Civil litigation

• Author: Steven F. Samilow
• Pages: 51-190

CIVIL LITIGATION

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CHAPTER 1

CIVIL LITIGATION

I. GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

A. General Points

§1:01 Rules of Procedure and Conduct

§1:02 Forms and Checklists

§1:03 Client Intake

§1:04 Keeping Clients

§1:05 Avoiding Malpractice

§1:06 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

§1:07 Quickened Pace of Civil Court Case Resolution

B. Keeping on Top of Deadlines

§1:10 Calendars

§1:11 Tickler System

C. Getting Paid

§1:20 Choosing the Right Case

§1:21 Time Keeping and Billing

§1:22 Fees and Costs as Part of a Recovery

§1:23 Conf‌licts Check

II. REVIEWING AND ACCEPTING CASES

§1:30 The Initial Client Interview

§1:31 Accepting the Case

§1:32 Employment Contracts

§1:33 Declining Representation

§1:34 Statute of Limitations

§1:35 Shortening and Tolling the Statute of Limitations

§1:36 Fees

III. PRESUIT ACTIVITIES

A. Documents

§1:40 Demand Letters

§1:41 Correspondence

B. Research

§1:50 Local Rules

§1:51 Investigating the Case

§1:52 Notice Requirements

§1:53 Research

§1:54 Jury Instructions

§1:55 Importance of Jury Instructions

CIVIL LITIGATION

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IV. INITIATING THE ACTION

A. General Points

§1:60 Preparing the Complaint

§1:61 Amended Pleadings

§1:62 Verif‌ied Pleas

§1:63 Legal Documents

B. Courts & Jurisdic tion

§1:70 Federal Courts

§1:71 State Courts—County Court and Circuit Court

§1:72 State Courts—Concurrent and Exclusive Jurisdiction

§1:73 Judicial Disqualif‌ication

§1:74 Non-Final Appeals and Extraordinary Writs

C. Filing the Lawsuit & Service of Process

§1:80 Try to Settle First

§1:81 Electronic Filing and Service

§1:82 Conf‌idential and Sensitive Information

§1:83 Service of Process

§1:84 Whom to Serve—Individuals

§1:85 Whom to Serve—Business Entities and Partnerships

§1:86 Substitute Service

§1:87 Constructive Service by Publication

§1:88 Diligent Search Required

§1:89 Challenging Constructive Service

§1:90 Non-Resident Defendants

§1:91 Service on Service on the State, Political Subdivisions and Public Agencies

D. Parties

§1:100 Jurisdiction Over Parties

§1:101 Capacity

§1:102 New Parties

§1:103 Substitution of Parties

§1:104 Third-Party Practice

§1:105 Interpleader

§1:106 Intervention

§1:107 Representation by Counsel

V. OBTAINING A DEFAULT AND/OR A DEFAULT FINAL JUDGMENT

§1:120 Entitlement

§1:121 Members of the U.S. Armed Services

§1:122 Steps

§1:123 Unliquidated Damages

§1:124 Setting Aside a Default and/or a Default Final Judgment

VI. DEFENDING A LAWSUIT

A. General Points

§1:130 The Defendant’s Options

§1:131 Motion to Dismiss under Rule 1.140(b)

§1:132 Answer

§1:133 Aff‌irmative Defenses

§1:134 Reply to Aff‌irmative Defenses

§1:135 Preliminary Hearing

§1:136 Demand Exceeding Jurisdiction and Transfer

§1:137 Small Claims

CIVIL LITIGATION

1-3 Civil Litigation

B. Objecting to Jurisdiction

§1:140 Moving to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction

§1:141 Request a Hearing

§1:142 Jurisdictional Discovery

§1:143 Aff‌idavits

C. Removal to Federal Court

§1:150 Federal Question

§1:152 Diversity Jurisdiction

§1:153 Fraudulent Joinder

§1:154 Motion to Remand

D. Venue and Forum Challenges

§1:160 Venue Challenges

§1:161 Forum Non Conveniens

§1:162 Time Limitations

§1:163 Appeal of Venue Orders

VII. SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND OTHER MOTIONS

§1:170 General Points

§1:171 Adoption of the Federal Summary Judgment Standard

§1:172 Summary Judgment Requirements

§1:173 Service of the Summary Judgment Motion and Response

§1:174 Supporting Factual Position

§1:175 Aff‌idavits and Declarations

§1:176 The Summary Judgment Hearing

§1:177 Judgment on the Pleadings

§1:178 Motion for Temporary Injunction

§1:179 Motion for Continuance

§1:180 Motion to Strike a Sham Pleading

§1:181 Motion for Reconsideration

§1:182 Motion to Compel Arbitration

VIII. DISCOVERY

A. General Points

§1:190 Governing Rules

§1:191 Service and Response Times

§1:192 Filing of Discovery Responses

§1:193 Objections to Discovery

§1:194 Privilege Log

§1:195 Motions to Compel

§1:196 Protective Orders

§1:197 Discovery Traps

§1:198 Inadvertent Disclosure of Privileged Materials

§1:199 Electronically Stored Information (“ESI”)

B. Types of Discovery

§1:200 Interrogatories

§1:201 Requests for Admissions

§1:202 Depositions

§1:203 Defending a Deposition

§1:204 Production and Inspection of Documents and Other Things

§1:205 Production from a Non-Party

§1:206 Physical and Mental Examinations

C. Subpoenas

§1:220 Subpoenas and Subpoenas Duces Tecum