CIVIL LITIGATION WITH ELISABETH MCKECHNIE
Dec 30, 2015
CIVIL LITIGATION
WITH ELISABETH MCKECHNIE
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Civil Litigation Timeline
Precipitating Event Action Filed Statute of Limitations runs Defendant(s)
Answer or Service of Process on file motion
Defendant(s)
Statute of Limitations begins to run
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Civil Litigation Timeline
Discovery continues: Status Conf. Discovery Trial Post-triali.e. Interrogatories Sent to non-binding cut off Motions orDepositions Arbitration AppealExpert Witnesses hired/deposedAttys further research case
Case over
Sample Research Question
Defendant driver was intoxicated. Plaintiff passenger elected to ride with him knowing that Defendant was drunk. Defendant caused an accident which injured plaintiff. What is the likelihood of a court granting a summary judgment motion in favor of Driver based on assumption of the risk by P?
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Types of Research Materials
Good Examples: Witkin: Summary of California Law
Legal Encyclopedia
Rutter: Civil Procedure Before Trial Practice Manual
California Forms of Pleading & Practice Forms Manual
Where Do You Start?
Where Do You start? Issue Spotting:
Summary judgment motion—requirements Assumption of risk in CA Driver Duty re Passenger; Passenger Duty
Educate Yourself …What’s Fastest & Cheapest? Witkin for both issues (BOOK) Rutter--Civil Procedure Before Trial (BOOK) Bancroft/Whitney--CA Civil Practice: Torts
(BOOK) California Forms of Pleading & Practice (BOOK) Lexis or Westlaw? NOT YET! Why not?
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Cost Consideration$$
WEXIS--FLAT RATE ISN’T FREE PER SEARCH RATE IS PRICEY
Overuse Flat Rate this year, next year price goes up.
Per Search Rate is pricey if you don’t have a strategy.
BOOKS ALREADY IN THE LIBRARY—are FREE
BOOK with a good index is FASTER than a bad keyword search
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Research Form
Legal Research Task Form
Client/Matter Number:________________________________ Date Project Received:_______________________________ Project Received From:_______________________________ Project Due Date:____________________________________ Project Format (i.e. e-mail, memo, etc.):______________________________ Question/Issues Presented:______________________________________________ Jurisdiction: ____________________________________________________________ Jurisdiction: ____________________________________________________________ Key Search Terms: __”assumption of risk”, “summary judgment”, duty: driver, passengerKey Search Terms: __”assumption of risk”, “summary judgment”, duty: driver, passenger Cost Restraints:_________________________________________________________Cost Restraints:_________________________________________________________ Amt. of Time Allowed to Spend on Project:____________________________________ Amt. of Time Allowed to Spend on Project:____________________________________ Number of other projects already pending:____________________________________Number of other projects already pending:____________________________________ Any Experts in Firm Who Can Help:_________________________________________ Any Experts in Firm Who Can Help:_________________________________________ List of Sources I’ve used (include database names for List of Sources I’ve used (include database names for
Lexis/Westlaw):_____________________________________Lexis/Westlaw):_____________________________________
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Rutter Group Personal Injury Hbk
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Using Form Books
A Good Form Book has: 1. Forms 2. Instructions on how to prepare forms. 3. Advice on deadlines 4. A check-list or timeline 5. Discussion of the law pertinent to your
form.
CA Forms of Pleading & Practice
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Local Rules—Summary Judgment
3.20 Reserving Hearing Dates.
Hearing dates for motions for summary judgment,
summary adjudication, judgment on the pleadings,
special motions to strike pursuant to Code of Civil
Procedure section 425.16, and demurrers must be
reserved in advance by telephoning the calendar
clerks at (916) 874-7848 (Department 54) or (916)
874-7858 (Department 53).(Sac. County Local Rules)
(Amended effective 1/1/10)
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Rules and Deadlines---Local Rules
If you are the responding party to a Summary Judgment Motion….
(C) Failure to comply with the requirements of
this rule concerning filing and serving opposing and
reply papers may, in the discretion of the court, be
deemed cause for acting on the matter without
consideration of the document filed in violation of the
rule and cause for imposing sanctions. (Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 2.30; Code of Civ. Proc., sections 177.5
and 575.2.)………..
(Amended effective 1/1/07)---Sacramento County Local Rule 3.03—Filing of Papers
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Local Rules
3.02 Sanctions.
Failure to comply with any Local Rule or California Rules of Court may subject the party to sanctions pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 2.30; Code of Civil Procedure sections 177.5, 575.2.
(Sacramento County Local Rules)
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Rules and Deadlines-California Rules of Court
CALIFORNIA RULES OF COURT 17|131|586|1403|1760
Note California Rules of Court Reorganization Title 1. Rules Applicable to All Courts 7|33 Title 2. Trial Court Rules 9|38|155 Title 3. Civil Rules 21|110|297|398 Title 4. Criminal Rules 7|59|83 Title 5. Family and Juvenile Rules 4|26|183|236 Title 6. [Reserved] Title 7. Probate Rules 23|120 Title 8. Appellate Rules 5|47|199|390 Title 9. Rules on Law Practice, Attorneys, and Judges 6|25|44 Title 10. Judicial Administration Rules 5|38|199|211 Standards of Judicial Administration 10|56 Ethics Standards for Neutral Arbitrators in Contractual Arbitration 17
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California Rules of Court
Chapter 1. Papers 20 Rule 2.100. Form and format of papers presented for filing in the trial courts Rule 2.101. Use of recycled paper; certification by attorney or party Rule 2.102. One-sided paper Rule 2.103. Quality, color, and size of paper Rule 2.104. Printing; type size Rule 2.105. Type style Rule 2.106. Color of print Rule 2.107. Margins Rule 2.108. Spacing and numbering of lines Rule 2.109. Page numbering Rule 2.110. Footer Rule 2.111. Format of first page Rule 2.112. Separate causes of action, counts, and defenses Rule 2.113. Binding Rule 2.114. Exhibits Rule 2.115. Hole punching …………(And yes, there’s more!)
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Problem #2
You are asked to examine a complaint recently filed and served on your client. You are to look for defects in the complaint and to suggest affirmative defenses which may be raised.
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Where to Start? Spot Issues
Spot issues: What are the Causes of Action? Educate yourself about the elements of each
Cause of Action. Research any cases/laws cited. Are all the required elements pleaded? Are there any other defects in the Complaint?
Statute of Limitations? Problems with Service of Complaint? Any other obvious flaws?
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Resources That Can Help
California Codes—Index— “Limitations” or “Statute of Limitations”
California Affirmative Defenses (West) Causes of Action, 2d (West)[not CA specific] CA Forms of Pleading and Practice (Bender)
— “Answer” chapter CEB Action Guide—Responding to a
Complaint or Cross-Complaint, Evaluating Your Options
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Questions?
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