Civil Procedure Flashcards
What are the 4 ways most state statutes grant personal jurisdiction?
Service of process, domicile, consent, and long-arm
What are the 3 tests for determining the constitutionality of personal jurisdiction?
Minimum contacts, relatedness, and fairness.
What 2 things constitute minimum contacts?
Purposeful availment and Foreseeability
What are the 2 types of personal jurisdiction created through a defendant’s Relatedness to the contacts or claims?
Specific-Claim arises from contacts with state.
General-Defendant is ‘at-home’ in the state.
What are the 3 factors in determining Fairness of personal jurisdiction?
Convenience for Defendant
Plaintiff’s interest
State’s interest
What are the 3 ways a defendant can consent to personal jurisdiction?
Forum selection clause
Waiving any objection
Appointing an agent in the state
What are the 3 exceptions to personal service even if already served?
Fraud
Force
Served while responding to a subpoena
What are the 4 types of Subject Matter Jurisdiction?
Diversity, federal question, supplemental, and removal
What is subject matter jurisdiction?
The court’s authority to hear a certain claim.
What is personal jurisdiction?
The court’s authority over an individual.
What is diversity jurisdiction?
SMJ over citizens of different states or a citizen of 1 state and a citizen of a foreign country.
What is the amount in controversy required for diversity jurisdiction?
More than $75000 excluding interest and costs.
What is ‘complete diversity’?
Every plaintiff must be a citizen of a different state than every defendant.
When is diversity citizenship established?
At the time of filing the complaint.
What 4 kinds of cases with federal courts never hear?
Divorce, alimony, child custody, and probate
Where is the 1 place an individual person can be domiciled?
Where they are present and intend to remain.
Where are corporations domiciled?
Every state where incorporated and the state where the principle place of business is.
Where are unincorporated businesses domiciled?
All states where any partner or member is a citizen.
What is the standard for establishing the amount in controversy for a diversity case?
Good faith allegation
How does aggregating claims work to meet the minimum amount in controversy for diversity cases?
1 plaintiff can aggregate all claims against 1 defendant even if the claims aren’t related. Multiple plaintiffs can aggregate against 1 defendant if their claims are an undivided interest.
What is federal question SMJ?
SMJ over claims that arise under federal law.
Where is FQJ established?
In a well-pleaded complaint.
What is the magic question to determine FQJ?
Is the plaintiff trying to enforce a federal right?
What are the 4 most common kinds of cases that always fall under federal question jurisdiction?
Bankruptcy
Antitrust
Postal Matters
Patent, copyright, trademark
What is supplemental jurisdiction?
Allows a court to have SMJ over an additional claim that would not normally have SMJ by itself.
What is the main requirement for a court to have supplemental jurisdiction over an additional claim?
There must be a ‘common nucleus of operative fact’ between the two claims.
What does ‘common nucleus of operative fact’ mean?
It arises from the same transaction or occurrence.
What are the 3 reasons a court might refuse a proper supplemental claim?
Original SMJ claim is dismissed early.
There’s a novel/complex state issue.
Supp. claim substantially dominates over original claim.
Can plaintiff’s use supplement jurisdiction?
Only if used by a co-plaintiff that doesn’t meet the minimum amount in controversy in a diversity case, and they don’t ruin complete diversity.
When is removal of a state case to federal court proper?
When a case could have originally been filed in federal court as long as the case was not filed more than 1 year ago.
Who can remove a case to federal court?
Only a defendant if all defendants agree.
Where does a removed case get removed to?
To the federal district embracing the state court where the case was originally filed.
Assuming all requirements for removal are met, what are the 2 restrictions?
Cannot remove if already submitted a permissive counterclaim.
Cannot remove if original case was brought in defendant’s own state.
What are the 4 requirements of Notice to remand a case to federal court?
Contain grounds for removal.
Signature.
Copies of case documents.
Sent to all parties and the state court.
What is the purpose of the Erie Doctrine?
To determine whether to apply state or federal law in a case. If the law is substantive, apply state law. If procedural, apply federal law.
What is the first question to ask under an Erie analysis?
Is there a valid federal law that is on point and directly conflicts with state law? If yes, apply federal law.
Regarding Erie, if there is no federal law on point that conflicts with state law, what are the 3 remaining factors to analyze?
Outcome determinative
Balance of interests
Forum shopping avoidance
What 4 areas of law are ALWAYS considered substantive for Erie purposes?
Elements of claims or defenses.
Statutes of limitation and tolling.
Choice of law rules.
New trial standards due to jury award decision.
What is venue?
Determines the proper federal district court to bring a case.
What are the 2 main ways to have venue, and what is the 1 fallback if neither main way works?
Any district a defendant resides if all defendants reside in the same state.
The district of the claim or property.
OR…any district where any defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction.
How is residency determined for Venue purposes for businesses?
They reside in any state where they are subject to personal jurisdiction.
Where can a case’s venue be transferred to?
Any venue which would have been proper in the original filing, or any venue where all parties consent.
How can a court respond to venue transfer if original venue was proper?
It may order transfer based on the interest of justice and convenience of the parties, or it can refuse.
How can a court respond to venue transfer if original venue was improper?
It may transfer to a proper venue or dismiss the case.
How does choice of law work for cases where venue was transferred?
New venue applies choice of law rules from original venue unless original venue was improper.
What happens if a case is filed in a venue against a forum selection clause?
Case must be transferred to proper venue unless there are compelling public factors not to transfer.
What is forum non conveniens?
When there is a more appropriate forum but the case cannot be transferred there…usually a foreign forum.
What are the 2 possible court actions for forum non conveniens?
Dismiss the case for plaintiff to file elsewhere.
Stay the case if there is no adequate alternative.
What 2 things are required with service of process?
The summons
Copy of the complaint