniens?
A court must weight the private and public interests in keeping the action or dismissing it
Is forum non coveniens waived if omitted from an earlier pre-trial motion?
No! It’s different than dimissing for improper venue. This assumes venue is proper.
Who has jx over copyright claims?
Federal court
Can a party be served with service while on vacation?
Generally, if the D travels to the forum state and is served while physically present there, the state has proper PJ over that D, even if the D has no other contacts with the state.
Exception: when someone is being sued in professional capacity (like a trustee) on a personal vacation, they MAY be able to argue that there is no PJ over them
Can defense of lack of PJ be asserted in amended answer?
Yes, can be raised in an answer that is amended as a matter of course (within the 21 days after serving original)
Will federal courts exercise jx over domestic relations or probate proceedings?
No!
When must a defendant file a notice of removal in federal court?
Within 30 days after service
What is the removal rule for diversity cases?
A defendant in a diversity case has one year after the action’s commencement to remove to federal court.
In diversity cases, defendants may not remove more than one year after the state action commenced UNLESS the plaintiff somehow acted in bad
faith to prevent the defendant from removing the case
Can a court transfer the lawsuit if original venue is improper?
NO (even IF the parties consent)
What court has jx over trademark infringement?
Federal courts
Who can remove?
Only the defendant
If a D does not respond to a waiver of service, what must the plaintiff do?
Must formally serve a D to effect proper service of process
Can a court exercise pj over someone based on unrelated property that they own in the state without any other contacts?
Nope
Can a senator write legislation that gives federal courts jx to hear state claims based on state x type of law?
No, because federal courts can hear only federal question jx or diversity jx, and a claim arising under this law would have neither.
Is contracting for services in a state enough for pj even if only for one day?
Yes, constitutes purposeful availment of the forum and would be foreseeable to be subject to litigation there.
What must a federal court do when a case is brought with improper venue not in a district where it could have been file originally?
The district shall either dismiss the case or transfer the case to any district in which it could have been brought (if the transfer is in the interest of justice)
What happens if a court cannot exercise PJ over a defendant based on the long-arm statute?
The analysis ends - you don’t even get to the Constitutional step
What does the constitutional analysis for due process require?
- that the defendant have sufficient minimum contacts with the forum so that it is foreseeable that he may be called into court there AND
- that he have adequate notice of the action and an opportunity to be heard
What may be some convenience factors for why a court would grant a transfer?
- where the accident occured
- where the defendant has citizenship
- where the witnesses are
- where there are other pending actions related to the matter
When the federal court’s SMJ is based on diversity, can the plaintiff add a defendant if it would destroy diversity?
NO
What is an embedded federal issue?
- a federal law issue that will be central to determining whether a defense asserted or expected to be asserted by the defendant is valid OR
- a federal law issue whose resolution will help determine the valdity of the plaintiff’s state law claim, even though the direct source of the state law claim is state law
IE (patent question embedded in a malpractice question)
Can an embedded federal issue be the basis for federal question jx:
Possibly:
1. No, if federal issue is just a small hypothetical within a state claim
2. Yes-if the claim is a substantial, disputed question of federal law that would be outcome determinative
When must service of process be made?
within 90 days after the
complaint is filed with the court
What happens if service is not timely made?
- Because the buyer’s attorney did not effect timely service, the only way to survive the seller’s motion to dismiss is for the buyer to demonstrate good cause for failing to do so.
- Good cause” is typically something beyond the party’s control.
- Forgetting to effect service does not constitute good cause.
Is the statute of limitations a matter of state or federal law?
State law governs how and when a statute of limitations runs
Does the dismissal of a federal claim divest the federal court of supplemental jx over the state law claim?
No, if the P presents a colorable claim under federal law, it will be sufficient to support supplemental jx over state law claims that form part of the same case or controversy. The court may, in its discretion, rely on the dismissal to discontinue hearing the state law claim, but it is not required to do so.
Can a default be entered for ignoring an action if the court has no PJ over D?
No, D can get relief from the judgment
Transfer is only permitted from ______ to ______.
Transfer is only permitted from one proper venue to another.
Does the forum defendant rule apply when jx is based on federal question?
No, just diversity
Test for when a federal court declines to exercise supplemental jx
- a supplemental claim raises a novel or complex issue of state law
- the claim substantially predominates over the claim which the district court had original jx OR
- any other exceptional or compelling reason for denying jx exists
When must a party object to jury instructions?
- Parties who wish to appeal an improper jury instruction are required to have preserved the claim pursuant to FRCP 51(c).
- This involves objecting as
soon as the court provides for the opportunity to object, stating on the record the matter being objected to, and the
grounds for the objection. - If no earlier opportunity to object was given, the objection may be made prior to jury deliberation beginning.
Who determines whether something can proceed as a class action? The judge or jury?
The judge