Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure Flashcards
MEE Six Components of Federal Civil Procedure
- Jurisdiction and venue;
- Federal law;
- Injunctions and provisional remedies;
- Pretrial procedures;
- Trial procedures;
AND - Verdicts and judgments.
Two Branches of Jurisdiction
- Personal Jurisdiction
2. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Personal Jurisdiction
The ability of a court to exercise power over a particular defendant or item of property.
Two Limitations on Personal Jurisdiction
- Statutory Limitations
2. Constitutional Limitations
Three Types of Personal Jurisdiction
- In Personam Jurisdiction
- In Rem Jurisdiction
- Quasi in Rem Jurisdiction
Five Statutory Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction
- Where the Defendant is present in the forum state and is personally served with process;
- Where the Defendant is domiciled in the forum state;
- Where the Defendant consents to jurisdiction;
AND - Where the Defendant has committed acts bringing him within the forum state’s long arm statutes.
Statutory Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction: Physical Presence at Time of Personal Service
Most states grant their courts in personam jurisdiction over any defendant who can be served with process within the borders of the state, no matter how long he was present.
Exceptions:
- Service by fraud or force invalid
- Immunity of Parties and Witnesses
Statutory Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction: Domicile
If a person has legal capacity, her domicile is the place:
1. she resides (even for a moment),
AND
2. Coupled with the intention to make that place her home.
Statutory Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction: Consent to Jurisdiction
In Personam jurisdiction through consent by defendant:
- expressed
- implied
- inherent
- Voluntary Appearance (special appearance)
Statutory Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction: Long Arm Statutes for Jurisdiction
Most states also grant their courts in Personam jurisdiction over nonresidents who perform or cause to be performed certain acts within the state or who cause results within the state by acts performed out of the state.
Approach to Start Arkansas Long Arm Statute Answer
As revised in 1995, the Arkansas long arm statute provides for personal jurisdiction “to the maximum extent permitted by the due process of law clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
Sentence two is “minimum contacts.”
Sentence three “reasonableness”
Two Components of the Constitutional Aspect
- Contacts with the forum (contact, relatedness, and fairness);
AND - Notice
Constitutional Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction: Sufficient Contacts with the Forum
- Physical presence
- Domicile
- Consent
- Purposeful availment (shipping into state)
- Foreseeability (reasonable)
- Stream of Commerce
- Systematic and Continuous Quantity of Products in State
- Specific (1 item)/General( continuous and systematic shipping widgets forever) jurisdiction
- Unclear on Internet cases.
Constitutional on In Personam Jurisdiction: Two Components of Sufficient Contacts with a Forum
- Purposeful availment
AND - Fairness.
Fairness
- Convenience;
- Forum State’s Interest;
- Plaintiff’s interest in obtaining convenient and effective relief;
- The interstate judicial system’s interest in obtaining the most efficient resolution of controversies;
AND - The shared interest of the states in furthering fundamental substantive social policies.
Constitutional Limitations on In Personam Jurisdiction: Notice
By a reasonable method used to notify the defendant of a pending lawsuit.
Best practical means for multiple or unknown parties.
Does not have to be actual notice.
Second Type of Personal Jurisdiction: In Rem Jurisdiction
Adjudicate rights of all persons with respect to property located in the state.
An in rem judgment does not bind the parties personally, but is binding as to the disposition of the property in the state.
Statutory Limitations on In Rem Jurisdiction
Statutes providing jurisdiction in actions for:
1. condemnation,
2. title registration
3. confiscation of property
4. forfeiture of a vessel,
5. distribution of the assets of an estate,
AND
6. a grant of divorce when only the complaining spouse is present and subject to personal jurisdiction. (status)
Constitutional Limitations on In Rem Jurisdiction
- Nexus (in state, not brought in by fraud or force)
AND - Notice
Third Type of Personal Jurisdiction: Quasi In Rem Jurisdiction
A court without In Personam jurisdiction to determine certain disputes between a plaintiff and defendant regarding property when the property is located in the forum state.
Two types of Quasi In Rem Jurisdiction
- Type 1 - involves disputes between parties over their rights in property within the state.
- Type 2 - involves disputes unrelated to the in-state property and has been severely limited by the Supreme Court.
Statutory Limitations on Quasi In Rem Jurisdiction
Any judgment against the defendant can be satisfied only out of that property.
Constitutional Limitations on Quasi in Rem Jurisdiction
Nexus -
- Type 1 - Presence of property
- Type 2 - Minimum contacts with the forum.
Notice -
- best practical notice.
Procedural Requirements of Quasi In Rem Jurisdiction
Plaintiff must bring the asset before the court by attachement (or garnishment).
Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Limited to that authorized by the Constitution as implemented by federal state and decisional law.
Four Types of Subject Matter Jurisdiction
- Diversity of Citizenship Jurisdiction
- Federal Question Jurisdiction
- Removal Jurisdiction
- Supplemental Jurisdiction
Diversity of Citizenship Jurisdiction Requirements
- Complete diversity (no plaintiff may be a citizen of the same state as any defendant)
AND - Amount in controversy exceeding $75,000.
**Must exist as of the time the suit is instituted.
Interpleader Exception to Complete Diversity
That among the parties there be “two or more adverse claimants, of diverse citizenship.”
All other claimants may be citizens of the same state.
Alienage Jurisdiction
Over “alienage” cases, in which the dispute is between a citizen of a U.S. state and an “alien.”
**Must not be a permanent resident alien domiciled as same as Plaintiff.
Complete Diversity: Determination of Citizenship of an Individual
Domicile:
1. residence in the State
AND
2. intent to remain there.
Complete Diversity: Determination of Citizenship of a Corporation
Either:
1. State incorporated in
OR
2. Principal State of business (Nerve center)
Complete Diversity: Determination of Citizenship of Insurance Company when they are the sole party being sued
- The state or foreign country in which the insurer is incorporated (if it is),
- The state or foreign country in which the insurer has its principal place of business
AND - The state or foreign country of which the insured is a citizen.
Complete Diversity: Determination of Citizenship of Uncorporated Assocations
- May sue or be sued in its own name if local state law so permits;
OR - Is an aggregate of individuals if local state law follows the common law rule
**Each and every one of its members
Complete Diversity: Determination of Citizenship of Business Trusts
Trustee are the real parties in interest and their citizenship determines whether there is diversity.
Complete Diversity: Legitimate Technique to Create or Destroy Diversity
Genuinely change domicile
Complete Diversity: Illegitimate Technique to Create or Destroy Diversity
- No good faith
- Someone assigns a promissory note to someone who satisfies diversity
- Shams
Supplemental Jurisdiction (Ancillary Jurisdiction)
Judicial discretion allows additional related claims to come in that:
Arise from a COMMON NUCLEUS OF OPERATIVE FACT
- Compulsory Counter Claim - Ark sues TX, TX sues X for 12K, same underlying matter
- Cross-Claim - Ark sues 2TX, TX1 sues TX2, same transaction
- Third Party Claim - Interpleader
**USED FOR FEDERAL QUESTION ONLY
Complete Diversity: Exceptions to Diversity
- Domestic Relations
- Probate
NO FEDERAL COURT
Amount in Controversy
What is claimed in the complaint, disregarding potential defenses or counterclaims.
**Not collateral consequences
Amount in Controversy for Separate Claims
- One Plaintiff v. One Defendant
- add all plaintiff’s demands together.
- One Plaintiff v. Three Defendants
- “Is Plaintiff suing for Joint and Several liability for >= 75K.
- Five Plaintiff v. One defendant
- they don’t add together
**If one Plaintiff has claims in excess of 75K, supplemental jurisdiction captures the rest.
Law Applied Under Diversity Jurisdiction
Apply the substantive law of the state (determine what decision the highest court of the state would reach) in which it is sitting, including the state’s conflict of law rules.
However, the federal courts apply federal procedural law.
Multiparty, Multiform Trial Jurisdiction Requirements
- The action
- Minimal Diversity
- One Additional Condition (1 of 3)
Multiparty, Multiform Trial Jurisdiction Requirements: The Action
Civil actions that:
- arise from a singe accident,
- where at least 75 natural persons have died in the accident;
- at a discrete location.
Multiparty, Multiform Trial Jurisdiction Requirements: Minimal Diversity
At least one plaintiff be of diverse citizenship from at least one defendant.
Multiparty, Multiform Trial Jurisdiction Requirements: One Additional Condition
One of three other conditions:
1. A defendant “resides” in a different state from the place where “a substantial part” of the accident took place.
2. Any two defendants “reside” in different states;
OR
3. Substantial parts of the accident took place in different states.
Multiparty, Multiform Trial Jurisdiction Intervention
Anyone “with a claim arising from the accident” is permitted to intervene.
Multiparty, Multiform Trial Jurisdiction Service of Process
Nationwide service of process
Federal Question Jurisdiction
The federal question must appear as post of the Plaintiff’s cause of action as set out in a well-pleaded complaint.
“arising under” federal law
Supplemental (Pendent) Jurisdiction under Federal Question Jurisdiction
Discretion of the federal court if they “derive from the common nucleus of operative fact” AND “are such that a plaintiff would ordinarily be expected to try them all in one judicial proceeding.
**Can refuse to hear State if Federal dismissed.
LOOK FOR SAME TRANSACTION, SIDE WITH JURISDICTION IF FOUND
Exclusive Jurisdiction of Congress
- Bankruptcy Proceedings
- Patent and Copyright Cases
- Many cases where the US is involved
- Cases with Consuls and Vice-Consuls as Defendants
- Antitrust
- Admiralty
- Foreign State
- Postal Matters
- Internal Revenue
- Securities Exchange Act
Venue
Proper geographic district in which to bring the action.
Can be conferred by agreement.
Proper Venue
In:
1. A judicial district where any defendant resides;
- A judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is situated;
OR - If no 1 or 2, a judicial district in which any defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction with respect to such action.
Where can a civil action against the United States or an agency, officer, employer acting in his official capacity be brought?
- Where a defendant resides.
- Where substantial part of the events or omissions
OR - where the Plaintiff resides if no real property is involved in the action.
Venue for Individual
- Where defendant is domicile;
OR - Where substantial part of events or omissions took place.
Venue for Business Entities
Where there is minimum contacts.
If none, most significant contact
Venue for Nonresident of United States
Any judicial district.
Venue Transfer
Where you want to move it to another district:
- “where it might have been brought”
- Subject Matter Jurisdiction
- in personam jurisdiction over the defendant
- venue.
OR
- Consent of all parties
Judicial Considerations in Venue Transfer
- Forum Selection Clause
- Great inconvenience for parties
Options of Court for Improper Venue
- Dismiss the case
OR - “in the interests of justice”, transfer the case to a venue which is proper.
- *Lack of Personal Jurisdiction does not eliminate power to Transfer
- *Can be waived
Law Applicable Upon Transfer
If Original venue is proper, original applicable law applies
If Original venue is improper, change of law to where it sits.
Removal Jurisdiction
Removal from State court to Federal court IF:
1. The case could have originally been filed in a federal court;
AND
2. for cases removed on the basis of diversity, no defendant is a citizen of the state where the action is filed.
**Only apples to Federal Question Claims
Who can exercise the right of removal?
The defendant.
A defense to the claim is not enough, need a federal question.