SYNTHESIS: DEVELOPING/EXPANDINGYOUR OUTLINE
What follows is the basis for creating, and expanding, your own outline. Someone else’s outline, or a commercial one, will be in someone else’s words. During the final exam, you won’t be able to use someone else’s words. Doing your own outline, on a consistent basis, will help you develop your long-term memory—and general understanding of civil litigation. I’m not asking you to do anything that I did not do. This system worked for me. The difference is that no one showed me the way....
PhaseOne: Video(introduction) Recommendation—
Step 1—quick view; Step 2—cases/Rules;* Step 3—outline video.
*Note 1: See key Rule/Judicial Code section below;all assigned
Rules/Codesare listed on Readingwebpage readable on the Ruleswebpage.
PhaseTwo: In-class Case/Problem Homework Application(key “takeaways”)
PhaseThree: Problem/Quiz Daily Reviews(long term memory)
PhaseFour: Periodic Review(synthesis)
Problems 1-12
Note 2: No need to memorize Rules of Judicial Code sections.
The exams, instead, focus on concepts—where you need not citecases or statutes.
Day 2: Subject Matter Jurisdiction (SMJ) [Video 1]
Federal Question:
• D’s conduct within statute?
• Sufficient federal interest? (Gunn)
• Complaint, not other pleadings (Mottley)
Diversity:
• Complete diversity? (Mas)
• Minimum amount? (Mas)
•Key Rule/Code: 1331 /1332(a)
Day 3: SupplementalSMJ[Video 2]
•Piggyback state claim on to Fed Question? (Gibbs)
• Piggyback non-federal party on to Fed Question? (Aldinger)
•Diversity-based supplemental SMJ (Owen Equipment)
•Piggybacking individually insufficient amounts (Allapatah)
•Key Rule/Code: 1367(a)
Day 4: Removal SMJ[(also)Video 2]
• Defeat minimum amount? (Knowles)
• Aggregation of damages: Not generally;
Allapatah piggyback option;
Class Action Fairness Act—aggregation required
• Problem 1
•Key Rule/Code:1441(a)(b) /1332d
Day 5: Territorial Jurisdiction—InPersonam(IPJ) [Video 3]
•Personal jurisdiction: substantive Due Process—D’s ties to the forum
•Territorial jurisdiction’s two wings (Pennoyer)
•Pennoyer limits expanded (Hess)
• New IPJ approach: Minimum contacts (Shoe)
•IPJ: cutting back (Worldwide VW)
•Key Rule/Code: 5th and 14th Amendment “Due Process” clause
Day 6: IPJ Continued[Video 4]
•Long-arm: State statute (Longines)
•Procedural Due Process:Notice of suit basics (Mullane)
: Opportunity to be heard (Fuentes)
: Method of service (Nat’l Equipment)
•Key Rule/Code: 4(e) / 4(h)(1) / 4(m)
Day 7: Territorial jurisdiction—Jurisdiction over Property[Video 5]
•In rem jurisdiction: pre-Shaffer (Harris)
: rem—now “presence plus” (Shaffer)
• Problem 2
•Key Rule/Code: 4(n)(2)/ 5th and 14th Amendment “Due Process” clause
Day 8: Venue[Video 6]
•P choices: venue options—individual and corporate Ds (Bates)
• D option: transfer/dismiss (Piper)
• Problem 3
•Key Rule/Code: 1391(a)-(c) / 1404(a)
Day 9: Choice of Law[Video 7]
•Substantive law (Erie)
•Procedural law: Outcome determinative state-fed difference (York) } (FRCP not
: Strong countervailing fed interest (Bryd) } on point)
: FRCP on point (Hanna)
•York-Bryd-Hanna hypo
•Key Rule/Code: Amendment X (US Const.)
Day 11:Pleading [Video 8]
•Pleadingthe Complaint(Iqbal)
•Motions attacking a pleading (Garcia)
•Key Rule/Code: 7(a) / 8(a)(1)-(3) / 12(b)(1)-(3) / 12(b)(6) / 12(f) / 12(e)
Day 12: Pleading Continued[Video 9]
• Heightened pleading required (Ross)
•Answer: purpose & related requirement (White)
: Affirmative defense distinguished (Ingraham)
•Counterclaim (Great Lakes)
• Charts
•Key Rule/Code: 8(c) /13(a)(b)
Day 13:Pleading Continued[Video 10]
•Amendments: adding claims/defenses (Beeck)
: adding parties (Krupski)
•Frivolous pleading sanctions & safe harbor period
•Problem 4
•Key Rule/Code: 15(a)(1)-(2) / 15(c) /4(m) / 11(a)-(c)
Day 14: Joinder (again) [Video 11]
•Permissive: Common law limitations/same “occurrence?” (Ryder)
: Modern relaxation/same “transaction?” (Tanbro)
: Ryder/Tanbro hypos
•“Required”: In personam jurisdiction infeasibility (Bank California)
: Subject matter jurisdiction infeasibility (Provident)
•Key Rule/Code: 20(a) / 12(b)(7) / 19
Day 15:[Video 12]
•Problem 5
•Intervention: absentee needed for complete adjudication? (Coalition)
•Class actions: Rule 23 chart (Wal-Mart)
: Class Action Fairness Act (Knowles—Day 4)
•Key Rule/Code: 24(a) / 23(a) / §1332(d)(2) & (d)(6)
Day 16: Discovery[Video 13]
• Discovery Blueprint Chart (Prob/Hypos/Charts webpage)
• Coredisclosure(Harriman)
• Supplementation of prior responses (Harriman)
• Sanctionsfor failing to comply with obligations (Harriman)
•Key Rule/Code: 26(a)1(A) / 26(e)(1)(A) / 37(a)(1) / 37(b)(2)(A) / 26(b)(1)
Day 17: Discovery continued[Video 14]
• Depositions: Who is deposable? (Blackhorse)
• Interrogatories:Motions to Compel Answers/Further Answers (O’Connor)
• Production of Documents:Burden of production/Cost shifting? (Zubulake)
• Examinations:Types of exam? Who may be examined? Two elements?(Schlagenhauf)
• Requests for Admission: Basic purpose? Cost-shifting for failure to admit?
• Use of Discovery at Trial
•Key Rule/Code: none
Day 18: Work Product[Video 15]
• What is it? Two types? (Hickman)
• Three types of witnesses? (Perry)
•Problem 6
•Key Rule/Code: 26(b)(1) /26(b)(3)(A)(B) / 26b(4)(A)(B)(D) / 26(g)(1)
Day 19:Summary Judgment[Video 16]
•Evidentiary requirements? (Rule 56)
• Do the affidavits conflict, and what if they do? Donot? (Coble)
•Who has what burden? (Adikes)
• What is the second method for obtaining summary judgment? (Celotex)
•Problem 7
•Key Rule/Code: 56(a) / 56(c)(4)
Day 20: Disposition Without Trial[Video 17]
•Voluntary dismissal: Why would P do this? (McCants)
•Involuntary dismissals: Failure to prosecute—service of process (Shehyn)
—diligent discovery prosecution (Aura)
•Default judgment: default for failing to answer v. penalty default failing to prosecute (Greenup)
•Key Rule/Code: 41(a)(b) / 4(m) / 37(b)(2)(A)(i-vi) / 55(a)
Day 21: Trial[Video 18]
•Right to jury trial: “Law” v. equity distinction?
What if complaint or counterclaim = only pleading? (Beacon)
Incidental legal relief doctrine: (Dairy Queen)
•Exceptions: #1 Too complex—circuit split (Japanese Electronics)
#2 Administrative adjudication (Atlas)
•Waiver: How obtain/waive?
•Key Rule/Code: Amendment VII / 38(b)(1) / 39(b)
Day 22: Jury Selection[Video 18]
•Problem 8
•Jury venire: large group assignable to trial departments
•Voir dire: individual jurors—challenges for cause
—peremptory challenges: race/ethnicity (Batson)
: gender
: sexual orientation (Garcia)
•Key Rule/Code: none
Day 23: Trial Practice[Video 19]
•Motion for judgmentattacking evidence: pre-verdict—insubstantial evidence (Galloway)
: post-verdict—insubstantial evidence (Denman)
• Instructions: jury confusion (Mitchell)
: Mitchell hypos
• Verdict: Problem 9
•Key Rule/Code: 50(a)(b) / CA Civ Pro §657
Day 24: Appellate Review[Video 20]
• Less than all claims resolved on merits (Curtis-Wright)
• Collateral orders not on the merits (Mohawk)
•Joint discretionboth courts: preferred method (Mohawk)
• Writ route: extraordinarycircumstances (Cheney)
•Key Rule/Code: 54(b) / §1292(b) / §1651(a)
Day 25:Timeliness[(also)Video 20]
•Problem 10
• Key Rule/Code: none
Day 26: Preclusion—Prior Suit[Video 21]
• Res judicata: What’s a claim? What facts constitute the relevant judicial unit? (Rush)
: What about parties in privity/respondeat superior? (Matthews)
• Collateral estoppel: Isolate the S1 issue. (Bernhard)
What are the major elements? (Bernhard)
Focus on the party against whom CE being used! (Bernhard)
Did that party have a full/fair opportunity S1? (Parklane)
• Key Rule/Code: none
Day 27/28:
Problem 11—gaps?
Problem 12—gaps?
Problem 13 (ethics: not testable)