U.S. LEGAL SYSTEMS – Federal Court Systems – State Court Systems.

U.S. LEGAL SYSTEMS

– Federal Court Systems

– State Court Systems

Federal Court Systems

• US Supreme Court

• US Court of Appeals

• US District Courts

State Court Systems

1. State Supreme Court2. State Court of Appeals3. Superior Court – Unlimited

Jurisdiction (Claims over $25,000)

4. Superior Court - Limited Jurisdiction (Claims over $7,500 - $25,000)

5. Small Claims Court (Claims up to $7,500)

California Litigation Procedures

1. Complaint/Summons2. Answer

Cross Complaint* C.C.P.§ 426.30 Compulsory Cross

Complaint• C.C.P.§ 428.10 Permissive Cross

Complaint • C.C.P.§ 428.50 Time for Filing Cross

Complaint

3. Default Judgment - C.C.P.§ 585

California Litigation Procedures

4. MotionsMotion to Demurrer

C.C.P.§ 430.10

Motion to Strike C.C.P.§§ 435-436

Motion for Summary JudgmentC.C.P.§ 437cHearing Date: 105 days prior to trial date

California Litigation Procedures

Service of Notice of Motion:Regular Motions:16 Court Days (Moving Papers)9 Court Days (Opposition Papers)5 Court Days (Reply Papers)

Points and Authorities pages limitOpening – 15 pagesOpposition- 15 pagesReply- 10 pagesCRC Rule 313(d)

California Litigation Procedures

Motion for Summary Judgment75 Days (Moving Papers)14 Days (Opposition Papers)5 Court Days (Reply Papers)*to be heard 30 days prior to trial date

Points and Authorities pages limitOpening – 20 pagesOpposition- 20 pagesReply- 10 pagesCRC Rule 313(d)

California Litigation Procedures

C.C.P.§ 1005(b) Increase Motion service days

Service by Mail:within California add 5 days; outside California, but in U.S. add 10 days; outside U.S. add 20 days

Serviced by Fax, Express Mail, OvernightDelivery: Add 2 days

CRC Rule 313(e)Table of Authorities and Contents are required (over 10 pages)Summary of Argument is required (over 15 pages)

California Litigation Procedures

Rules of Court

Tentative RulingCRC Rule 324

Ex parte ApplicationCRC Rule 379(b): Notice by10:00 a.m. the day before hearingException (no notice if emergency)

Local Rules

California Litigation Procedures

5. Pre Judgment Attachment &

Injunctions(C.C.P. § 483.010 & §§ 525-533)

6. Evidence Discovery– Request for Documents

Production: Request for Production – 30 days notice is required (C.C.P.§ 2031.030; §2031.260)• Plaintiff may serve Request for

Production 10 days after service summons on defendant (C.C.P.§ 2031.020) Sanctions– file within 45 days after response due date (C.C.P.§ 2031.320)

California Litigation Procedures

California Litigation Procedures

– Interrogatories (General or Special):

Request for Interrogatories – 30 days notice is required (C.C.P.§ 2030.260)• Plaintiff may serve Request for Interrogatories 10 days after service summons on defendant (C.C.P.§ 2030.020) 35 Questions maximum – Special Interrogatories, unless with

California Litigation Procedures

declaration (C.C.P.§ 2030.030) Motion to Compel & for

Sanctions– file within 45 days after response due date (C.C.P.§ 2030.300)- Request for Admissions:

Request for Admissions – 30 days notice is required (C.C.P.§ 2033.250)• Plaintiff may serve Request for Admissions10 days after service summons on defendant (C.C.P.§ 2033.020)

California Litigation Procedures

35 Questions maximum – Special Interrogatories, unless with declaration (C.C.P.§ 2033.050) Sanctions– file within 45 days after response due date (C.C.P.§ 2033.290)** Attach a Form Interrogatories (No. 17.1) with Request for Admissions- Deposition(C.C.P.§ 2025.010) a) Party

California Litigation Procedures

Notice of Deposition or Notice of Deposition and Request for Production – 10 days notice is required (C.C.P.§ 2025.270)• Plaintiff may serve deposition

notice 20 days after service summons on defendant (C.C.P.§ 2025.210)

Place of deposition: 75 miles of the deponent’s residence or in the county where the action is pending and within 150 miles of the deponent’s residence (C.C.P.§ 2025.250)

California Litigation Procedures

b) Non Party Deposition Subpoena – For

Personal Appearance 10 days notice is required

(C.C.P.§ 2025.270)

Witness Fees and mileage (C.C.P.§ 2025.230; Government Code §68093) Deposition Subpoena – For

Production of Business Records only

California Litigation Procedures

15 days after service or 20 days after issuance,

whichever date is later

(C.C.P.§ 2025.410)

Deposition Subpoena – For Personal Appearance &

Production of Records 20 days after issuance subpoena is required

(C.C.P.§ 2025.410)

California Litigation Procedures

**If consumer records is requested, (C.C.P.§ 2025.410; C.C.P.§ 2025.270;C.C.P.§ 1985.3(b)- serve Notice toConsumer at least 5 days prior to service the Subpoena – For Business Records only or 2025.270For Personal Appearance & Production of Records *- Expert Discovery

(C.C.P.§ 2034.210)

California Litigation Procedures

Demand for Exchange of ExpertWitness – The deadline for thedemand is 10 days after the initial trial date has been set or 70 days before the trial date, whichever is later(C.C.P.§ 2034.220)

Discovery cut-off date: 30 days prior to the initial trial date(C.C.P.§ 2024.020)

California Litigation Procedures

Expert Discovey cut-off date:15 days prior to the initial trial date(C.C.P.§ 2024.030)

Parties may move the court for anorder extending the discovery cut-off date(C.C.P.§ 2024.050)

Parties can agree in writing to extend the discovery cut-off date(C.C.P.§ 2024.060)

California Litigation Procedures

**Verification (by Responding Party)

**Requesting Party retains original notices

C.C.P.§ 1013 Increase Discovery Response due day

Service by Mail:

within California add 5 days; outside California, but in U.S. add 10 days; outside U.S. add 20 days

Serviced by Fax, Express Mail, Overnight

Delivery: Add 2 court days

California Litigation Procedures

7. Pre-Trial Settlement Conference

8. Trial - Judge Trial

- Jury Trial9. Judgment10. Enforcement11. Appellate Process