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URI SDI CTI ON
MODERN BASI S
(
INTERN,4IIO N AL S HO E v. WAS H INGTO N)
A) DEFENDANT MUST HAVE' ' MIMMUM
CONTACTS'' WITH FORTIM STATE
B) SUI T DOES NOT OFFEND "TRADI -
TI ONAL NOTI ONS OF FAI R PLAY
AND SUBSTANTTAL JUSTI CE' '
c) CONSTITUTTONAL ELABORATTONS
l) Activities must be systematic and continuous
2) Act i vi t i es must be purposef ul
3) Def endant must purposel y avai l hi msel f ol
privileges of the fcrum state
-l )
Possi bi l i t y of l i t i gat i on must be t oreseeabl e
(
Worl d-Wi de Vol kswagen)
5) There must be connection between litigation,
Defendant and forum state
SUBJECT MATTER
A) COURT' S POWER TO DECI DE THE
TYPB OF CASE BEFORE I T
l ) Federal
Quest i on
Juri sdi ct i on
a) Cr ses ar i si ng under Feder al l aw ( i . e. Feder al st at ul es.
l nt erst at e Commerce)
2) Di ver si t y Jur i sdi ct i on
a) Amount i n controversy must exceed $50,0O0 (excl u-
si ve of costs). gqg!
b) Must i nvol ve ci ti zens of di fferent states
DOMICILE
A) PRESENCE (AT TI ME ACTI ON I S
FTLED)
B) INTENT TO INDEFINTTELY REMAIN
LONG ARM STATUTES
A) ONCE
' ' MI NI MUM
CONTACTS' ' ARE
-
ESTABLI SHED, THE STATE MUST
STI LL HAVE LEGI SLATI ON AUTHO.
RTZI NG I TS COURTS TO ACCEPT
SUCH JURTSDI CTI ON
l ) Unl i mi t ed
-
some st at es gi ve t hei rcourt s t ul l power
t o l ccept al l const i t ut i onal bases of j uri sdi ct i on
( ex. CA, RI )
2) Li mi t ed
-
speci f y i n det ai l when court may accept
i uri sdi ct i on
(ex. NY, I L)
A)
r )
B)
r )
C)
r )
SPECIAL CASES
(DOMICILE GUIDE)
CORPORATIONS
State of Incorporation; and
State where principal place of business is located
CLASS ACTI ONS
Ci t i zenshi p of named represent at i ve used
U. S. CI TTZENS LI VI NG ABROAD
Not citizens of any state, therefore, cannot use
di versi ry j uri sdi ct i on
CON{SENT
A) DEFENDANT MAY ALWAYS CON-
SENT TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION
I )
Volunta1 appearance in court
2) Advi urce consent (i . e. i n cont ract . desi gnat i nq an
agent )
REMOVAL
A) BASI S FOR REMOVAL FROM
STATE TO FEDERAL COURT
I ) Federal quest i on j uri sdi ct i on exi st ed at t i me ac-
t i on was f i l ed: or
2) Di versi t y j uri sdi ct i on exi st ed at t i me act i on was
f rl ed l i . e. when case coul d have been brought i n
Federal court ori gi nal l y
) COLLATERAL ATTACK
A) ASSERTING, IN A NEW LAWSUTT, THAT
A PRTOR JUDGMENT WAS VOID FOR
LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION
l ) Personal
j uri sdi ct i on may onl y be chal l enged once
-
either in forum state (appeal)' or Defendant' s home
st at e (col l at eral at t ack)
2) Must raise obiection before trial
SUPPLEMENTAL
JURI SDI CTI ON
ANCI LLARY JURI SDI CTI ON
Det endant wi t h count er-cl ai ms. cross-cl ai ms or
third-party claims may bring them in Federal
court irs long as Federal court has jurisdiction
over ori gi nal cl ai m
PENDENT JURISDICTION
Plainriff with valid Federal question claims may
bring dong a state-basd claim in Federal courr
Test: Musr denve liorn common nucleus of ooeradve fact
Up t o court ' s di scret i on
PERSONAL
JURISDICTION
A) COURT' S POWER TO BRI NG
PARTIES BEFORE IT AND BIND
THEM TO I TS JUDGMENT
[ ) In Personam
-
power of court over Det' endant
l ) I n Rem
-
power of coun over a t hi ng
(i . e. propert y t rr chat t el s wi rhi n st at e)
-l)
Quasi
In Rem
-
power of ctxrt to anach or gamish
propertv to eain
juriviiction over Det-endant (Shafrer
v. Heitner ralure; rhis to be tested under "minimum
contacs' srandard of Intern tboal She)
TRADITIONAL TEST
(
PENNOYER v. NEFF\
A) PRESENCE IN FORLiM STATE AND
B) DEFENDANT MUSTBE SERVED WITH
\OTICE IN FORUIIT STATE
VENUE
LOCALITY WHERE CASE
MAY BE TRIED
A) FEDERAL COURT STANDARDS
t ) Di ver si t y cases ( 28 USC t 39 l ( a) )
u) District where any Defendant residcs, if all reside in same
Srat e
Where substanti al part of events/omi ssi ons gi vi ng ri se to
cl ai m occurred or substanti al part of property i s si tuated
Where Defendants are subj ect to personal j uri sdi cti on
Nondi ver si t y cases ( 28 USC l 39l ( b) )
Di stri ct where any Del endant resi des, i l al l resi de i n same
St at e
Di stri ct where substrnti al Oart of events/omi ssi ons occuned
or substanti al pan of property i s l ocated
c) Di stri ct where any Defendant may be found
B) CHANGEOFVENUE
I ) Federal courts can transfer cases to any di stri ct
wher e i t mi ght or i gi nal l y have been br ought
a) Standard:
"l n
the i nteresrs ofj usti ce and for the
conveni ence of pani es and wi tnesses' ' (28 USC 1404)
b) Upon moti on. consent or sti pul ati on ofal l pani es
CORPORATIONS
A) CORPORATE RESIDENCE (28 USC 1J91(c))
l ) Judi ci al di st r i ct i n whi ch Cor por at i on:
a) Is subj ect to personal j uri sdi cti on
b) Has suffi ci ent contacts to subj ect i t to personal j unsdi cti on
c) Has most si gni fi cant contacts
CHOICE OF LAW
(THE ERIE DOCTRINE)
A) DI VERSI TY
t ) Eri e: Federal court s must appl y t he subst ant i ve
law of the forum state
l ) Federal courl s must appl y Federal l aw l or
procedural maners
B) SUBSTANTIVE VS. PROCEDURAL LAW
l ) Tradi t i onal t est (Guarant ee Trust v. York)
l )
' Out come
Det ermi nat i ve' f est "
-
where appl i cat i on of St at e
l aw wi l l gi ve a di fferent outcome than appl i cati on of Federal
l aw. Staae l aw appl i es
?) Modern test (Hg.U.Ua-y.llmf,L)
a) Re-affi rms Eri e, uphol di ng use of Federal procedural and
State substanti ve l aw, regardl ess of outcome
C) SPECI AL CASES
l) Smrutes of Limrtations
-
considered
"substantive" and
_{ovemed
by State law in diversity cases
2) Choice of l:w Rules: considered
"substantive"; Fderal
courts must tbllow State's choice of law principles
PLEADI h{GS
PRE. ANSWER MOTI ONS
A) DEFENDANT MAY MAKE THE
FOLLOWI NG ARGUMENTS:
l ) Lack of Subj ect Mat t er Juri sdi ct i on
l) Lack of Personal Jurisdiction
3) lmproper Venue
-l)
Insuffrciency of process
-5) I nsuf f i ci ency of Servi ce of Process
6) Fulure to state a claim upon which relief can tre granted
7) Fai l ure t o j oi n a part y
AMENDMENTS
A) PARTI ES MAY AMEND THEI R PLEAD-
I NGS ONCE WI THOUT THE COURT' S
PERMI SSI ON BEFORE A RESPONSI VE
PLEADI NG I S SERVED TFRCP TS( a) )
I ) . \ t l l l ot her t i mes oer mi ssi on must be obt ai ned f i om
r he Cour t . but i t
" shal l
be t i eel v si ven whcn i ust r ce so
r equi r es" t FRCP I 5( a) )
RELATI ON BACK
.\dding new claims or det' enses
-
not barred if thev
anse out of the original transaction or occurrence
.\dding new parties
-
no relation back unless wrong
penon is sued: relation back will t^-cur if parry to be
brought in: a) ha-s received notice of the acrion witfun
St rtule of Limitetions penotl: .rnd b) knew or should
har.e known lhat. irut firr the mrstake. thc rtction would
hi m rFRCP t 5t cn
COMPLAINT
A) PLAINTIFF' S STATEMENT OF A
CAUSE OF ACTI ON
ANSWER
A) DEFENDANT' S STATEMENT DENY.
I NG OR ADMI TTI NG ALLEGATI ONS
AND SETTI NG OUT ANY DEFENSES
( MAY
I NCLUDE COUNTERCLAI MS
OR CROSS- CLAI MS)
REPLY TO COUNTERCLAI M
OR CROSS. CLAI M
A) STATEMENT OF PERSON .\GAINST
WHOM CLAI ] VT I S FI LED. DENYTNG
OR ADMI TTI NG ALLEGATI ONS
NOTICE PLEADING VS. CODE
PLEADI NG
A) NOTICE PLEADING
.
USED TN FED.
ERAL ^\ND MANY STATE COURTS
I ) Pl eadi ng must merel y sct t brt h
"r
shon rnd pi arn
st at emcnt of t he cl ai m showi nq t he Pl eader rs
cnr i t l ed t o r el i ef ' TFRCP ! l ( r t t
B) CODE PLEADI NG I i . C. CA. FLI
i r Pleutler rrust set lirnh .ril fects intenoeti to nL trove n
rt t nt i
-
rhe
' ul t t t t rut e
i act s' , ri t he c. use
PARTIES TO LMIGAIION
A)
l )
JOINDER OF PARTIES
'r
PERMI SSI VE
t
i l )
b )
Defendants or Plaintiffs nrav be ioined if clainr for
rclici:
Ariscs from sanre transaction or trccurrettcc, and
Conl ai ns a comr non quest i on of l aw or f act
(FRCP 20(a) & (b))
B) COMPULSORY
l ) Def endant s or Pl ai nt i f f s who r nust be j oi ned
a) Necess.rry parties -
have intcrcst in the conlroversy iutd
ought to be joined for sake of complere jusrice (FRCP
I 9(a))
b) Indi spcnsabl e parti es - prcsence so vi tal that acti on
must be di smi ssed i f j oi nder i nr possi bl e ( FRCP l 9( b) )
'JONDnR"6e'tlArnrs
*
A) PERMISSTVE
JOINDER
(FRCP
18)
I ) Any cl ai m agai nst opposi ng pany may be j oi ned i f:
a) Each cl ai m has an i ndependent basi s for subj ecr marrer
j uri sdi cti on,
or
b) They ari se out of the same tral sucti on or occurence
( pcndent j ur i sdi ct i on)
B) CODE
| ) Pl eadi ng j ur i sdi cr i ons
l ) Joi nder l i mi ted to same [ansacti on or occurence
C) COUNTERCLAIMS
Gnoucnr sy
OPPOSING PARTIES)
l ) Compul sory
a) Arise out of same transaction or occurrence (FRCP l3)
2) Permi ssi ve
a) Dtxs not arise out of same transaction or occurrencc
D) CROSS CLAIMS
GIAIMSAM)NGCo.
PARTIES)
lst Defendant sues 2nd Defendant
Must arise out of same transaction or occurrence
of ori gi nal acri on or counrercl ai m (FRCP l 3(g))
THIRD PARTY CLAIMS (IMPLEADER)
Def endant f i l es cl ai m agai nsr (i mpl eads) rhi rd
parry. nor presenrly a party, claiming liability for
al l or pi n ot Pl ai nt i f Ts cl ai m agai nst De f endant
Arises from same transaction or occurrence
l )
! l
E)
t )
'))
INTERVENTION'
*
(A PERSON, NOT A PARTY TO THE
SUIT, SEEI(S TO BECOME A PARTY )
A) INTERVENTION AS OF RIGHT
(FRCP
2- l ( a ) )
l ) Uncondi t i onal by st ar ur e
2) Ability to protecr interest may be impaired directly
B) PERMI SSI VE I NTERVENTI ON
l ) Di scret i onary
2)
Quest i ons
of l aw/ f act i n common
INTERPLEADER
I
(STAKEHOLDER)
'
PARTY WHO OWES SOMETHING TO
ONE OR MORE PERSONS CAN FORCE
THEM ALL INTO COURT TO DECIDE
/SSUE lNA SINGLE ACTION
A) TNTERPLEADER RULE
l ) Compl et e di versi ry needed
2) At leasr 550.000 ar srake
B) STATUTORY INTERPLEADER
l ) Onl y need di versi ry among rwo (2) cl ai mant s
l ) Onl y need 5500 i n conrroversy
CLASS ACTIONS i
A) PREREQUI SI TES ( FRCP
23( a) )
t )
: l
. l )
t t
B)
l )
J )
C)
l )
t )
)' l umertrusness
Commonal i t v
Tvpi cr l i t v
Adequacv oi r epr esent at i on
NOTI CE
Besr possi bl e requi red
hacrrculiry -
xt leasl by mail lEisen v. Cartise ,
FEDERAL
JURI SDI CTI ON
Ci t i zenshi p of named r epr esent at i ve used t br
di ver si t v
Each member of cl ass must have cl ai m qr eat er
: han S- 5O. l XX)
PRE- ' I RI AL
SERVI CE OF PROCESS i
A) r N- HAND SERVTCE
i
l ) Pr' rsonrl del i very t o Dcl ent i ant
i
B) SUBSTI TUTED SERVI CE
}
l ) De l i vcr y t o
" pcr son
of sui t abl e age and di scr et i on"
I
resi di ng at Def endant ' s dwel l i ng house (FRCP . 11
i
C) SERVI CE BY MAI L
$
l ) Sati sfl es standard. but certi l l cd or regi srered mai l
!
preferred
I
D) NOTI CE BY PUBLI CATI ON
!
l ) Last resort under Mul l ane; al l owed onl y i n l i rni ted
I
ci rcumstances
I
E) TMPROPER METHODS
I
l ) Servi ce on i nfants (or other i ncompetents)
$
2) Substi tuted servi ce on fel l ow empl oyees, fri ends
{
and associates
$
DEFAULT
JUDGMENT
A) FAILURE TO PLEAD OR OTHERWISE
DEFEND
VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL
A) MAY BE HAD ANY TI ME BEFORE DE.
FENDANT ANSWERS OR FILES MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(WITHOUT
PREJUDTCE)
B) STIPTJLATION SIGNED BY ALL PARTTFS
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(FRCP 56(c))
A) NO GENIjINE ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT
B) PARTY ENTI TLED TO JUDGMENT AS A
MATTER OF LAW
A)
B)
l )
2)
{ ,
5 \
a
C)
t )
))
DISCOVERY
STANDARD: MUST BE REASONABLY
CALCULATED TO LEAD TO DI SCOV.
ERY OF ADMI SSI BL E EVI DENCE
( FRCP 26)
LI MI TATI ONS ON DI SCOVERY
I rrel evant mat t ers
Cont -i dent i al mart ers (rrade secret s. et c. )
At t omey-cl i ent communi cat i on (absol ut e)
Ment al i mpressi ons. opi ni ons. l egal rheori es of
i rt rorney (absol ure)
Work product (qual i f i ed) - (FRCP 16(b)(_l ))
) May obrai n upon showi ng: Subsranrral need l nd unubl e
t o get el sewhere wi t hout undue hardshi p
DEVI CES
Deposi t i ons l wi t ness or part y)
I nt errogat ori es ( part i es onl y )
POS' I ' TRI AL
APPEALS
FINAL JUDGMEN'T RULE
G
A) APPFIAL CAN ONI.Y tl E TAKEN
FROM FINAL, ADVERSE
JUDG.
MENT
STANDARDS FOR
REVERSAL
A) FOR COURT ORDERS
l)
"Abuse
of discretion" fbr crse involving
discretion
B) FOR FI NDI NG OF FACT
I)
"Cl earl y
erroneous"
C) FOR MISTAKES OF LAW
l )
"Pl enar y
r evi ew"
FULL FAITH AND
CREDIT
STATE TO STATE
A) VALI D
JUDGMENT I N ONE STATE
MUST BE TREATED AS VALI D
JUDGMENT IN REVIEWING STATE
( ART. t V, SEC. I , U. S. CONST. )
FEDERAL TO STATE
A) FEDERAL COURTS MUST GI VE
FULL FA TTH AND CREDIT TO STATE
COURT DECISIONS (28
USC 1738)
-
FORMER
ADJTIDICATION
CLAIM PRECLUSION
(RES
JUDTCATA)
A) AFTER FI NAL J UDGMENT ON
MERI TS, PL AI NTI FF BARRED
FROM BRI NGI NG SAME CAUSE OF
ACTI ON I N LATER SUI T WHERE
I SSUE WAS RAI SED OR COULD
HAVE BEEN RAI SED AND I N.
VOLVES SAME PARTI ES OR
THOSE IN PRIVITY
(PARTIIS
OR
THEIR PRTWES)
l ) Mer ger
r ) I f Pl ai nt i f f wi ns. cause of l ct i on
" mer ges'
i nt o
ti nal j udgmenr rnd crnnot be brought agai n
2) Bar
l ) I f Pl ai nt i l f l oses. Pl ai nt i f f
" bar r ed"
t i om bnngi ng
r anr c cause ol ' uct i on r ql i n
ISSUE PRECLUSION
(COLLATERAL
ESTOPPEL)
A) PROHI BI TS RELI TI GATI ON OF
ISSUES OF FACT THAT WERE
PREVI OUSLY ADJUDI CATED
B) REQUI REMENTS
I ) I ssue
' ' r ct ual l y
l i t i gat ed"
l ) [ ssue csscnt ral t o j udgment i n pri or act i on
C) OFFENSI VE/ DEFENSI VE USE
TRI AL
DIRECTED VERDICT
(MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS
MATTER OF LAW)
A) STANDARD
I ) Record l acks
"subst ant i al
evi dence such rhar f ai r-
minded people could differ"
B) WHEN MADE
l ) At end of Pl ai nt i f f s cl l se or . r r end of r l l evi dencc
JUDGMENT NOTWITH.
STANDING VERDICT (JNOV)
(RENEWED
MOTTON FOR
JUDG-
MENT AS MATTER OF I-,IW)
. {) STANDARD
l ) Record l acks
"subsrant i al
evi dence such rhat t ai r-
mi nded peopl e coul d di t f er' '
B) WHEN MADE
I ) Ati er verdi ct rendered
NEW TRIAL
A) STANDARD
I ) Verdict is
"agarnst
frc gneat weisht t)f the evidero-e
'
B) WHEN }TADE
l l Wi t h r n t e n ( 1 0 ) d a , v s
t t f J u t i g r n e n t
l r r r r r r r r r r r l {
r'*8#"i"J'o"fi"'"fd$if fl'o'&ffi I
Ufi
I REFERENCE GUIDE. DUE TO ITS CON- I
I DENSED FORMAT IT: l ) DOFJ NOT IN-
I
I CLUDE JI.JRISDICTIONAL DIFT'ERENCES E
I
AND 2) SHOTJLD NoT BE RELIED UPON AS
T
t A suBsTrrrJTE FoR MORE COMPREImN-
u I
STVE LEGAL STUDIES!
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