Civil Procedure (Federal) Flashcards
FCP: What are the big questions to resolve about the right court?
- Is there PJ
- Is there SMJ
- Are we in the correct venue?
FCP: How do you conclude the court has personal jurisdiction?
- Must satisfy state statute and constitution. CA statute reaches to the extent of the constitutional requirement.
- Constitution requires that D have such minimum contacts with a jurisdiction to show that he purposefully availed himself of the state, suits were foreseeable, and suit is fair
Federal PJ - What is specific jurisdiction? How about general jurisdiction
S – claim arises from D’s contact with the forum
G – D is at home in the forum. Human is always at home where domiciled. Corp is at home where it is incorporated and where it has its PPB
Federal PJ - How do courts assess fairness?
- burden on D and witnesses
- state’s interest (e.g., if P is a citizen)
- P’s interest
FCP - Does D have a right to notice? How?
Yes, through service of process
FCP - What’s required for service of process?
- Summons
2. Copy of the Complaint
FCP - Who can serve process?
Any non-party who is at least 18
FCP - When must you serve process?
No more than 90 days after filing the complaint
FCP - What are four permissible ways to serve process?
Personal // Substituted // On D’s Agent // Any permissible State method (e.g., CA by mail or publication)
FCP - how serve process on a corporation?
- Officer // managing agent // general agent
2. state law methods
FCP - how serve process in a foreign country?
- Method permitted under int’l agmt
- permitted US methods
- permitted by foreign country’s law
FCP - can you waive formal service of process?
Yes, P can mail the D a notice and request to waive formal service of process.
FCP - what are the requirements for service of litigation documents other than process?
No summons necessary and don’t typically require the same formalities
FCP - state general rule of subject matter jurisdiction
A federal only has the power to hear cases over which it has appropriate constitutional authority. In general, a court must have authority because a case meets the diversity requirements or raises a political question
FCP - how does a case meet requirements for diversity jurisdiction?
- Appropriate litigants: (i) every P must be from a different state from every D or (ii) citizen of US state and citizen of foreign country
- Amount in controversy exceeds $75K. (good faith claims are sufficient)
FCP - where is a natural person a citizen of for purposes of SMJ?
Where you are domiciled, which = (i) present + (ii) intent to stay. Only analyze when case is filed.
FCP - where is a corp domiciled for purposes of SMJ?
- Every state where incorporated
2. State where it has its PPB
FCP - what is requirement for federal question jurisdiction?
Only need to show that P has a “well pleaded complaint” under which it is attempting to enforce a right granted under federal law
FCP - When can D attempt to remove a case?
No later than 30 days after service of process. This period begins anew for each D when he is served.
FCP - Do you need all Ds to remove?
Yes
FCP - Can P remove?
No
FCP - What is removal?
When original case is filed in state court and D wants to “remove” the case to federal court
FCP - What jurisdiction is required to grant a notice of remove?
Any case that meets the requirements for Diversity or FQ jurisdiction
FCP - is there a time limit on filing a notice of removal?
Yes, in a diversity jurisdiction case, the removal cannot occur more than one year after the case was filed in state court
FCP - what federal court will the case be removed to?
Federal district embracing the state court where the case was filed
FCP - what are the three procedural requirements to remove a case?
- File a notice of removal in FEDERAL court stating grounds
- Promptly serve a copy of the notice of removal
- File a copy of the notice of removal in STATE court
FCP - When should federal court remand a case to state court?
When removal was improper
FCP - What are timing requirements for a motion to remand?
- No time limit if there was not SMJ
2. Otherwise, within 30 days after filing of notice of removal
FCP - What should you always analyze if a case is in federal court, and a new related claim raised in the case doesn’t meet the SMJ requirements?
Supplemental jurisdiction. Always bring up!
FCP - What is required for supplemental jurisdiction?
New claim must have a common nucleus of operative fact with the original claim. Always will be if it arises out of the same T/O
FCP - Is there a limit on P with respect to supplemental jurisdiction?
Yes. In a diversity action, P cannot invoke supplemental jurisdiction
FCP - Can court decline to grant supplemental jurisdiction?
Yes, court may decline in its discretion if the federal claims were dismissed early in a proceeding
FCP - What law must a court apply in a case arising under diversity jurisdiction?
Court will apply the Erie Doctrine:
- Fed law on point that conflict with state? Apply Fed
- If not, apply state law if the issue in the case is substantive: (i) element of claim/def, (ii) SOL // tolling SOL (iii) choice/conflict of law
- If no fed law on point, and issue is not one of those substantive issues, court figure out if substantive by balancing (i) would applying state affect outcome, (ii) does state or fed have strong interest? (iii) will parties forum shop to federal court if you ignore federal law?
FCP - What is the appropriate forum?
Any venue where all Ds reside or where a substantial part of the claim arose
FCP - where do Ds reside for purposes of determining venue?
- Human resides where he is domiciled
- Biz resides in all jurisdictions where it is subject to PJ
FCP - When can court transfer a case?
- If original district was PROPER, original court can order transfer based on convenience of the parties and interests of justice
- If original district was IMPROPER, original court can transfer in the interests of justice OR dismiss
FCP - What is forum non conveniens?
Transfer is impossible because appropriate court is in a different judicial system. Court can either stay or dismiss the claim.
FCP - What must be in complaint?
- grounds for SMJ
- statement of claim. (state with particularity if fraud, mistake, or special damages)
- demand for relief sought
FCP - What are two basic responses to a complaint?
Answer // Motions
FCP - What defenses do you waive if you don’t raise in your Answer or first motion practice?
- Lack of PJ
- Improper venue
- Improper process
- Improper service of process
FCP - What are the seven common motions under Rule 12(b)
- Lack of PJ
- Lack of SMJ
- Improper venue
- Improper process
- Improper service of process
- Failure to state a claim
- Failure to join indispensable party
FCP - What are the three possible responses in an Answer with respect to each claim?
- Admit
- Deny
- Lack sufficient info to admit or deny (effect = denial)