Civil Litigation

AuthorCindy Stormer
Pages55-274
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CIVIL LITIGATION
CHAPTER 1
CIVIL LITIGATION
I. General Policies and Procedures
A. General Points
§1:01 The Lawyer’s Creed and Rules of Professional Conduct
§1:02 Written Policies and Procedures
§1:03 Telephone Procedures
§1:04 Confidentiality
§1:05 Billing Records
§1:06 Keeping Clients
§1:07 Avoiding Malpractice
§1:08 Protection Regarding Social Security Numbers
§1:09 Scams
B. Keeping Up With All the Dates
§1:10 Calendars
§1:11 Tickler System
C. Getting Paid
§1:20 Choosing Cases That Pay
§1:21 Time Keeping and Billing
§1:22 Fees and Costs as Part of a Recovery
§1:23 Court Appointed Representation
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 Fees
§1:36 Advising Veterans About Benefits
§1:37 Suing Governmental Entities
III. Pre -Suit Activities
A. Documents
§1:40 Demand Letters
§1:41 Correspondence
B. Research
§1:50 Local Rules
§1:51 Investigating the Case
TEXAS SMALL-FIRM PRACTICE TOOLS 1−2
CIVIL LITIGATION
§1:52 Notice Requirements
§1:53 Internet Research
IV. Initiating the Action
A. General Points
§1:60 Preparing the Petition
§1:61 Supplemental and Amended Pleadings
§1:62 Verified Pleas
§1:63 Legal Documents
B. Courts & Jurisdic tion
§1:70 Federal Courts
§1:71 State Courts Generally
§1:72 District Courts
§1:73 Constitutional County Courts
§1:74 County Courts at Law—a.k.a. Statutory County Courts
§1:75 Probate Courts
§1:76 Justice of the Peace Courts
§1:77 Municipal Courts
§1:78 Other Considerations in Determining the Court
C. Filing the Lawsuit
§1:80 Try to Settle First
§1:81 The Clerk’s Office
§1:82 Service of Process
§1:83 Whom to Serve
§1:84 Substituted Service
§1:85 Service by Publication
D. Parties
§1:90 Jurisdiction Over Parties
§1:91 Capacity
§1:92 New Parties
§1:93 Impleader
§1:94 Interpleader
§1:95 Intervention
§1:96 Immunity
V. Default Judgment
§1:100 Seeking a Default Judgment
§1:101 Challenges to a Default Judgment
VI. Defending a Lawsuit
A. General Points
§1:110 Representation by Attorney or Pro se
§1:111 The Defendant’s Options
§1:112 Answer
§1:113 Affirmative Defenses
B. Objecting to Jurisdiction
§1:120 Make a Special Appearance
§1:120.1 Include an Answer
§1:120.2 Request a Hearing
§1:121 Consider a Motion to Quash
[§1:122 Reserved]
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CIVIL LITIGATION
§1:123 Affidavits
§1:124 Don’t Invoke the Cour t’s Jurisdiction
§1:125 Sanctions on Special Appearance
C. Removal to Federal Court
§1:126 Diversity Jurisdiction
§1:127 Fraudulent Joinder
§1:128 Motion to Remand
D. Venue and Forum Challenges
§1:130 Venue Challenges
§1:131 Forum Non Conveniens
§1:132 Notice and Time Limitations
§1:133 Hearing
§1:134 Sanctions
§1:135 Appeals
§1:136 Mandatory Venue Provisions
§1:137 Permissive Venue
VII. Motions
§1:140 General Points
§1:141 TROs and Temporary Injunctions
§1:142 Motion for Continuance
§1:143 Summary Judgments
VIII. Discovery
A. General Points
§1:150 Governing Rules and Discovery Control Plan
§1:151 Service and Response Times
§1:152 Filing
§1:153 Objections to Discovery
§1:154 Motions to Compel
§1:155 Protective Orders
§1:156 Discovery Traps
§1:157 Rules for Expedited Cases
B. Types of Discovery
§1:160 Pretrial Disclosures
§1:161 Interrogatories
§1:162 Requests for Admissions
§1:163 Depositions
§1:164 Defending a Deposition
§1:165 Inspection of Documents and Other Things
§1:166 Physical and Mental Exams
§1:167 Electronic Discovery
§1:168 Expert Disclosure
C. Subpoenas & Business Record Affidavits
§1:170 Subpoenas and Subpoenas Duces Tecum
§1:171 Business Records Affidavits
IX. Alternative Dispute Resolutions
§1:180 General Points
§1:181 Mediation

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