Law Flashcards
Sources of Law
US Constitution Common Law •Statutory Law •Administrative Law •Uniform Law •Uniform Laws •Ballot Initiatives •Executive Orders
Jurisdiction for People
- People have jurisdiction over you if you’re there
* If you’re tricked into going there, they don’t have jurisdiction over you
Jurisdiction for Corporations
Corporations can always be sued..
o in the state of incorporation
oWhere your headquarters is
oSued wherever you are doing business
Voir Dire
process of going through potential jurors
Burden of Proof (Civil Case)
oBurden of Proof (Civil Case) by a preponderance of evidence
•More likely than not that what happened happened
•Jury trial does not have to be unanimous (2/3 or ¾ to think it’s more likely than not that the defendant is guilty)
Stare Decisis
- Based on common law tradition, past court decisions become precedent for deciding future cases
- Lower courts must follow the precedent established by higher courts
- Courts of one jurisdiction are not bound by the precedent established by the courts of another jurisdiction, although they may look to each other for guidance
IRAC Analysis
I – What is the legal issue in the case?
R – What is the rule (law) of the case?
A – What is the court’s analysis and rationale?
C – What was the conclusion or outcome of the case?
Three Parts of a Contract
1) Mutual Acceptance
2) Consideration
3) No Contract Defenses
Mutual Acceptance
Offer a Serious contract; Courts will ask “was it a legit offer?”
Not valid until the offeree knows about it
Mailbox Rule
When the acceptance is SENT it is effective
Consideration in a Contract
each side has to give something to the other OR give up a legal right (a gift is not a contract)
No Contract Defenses
- contracts breaking the law
- voidable contracts
- victims of fraud
- things that must be in writing
Voidable Contracts
- you’re not 18
- violates a statute (Usury statutes limit amount of interest in a loan) (non-competes)
Contracts that must be in writing
a.For goods over $500
bAnything to do with land/real estate
c.If you promise to pay off someone else’s debts
d.If there is a security interest on a property (the part of a loan that says they can repossess your car/house)
Remedies
what you get in a civil trial (monetary damagess, equitable remedies)
Monetary Damages
Compensatory, Consequential, Punitive, Liquidiated, Nominal
Equitable Remedies
Things other than money; injunctions, specific performance, reformation of contract)
Tort
any civil wrong, excluding breech of contract and crimes
Direct Liability
whoever the “bad guy” is
Vicarious LIability
Normally, the organization who employed that person. Must prove agency relationship and action within the scope of the agency
Negligent Hiring
Less likely; only applies if the tort was within the role of the job
Intentional Torts (Intent)
Specific, Transferred, General Intent
Battery
harmful / offensive touching of a person without permission. Can be direct or indirect.
Assault
Threatening someone
False Imprisonment
forcing someone to stay against their will
Defamation
either written (libel) or spoken (slander) communication that lies about a person
Trade Disparagement
;defaming of product or company
Fraud
(1) misrepresentation (a lie)
(2) of a fact (not an opinion)
(3) that is material (a real important fact)
(4) made with scienter (intent to fraud – doing it on purpose to get a deal)
(5) justifiable reliance (would a reasonable person have been fooled?)
Can sue for breach of contract in one paragraph or for intentional torte of fraud
Interference
A and B have a contract and C either (1) tries to encourage breaking of contract or (2) tries to make it harder for them to keep the contract
Stealing Trade Secrets
can’t take those out of the company – higher up in the company the offender is, usually the harsher the punishment (patents, recipes, designs, etc
Negligence
1) Duty (Is it part of the job?)
2) Breach (reasonable person test)
3) Proximate Cause (“But For” clause, Forseeability)
4) Damage