civil procedure Flashcards
standard for a motion for judgment as a matter of law
*view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party
*the evidence is unable to support a verdict for the non-moving party
when may a party move for judgment as a matter of law?
*end of plaintiff’s case presentation by the defendant
*at the close of evidence by either party
requirements for a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law
*same standard as JMOL
*a motion for JMOL must have been made by the moving party at the close of all evidence
required disclosures in discovery
*initial disclosures: the names and addresses of those with potentially discoverable information, copies or descriptions of relevant documents and things, computation of the damages claimed, and any applicable insurance agreements
*expert disclosures: names, information forming the basis of their opinion, other cases where they have testified, compensation
*pre-trial disclosures: list of witnesses and exhibits
jurisdictional requirements for statutory interpleader
*SMJ: minimum diversity and an AIC of $500 or more
*PJ: nationwide service
*venue: anywhere a claimant is domiciled
*deposit: must post a bond or deposit property with court
types of pleadings
*complaint
*answer
*reply
required contents of a complaint
*short and plain statement establishing SMJ
*short and plain statement establishing entitlement to relief
*demand for relief
required content of an answer
*responses: admissions and denials
*motions not waived
*affirmative defenses
*compulsory counterclaims
*may also include permissive counterclaims or crossclaims
potential motions in lieu of answer
*motion to dismiss
*motion for judgment on the pleadings
*motion for a more definite statement
*motion to strike (a defense or material statement if insufficient, redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous)
where is venue generally proper?
*where any defendant is domiciled (or a corporation is subject to PJ), as long as all defendants reside in the same state
*where a substantial portion of the events giving rise to the suit occurred
*where a substantial part of the property giving rise to the suit is located
*if neither of these apply, where a defendant is subject to PJ
when may venue be transferred?
*if originally proper, for convenience and in the interest of justice (but the first state’s law controls) to anywhere where venue was originally proper or in which all parties consent
*if originally improper, may dismiss or transfer (and the second state’s law controls)
choice of law in diversity cases
*state substantive law and federal procedural law applies
*state law applies if the thing is outcome determinative and a federal rule (FRCP) doesn’t touch on the matter
ways to terminate a case pre-trial
*voluntary dismissal of any claim: without prejudice unless previously dismissed twice without court order based on same claim
*involuntary dismissal with prejudice
*motion for summary judgment
*default judgment
when involuntary dismissal is not with prejudice
dismissal for
*lack of jurisdiction
*improper venue
*failure to join a necessary party
standard for motion for summary judgment
*view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party
*all doubts resolved in the non-moving party’s favor
*no genuine dispute as to a material fact exists
*the evidence is legally insufficient for a reasonable jury to find in the non-moving party’s favor
types of appeals that may be filed before a final judgment
*injunction or other order impacting the possession of property
*orders certifying (or not) class actions
*collateral-order doctrine: an order immediately and conclusively resolves an important issue that is separate from the merits of the claim and cannot be effectively reviewed on appeal from final judgment (e.g., forum non conveniens, denial of 11A immunity)
*district court certification of a final judgment for immediate appeal of one of many claims when there is no just reason for delay (claims must be separate and distinct)
reasons a motion for new trial can be granted
*legal errors
*newly discovered evidence
*prejudicial misconduct
*anytime the judge concludes the verdict (substance and damages) is against the great weight of the evidence
can a judge amend the damages awarded by jury verdict?
*remittitur: can decrease damages deemed seriously excessive (or grant new trial)
*additur: can’t increase damages deemed insufficient
types of joinder
*permissive: same nucleus of operative facts + common question of law or fact
*compulsory: a defendant seeks to compel the plaintiff to join a necessary party (someone’s interests prejudiced if not joined) and joinder is feasible (SMJ preserved and have PJ)
what happens if joinder of a necessary party is not feasible?
*dismissal of the case if the party is indispensable
*proceed with current parties
types of intervention
*as of right: interest in the matter + that interest may as a practical matter be compromised
*permissive: common question of law or fact
types of multi-party litigation
*joinder: other plaintiffs and defendants
*intervention: third-parties
*interpleader: claimants to property
*impleader: third-party defendants
types of multi-claim litigation
*permissive counterclaims
*compulsory counterclaims
*cross-claims
four prerequisites for class action lawsuits
*numerosity: joinder of all impracticable
*commonality: common questions of law or fact
*typicality: named parties’ claims are typical of the class
*adequacy: named parties will protect the class’s interests
what is the scope of discovery?
may seek discovery of anything relevant (as long as not privileged) but discovery must be proportional to the needs of the case
six common devices for discovery
*oral deposition
*written deposition
*interrogatories
*requests for admission
*discovery and inspection of documents and land
*physical and mental examination
requirements for the doctrine of relation back
*same conduct as the original pleading
*the correct parties were on notice
requirements for certification of a pleading
signed by the attorney of record with their contact information
assurances created by certifying a pleading
after a reasonable inquiry, the attorney certifies to the best of their knowledge that
*the factual allegations have or will have evidentiary support by the end of discovery
*the pleading is not for an improper purpose
*the legal contentions are warranted by law or a change in the law
potential issues raised on a motion to dismiss
*lack of SMJ
*lack of PJ
*improper service
*improper venue
*failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted
*failure to join a necessary party
*forum non conveniens
types of pleading amendments
*as of right: once within 21 days of service
*by leave of court: granted freely by court when justice so requires and is therefore generally allowed unless futile (immediately subjected to dismissal or would cause undue prejudice)
elements of claim preclusion
*final judgment on the merits
*the second suit is between the same parties or successors in interests on both sides
*the second suit involves the same claim or cause of action (or a legal theory arising from the same occurrence)
elements of issue preclusion
*same issue of fact in both suits
*the issue was actually and necessarily decided in the first suit, with a valid and binding judgment
*the party to be precluded was a party in the first suit
requirements for removal
*a motion for removal is filed within 30 days of service of the complaint (or amended complaint)
*all defendants consent
*the court had SMJ with the original filing
*for diversity cases, no defendant is a citizen of the state where the case was originally filed
what is the timing for responding to a request to waive?
30 days from when the request was made
incentive for a defendant to waive service
the time to answer extends from 21 days after service to 60 days
ways to acquire general PJ
*physical presence in state (unless for judicial process or by fraud or force)
*consent
*domiciled in state
*corporation “at home” in the state
required elements for service
*pleading
*summons
three exceptions to service/PJ requirements
*Federal Interpleader Act: for statutory interpleader, nationwide service established PJ
*Bulge provision: for impleader or compulsory joinder, service to the new party within 100 miles of the federal courthouse hearing the case establishes PJ
*if P asserts a federal claim and D isn’t subject to PJ in any state, PJ in any state if D has minimum contacts with the U.S.
types of PJ
*in personam
*in rem
*quasi in rem
due process requirement for PJ
*sufficient contacts (purposeful and substantial) to be consistent with notions of fair play and substantial justice
*basically, minimum contacts
ways to establish in personam PJ
*service
*consent
*general: any claim against D
*specific: only claims arising out of the same nucleus of operative facts as the contacts with the forum