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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