Chapter 3

Civil Dispute Resolution

 

Objectives:

1.  Know federal and state court structure

2.  Distinguish exclusive federal jurisdiction, concurrent federal jurisdiction, exclusive state jurisdiction

3.  Distinguish subject matter jurisdiction, three types of personal jurisdiction

4.  Stages of civil proceeding

5.  Litigation, arbitration, mediation

 

I.  Federal Courts

          1.  District

          2.  Circuit

                   a. Affirm, reverse, modify, remand

          3.  Supreme

                   a. Appeal by right and original jurisdiction

                   b. Writ of certiorari

          4.  Special U.S. courts

                   a. Bankruptcy

                   b. Court of claims

                   c. Federal circuit

                   d. Tax court

                   e. U.S. court of international trade

                   f. Military courts

 

II. State Courts

          1.  Michigan, see chart on p. 43

 

III. Jurisdiction

          1. Federal courts

                   a. Limited jurisdiction

                   b. Subject matter jurisdiction

                             i. Diversity.  $75k, different states

                                      RAM Products, p. 44

                                      Plaintiff sued for breach of non-compete clause

                                      Plaintiff is from Mich

                                      Def. worked for P in Mich, took job at

                                      Competitor in Ind.

                                      P sued in federal court, diversity, in Ind.

                                      Ind. Law favored D

                                      Mich law favored P

                                      Held: $50k pled in good faith, that's good enough

                                      Mich law applies

                             ii. Federal question jurisdiction.  "Arises under. . ."

                             iii. Some areas exclusively federal, some exclusively

                             state, some concurrent (either can hear the case)

                             iv. Stare decisis, see chart on p. 47

          2. Jurisdiction over the parties

                   a. In personam jurisdiction

                   b. In rem

                   c. Attachment, quasi in rem

                   d. Long arm statutes

                             i. World Wide Volkswagen

                             Audi sold in New York, to New York residents

                             They move to Arizona

                             On the way, they have an accident in Oklahoma

                             They sue in Oklahoma state, Audi, dealer and distributor

                             Dealer and distributor do no business in Oklahoma,

                             They challenge jurisdiction

                             S.Ct overrules, says no jurisdiction.

                             Violates traditional notions of fair play and justice

                   e. Compare venue

 

IV. Civil Dispute Resolution

          A. Civil procedure

                   1. Pleadings

                             i. Complaint and summons

                             ii. Responses to complaint, default, answer, motion,

                             counter claims

                             iii. Motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim

                             Questions of law v. questions or fact

                   2. Pre-trial procedure

                             i. Discovery 

                             ii. Pretrial conference

                             iii. Summary judgment

                                      Parker v. 20th Century

                                      Shirley signed to do Bloomer Girl

                                      Movie co. cancelled, tried to give her new K   

                                      For different movie, Big Country

                                      Defendant said she failed to mitigate by

                                      Not taking the other movie.

                                      Court said no, as matter of law not a reasonable      

                                      Substitute of employment.  Too different.

 

                   3. Trial

                             i. Jury selection

                                      Edmonson.  Rule against racial discrimination in

                                      Jury selection applies in civil cases as well as

                                      Criminal cases.

                                      Peremptory challenges and challenges for cause

                             ii. Conduct of trial

                                      Opening statements

                                      Direct examinations

                                      Post trial motions

                                      Closing arguments

                                      Jury instructions

                                      Verdict, more motions

                             iii. Appeal

                                      Reviews judge's decisions, issues of law only

                                      Oral argument only, no witnesses

                             iv. Enforcement

                                      Writ of execution

                                      Garnishment of wages

 

V.  Alternative Dispute Resolution

          A. Arbitration

                   Circuit City, Employment contract is subject to arbitration

                   Consensual v. compulsory

                   Court-ordered arbitration

          B. Negotiation

          C. Mediation

         

Questions.  All

 

Case problems.  8

 

Schedule

3.  44-65.  21 pages

4. 66-84. 18 pages

5. 85-99. 14 pages

6. 100-116. 16 pages

69 pages total

 

 

1745-2150    245 minutes

 

75  1745-1900

45  1900-1945

45  1945-2030

50  2030-2115