Chapter 4 four the court system civ lit 2nd
Transcript of Chapter 4 four the court system civ lit 2nd
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Civil Litigation:Process and Procedures
Chapter Four
The Court System
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2Civil Litigation: Process and ProceduresGoldman/Hughes
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Introduction to the Court System
Federal courts
Given jurisdiction by the U.S. Constitution
Handle cases involving federal questions & diversity of citizenship
State courts
Involves most private suits & state laws
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3Civil Litigation: Process and ProceduresGoldman/Hughes
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Sources of Law Constitutions
Document that establishes the conception, character & organizations of a government
Statutes
Laws passed by the legislative body
Administrative rules & regs.
Laws promulgated by administrative agencies (executive branch)
Case Law
Judicial opinions from past cases
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United States Constitution
Divides governmental power into Federal
Executive (President)
Legislative (Congress)
Judicial (Federal Courts, headed by the Supreme Court)
All the power not specifically designated to the federal government is reserved for the states
Certain basic rights are guaranteed to individuals
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Statutes
Laws enacted by the legislative branch
Designed to
Regulate the conduct of citizens
Regulate the operation of businesses or professions
Interpretation of statutes by court decisions
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Administrative Law
Consists of rules, regulations & adjudications
Agencies (usually the administrative branch of the government) promulgate rules & regulations to carry out the statutes passed by the legislature.
Hearings concerning individual parties’ rights result in administrative decisions.
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Case Law
Written decisions from a court, usually on appeal.
Previous case opinions serve as precedent to help resolve current cases.
Case law can be challenged by a unique situation, or substantial change in society’s norms.
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Stare decisis
Principle that gives great deference to earlier decisions
Earlier precedent serves as guide to interpret current issues
Precedents are a signal for the future as to how cases should be decided
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Cause of Action
Civil actions Torts (compensable harm, not contractual)
Contracts (breach of a contractual obligation)
The plaintiff must prove all the required elements by a preponderance of the evidence.
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Torts
The plaintiff must prove these elements to win a negligent tort case:
Duty of care
Breach of that duty
Causation
Injury resulting in damages
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Breach of Contract
Governed by common law, statutory law, and local case law.
The plaintiff must prove these elements:
A contract existed
Offer, acceptance, a meeting of the minds, consideration, lawful purpose, competent parties
One of the parties failed to meet contractual obligations
The suing party suffered damages
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Monetary Remedies
Compensatory damages
Calculated to replace actual losses
May be special damages (can be calculated with some specificity)
May be general damages (more speculative, such as pain & suffering)
Punitive damages punish the defendant and serve as a deterrent
Statutory damages are set by the legislature
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Equitable Remedies
Monetary damages cannot “right the wrong” (e.g., unique, irreproducible property makes purchasing a replacement impossible)
Specific performance (the court orders someone to do something)
Injunction (the court orders someone to refrain from doing something)
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Court Authority
Courts cannot accept a law suit unless basic requirements of authority are met
Standing (the party’s stake or interest in the suit)
Case or controversy (not advisory: a real dispute)
Jurisdiction
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Jurisdiction
Subject matter jurisdiction Limited
Limited by amount of damages (maximum or minimum)
Limited by type of case (e.g., juvenile, bankruptcy)
General All types of cases
May be divided into divisions, such as civil or criminal
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Jurisdiction Over the Person
In personam means the court has exerted control over an entity, giving it the authority to enforce the law against that individual or business
In rem means the court has control over property that is the subject of a controversy (geographic location)
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Personal jurisdiction and “minimal contact”
Fundamental fairness requires a person has had some “minimal contact” in a court’s geographical boundary in order to exert personal jurisdiction over someone
The internet is stretching the boundaries of personal jurisdiction
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Obtaining Personal Jurisdiction
Consent
Most businesses must consent to the court’s control in order to do business in a jurisdiction
The plaintiff consents by filing the complaint
Use of a state’s resources or facilities can result in consent via a long-arm statute
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Personal Jurisdiction, cont.
Obtain jurisdiction by serving pleadings on a defendant found within the geographical boundaries of the jurisdiction
Businesses with minimum contacts within a state (conducting business with its citizens, for instance)
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Venue
Where a case will be heard
May be multiple proper venues, all of which could hear a case
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Venue
Which of several courts of proper jurisdiction should hear the case?
Federal or state
Geographical convenience
Speed it takes to get to trial in a specific court
Damage award history & jury pool
Reputation of the judges, and the attorney’s relationship to the court
Local pre-trial publicity
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Removal
With concurrent jurisdiction (more than one appropriate court), a state trial can be removed to federal court
If the federal matter is resolved, there will be no residual jurisdiction over the state matter.
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Trial Courts
Have the ability to hear evidence & serve as finders of fact
If they are courts of record, their judgment is appealable
Can be limited (specific subject matter, such as a federal question) or general (all civil & criminal actions)
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Federal Court …or not?
Federal courts cannot hear all disputes
Some cases may be heard only in federal court
Some cases may be heard only in state court
Some cases could be brought in either
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Federal Jurisdiction
Federal question
Arises under the U.S. Constitution, federal law (statutes, administrative regulations & rules of court), or international treaties
Diversity jurisdiction
Private dispute between citizens of different states
The amount in controversy must exceed $75,000
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Intermediate Appellate Courts
Reconsiders lower court decisions
Reviews the trial record for procedures followed, decisions made on objections
Determines if the lower court judge made an error in procedure or in applying substantive law
Can affirm (uphold), reverse and/or remand the decision back to trial court for a proper remedy
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Federal Court System
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Highest Appellate Court
U.S. Supreme Court, and varies in state systems
The court of last resort
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Certiorari
Can review (grant certiorari) to a small number of intermediate appellate court decisions
Determine whether laws are constitutional
Ensure individual constitutional rights have been preserved