MD Civil Procedure Flashcards
Civ Pro: Complaints What should a pleading for a claim contain?
A pleading for a claim must: 1. Allege that the amount in controversy satisfies Jurisdiction 2. Contain a clear statement of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action. Allege times and places if they are material to the claim or defense 3. If P is claiming a $ judgment, generally include the amount sought. Other forms of relief may also be demanded 4. If seeking additional relief, specifically plead that the P is seeking such relief to give D notice.
Civ Pro: Trial & Post-Trial Motions Affecting the Judgment Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment
Must be made 10 days after entry of judgment Only in bench trials (counterpart to JNOV) The court may reopen the case to take evidence, alter its findings or enter a new judgment
Civ Pro: Trial & Post-Trial Motions Affecting the Judgment Motion for a new trial
Can be made after jury or bench trial alleging errors in the trial process or verdict. Must be made w/in 10 days after entry of judgment. Can be made on several grounds: - Error at trial- ct. must find error that was prejudicial - Newly discovered evidence- ct. must find prejudice and that the loser was diligent in attempting to discover the evidence by the trial - jury got it wrong- ct. must decide verdict is against the weight of the evidence
Civ Pro: Judgments Judgment Procedure
The Clerk of the Court records judgments, enters them onto the case docket with a formal judgment date and sends copies to all parties Judgments may be enforced by lien, levy and sale, garnishment, or other means provided by rule or statute
Civil Procedure: Personal Jurisdiction When are corps/p’ships subject to PJ in MD?
Corps: Incorporated in MD or PPB P’ships: PPB
Civ Pro: Discovery Tools Requests for admission
Other party must admit, deny, or state reasons why the information is unavailable after reasonable inquiry, or why the request is improper
Civ Pro: Enforcement of Judgments Stay of Enforcement
Enforcement of $ judgment is automatically stayed for 10 days to give D time to file a post-judgment motion (like a JNOV). If filed the ct. can stay enforcement, and can stay enforcement pending appeal
Civil Procedure: Personal Jurisdiction What are the 7 bases for long-arm statute jurisdiction?
- D transacts any business or performs any work or service in MD 2. D k’s to supply goods, food, services, or manufacture products in MD 3. D causes a tortious injury in the state by an act/omission in MD 4. D causes a tortious injury in the state (or outside of it) by an act/omission outside of MD, PLUS minimum contacts w/in MD 5. D has an interest in/uses/possesses real property in the state 6. D contracts to insure risks in MD 7. D is a D in a domestic relations case for child support, alimony, or attorney’s fees, and (i) the P resides in MD, (ii) the couple’s domicile immediately before their separation was in MD, or (iii) the payment obligation arose under MD law/an agreement was executed by one of the parties in MD.
Civil Procedure: Pleadings and Preliminary Motions Time for Responding to Complaint
Time runs from the date of ACTUAL RECEIPT, whether by personal service or certified mail D has 30 days to file a response with the court
Civil Procedure: Pleadings and Preliminary Motions Time for Responding to Papers Served Subsequent to the Complaint
If personally served, time runs from the date of receipt If mailed, service is technically deemed complete upon posting, however, time to respond runs from the date mailed plus 3 days.
Civ Pro: Pleadings and Preliminary Motions When is a D required to file an Answer?
If the D does not file a preliminary motion, or if D’s preliminary motion is unsuccessful. In Dist. Ct. this is called a notice of intention to defend. If no prelim motion must be filed w/in 30 days of in-state service of process. If a preliminary motion has been filed the answer must be filed w/in 15 days after the court denies the motion (no mailbox rule).
Civ Pro: Parties and Claims What is the procedure for beginning an interpleader action?
- Deposit $/property in court and request issuance of an order of interpleader 2. If the order is issued (after a hearing), the stakeholder may be released from the action and the parties realigned. The court decides who gets the property.
Civ Pro: Attachment What happens to the property when the case ends?
If D wins, attachment is dissolved and D may sue for loss of use of property If P wins, property gets sold to satisfy judgement
Civ Pro: Attachment When may property be attached?
- In a quasi in rem action 2. In any breach of contract or tort action, IF - Out of state D -Absconding D - Unlicensed Home Contractor 3. In a breach of contract action for liquidated damages, IF - D evades process - D fraudulently transfers property - D defrauded P - Deceased D has an out-of-state heir
Civil Procedure: Personal Jurisdiction How does presence in MD impact PJ?
If D is a natural person and is present in MD when served, s/he can be sued in MD on unrelated claims, UNLESS s/he is in MD to testify/prosecute/defend an action or is passing through MD to testify in another state subject to subpoena.
Civ Pro: Discovery Tools When are objections waived during deposition?
Objections that can be cured at the deposition must be made there, or they are waived and cannot be raised later at trial.
Civil Procedure: Personal Jurisdiction What is the 2-step process for considering whether personal jurisdiction exists?
- Authorized under MD law? 2. Allowed under the U.S. Constitution?
Civ Pro: Discovery Are trial prep materials discoverable?
It depends. Generally not, unless a party can show (a) a substantial need for it; AND (b) it is not otherwise available without undue hardship (remember distinctions between FACTUAL and OPINION work product here!)
Civ Pro: Discovery Tools What are requests to produce?
Requests made between parties, to make available for review and copying various documents or things in his possession, custody or control, or to permit entry upon designated property for inspection, measuring, etc.
Civ Pro: Attachment What is the process for a Writ of Attachement?
- Request Writ by filing the request and filing an affidavit verifying the facts are true and that P has valid grounds for attachment 2. Following Issuance P must: - post a bond - serve the complaint w/in 60 days - file a lien D can post bond or move to release writ.
Civ Pro: D’s Response to the Complaint
D can Answer or make motions. Response must be filed w/in 30 days if service was made in MD, or 60 days to an out of state D, or D is a Corp served via a State Agency, 90 days if served outside of the US.
Civ Pro: Parties and Claims What is the compulsory nature of the legal relationship btwn the P and a TPD?
P MUST assert all claims against TBD that arise from the t/o that is the subject matter of P’s claim against D. This is the only type of COMPULSORY claim that exists!
Civ Pro: Discovery Discovery Basics
- Party-driven: Discovery conducted by the parties generally w/out court intervention. 2. Discovery requests/responses are served by the parties on each other. Notice of service filed with the court. 3. All discovery is against parties only with the exception of depositions which can be against non-parties via a subpoena. 4. Time limit for responses: 30 days (mailbox rule may apply) 5. In MD, parties are REQUIRED to supplement all discovery responses (except depos) with any further info. 6. Standard: Anything not privileged that is RELEVANT to the subject matter is subject to discovery, even if not admissible in court. Includes matters reasonably calculated to lead to admissible evidence.
Civil Procedure: Jury Trials What is the threshold amount for a jury trial?
$15,000 Only available in CC
Civ Pro: Appeal Path of Appeals in MD
Can appeal final judgment once as a matter of right. 30 days after entry of judgment or final ruling on a post-verdict motion. After that can appeal by petitioning by writ of cert to COA. See chart pg. 85 of notes
Civ Pro: Parties and Claims What is the 2-step process for determining necessary and indispensable parties?
Step 1: An absent party is necessary if, without absentee, (1) the court may not be able to accord complete relief among the existing parties; (ii) disposition of the action may impair absentee’s ability to protect an INTEREST involved in the action; or (iii) disposition of the action may leave existing parties subject to a risk of incurring multiple or INCONSISTENT obligations (“you can’t do it all”). Step 2: If the party is NECESSARY but cannot be joined (not subject to PJ, etc.), then consider whether, despite this, the party is INDISPENSABLE to the litigation. If the party is indispensable, the court decides whether to go on without her or to dismiss the case.
Civ Pro: Trial & Post-Trial Motions Affecting the Judgment Motion to Revise Judgment
Must be made w/in 30 days after the entry of judgment if it is based on newly discovered evidence or any grounds other than: extrinsic fraud, jurisdictional mistake or other irregularity or clerical error (these can be made beyond the 30 days). Unless made w/in 10 days after entry of judgment, this motion doesn’t toll the time for noticing an appeal. Ct. can’t revise a default judgment w/o fraud, jurisdicitional mistake or other irregularity, but can revise the relief granted.
Civ Pro: Termination of Case Without Trial How does a person obtain a Default Judgment?
- P asks the clerk to enter an order of default and give notice to the D at his last known address 2. Wait 30 days for D to move to vacate the default 3. If D fails to make a motion to vacate, then the P asks the court to enter a default judgment 4. Court will enter the default judgment if it is satisfied that: –(i) it has personal jurisdiction over the D; –(ii) proper service was made; –(iii) notice of the default entry was properly given
Civ Pro: Discovery Tools Deposition - When can it be used at trial?
When the other party had notice of the deposition and; a) used to impeach the deponent; or b) used as an admission against an adverse party-deponent c) a deposition of a deponent now unavailable to testify d) A videotaped deposition of an expert or physician, when notice of the deposition provided it could be used at trial Look to see if the testimony itself can be admitted
Civ Pro: Parties and Claims What is the process for impleader?
- Original D files a third-party complaint against the TPD. 2. Serve process on TPD (normal process rules apply). Must have PJ over TPD. 3. Time frame: Right to implead within 30 days of answer; after that at court’s discretion. 4. After TPD is joined, TPD may raise defenses against the P that D could have (but failed to) raise against P, and TPD may assert claims against P (if the claims arise from same t/o as underlying case).
Civ Pro: Appeal Interlocutory (non-final) review
Certified partial summary judgment- if judge certifies their decision on one claim among several, can appeal that decision if hardship or unfairness would result from delay in the appeal. Exception for collateral orders- appellate ct. can hear an issue that is an important legal question, has been conclusively determined and is effectively unreviewable on appeal Orders made appealable by statute.
Civil Procedure: Transfer Procedure for Removal
- Clerk notifies the parties of the date the case is docketed in the CC 2. D must respond within 30 days by motion or answer
Civ Pro: Statute of Limitations Defense When does the SOL clock start to run?
On the date that the cause of action accrues. This is when the action matures, which is when the P knew or should have known of his injury/the breach/entry of judgment giving rise to an indemnity claim.
Civ Pro: Jury & Bench Trials How to obtain a jury trial?
Maryland Constitution guarantees it in an eminent domain case or where the amount in controversy exceeds 15k Party must make a written demand for a jury trial within 15 days after service of the last pleading raising jury-triable issues [10 days to demand in District court] Demand for jury trial can only be withdrawn by consent of all the parties
Civ Pro: Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel Collateral estoppel (issue preclusion)
Precludes relitigation of a particular issue previously litigated and determined. Issue is deemed established in the 2nd action. Five Requirements: 1. same issue in both suits 2. issue was actually litigated and determined in first case 3. issue was essential to the first judgment 4. may only be asserted against someone who was a party to the prior suit (or in privity) and who had litigated the issue before 5. May be mutual or non-mutual
Civil Procedure: Venue Additional Venues?
- Negligence tort - where P’s injury first occurred 2. Replevin - the county where at least part of its located 3. Divorce - where P resides 4. Annulment - where P resides and location of marriage ceremony 5. Custody - where father, mother, or child reside