Civil Procedure - Outline of entire course with Prof. Alfieri. PDF

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Outline of entire course with Prof. Alfieri....

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LFQM CI VI LPROCEDURE ANOVERVI EW OFPROCEDURE THEI DEA AND P RACTI CEOFPROCEDURE Loc at i ngPr oc e dur e  Atonel e v e l ,pr oc e dur ei se t i que t t eofr i t ua l i z e dba t t l e ,de fini n gi ni t i a t i on, d e v e l opme nt ,a ndc onc l u s i onofl a ws u i t .  Pr oc e dur emi r r or so urmos tba s i cnot i on soff a i r ne s sa ndme a ni n gofj us t i c e . Cl i e nt s , La wy e r s , Pr oc e dur e ,andSt r at e gy  Fi r s t ,Πwoul dp r o ba bl yne e dt ofindl a wy e r .( I nU. S.i ndi v i dua l sc a npr os e c ut et h e i rc a s e st he ms e l v e s —i npr o pr i ape r s o naor pr os e —bu tmos tc ons i de rl a wy e r swor t hwhi l ef orl i t i ga t i on,i npa r tbe c a us el a wy e r skno wt he i rwa ya r o undp r o c e dur a l s y s t e m. )  Πa ndh i sl a wy e rha v et odi v i der e s p ons i bi l i t i e s .  I nl e g a la nde c ono mi ct e r ms , l a wy e ri sΠ’ s“ a g e nt , ”a c t i n gf orh i mi nl a ws u i t . WHERECANSUITBEBROUGHT?  Ther u l e sg o v e r n i n gwhe r es u i tc a nbeb r o ug htc omeund e rhe a di n gsofs u bj e c tma t t e rj ur i s d i c t i on,pe r s o na lj ur i s di c t i on ,a nd v e nue . Pe r s onal Jur i s di c t i on  Ac our tc a nno te x e r c i s epo we ro v e rΔunl e s ss t a t ei nwhi c ht ha tc our ts i t sha ss omec onne c t i onwi t hhi m orwi t ha c c i de n tt ha t g a v er i s et oΠ’ sc l a i m.  Thedoc t r i neofpe r s on a lj ur i s d i c t i onf oc u s e sonΔ, whoi sbe i n gt a ke nt oc ou r ta g a i ns thi swi l l . Subj e c tMa t t e rJur i s di c t i on  28U. S. C.§§13 31a nd1 332( a ) . Ha wki nsv .Mas t e r sFar ms , I nc . 20 03WL21 55576 7( D.Ka n. 20 03) I s s ue :Wh e t he rp e r s onwhol i v e si nKa n.buts t i l lr e t a i nss ubs t a nt i a lc on t a c t swi t hhi sf or me rdomi c i l ei nMo . i sr e s i de ntofKa n. Fa c t s :Cr e a lwa ski l l e di nKa n.i nc ol l i s i onwi t ht r a c t ordr i v e nb yMa s t e r s ,Ka n.r e s i de nt .Att i meofh i sde a t h ,Cr e a lwa sl i vi n gi n Ka n.wi t hhi swi f e .Pr e vi ous l y ,Cr e a lh a dbe e nl i vi n gwi t hh i smot he ri nMo . ,a ndunt i lt he ymo v e di nt oa pa r t me ntt og e t he rCr e a l s pe ntni ght swi t hMs . Cr e a lbutr e t ur n e dt ohi smot he r ’ sho mea f t e rwor ke v e r ye v e ni n g .Cr e a le v e nt ua l l ymo v e di nt ohou s ewi t hhi s wi f ea ndc e a s e dr e t u r ni n gt ohi smot he r ’ shomea f t e rwor k.Att i meofhi sde a t h ,Cr e a lha dMo .dr i v e r ’ sl i c e ns ea nda ppl i e df orl oa n a ndc a rt i t l ei nMo .Hec on t i nue dt or e c e i v epa y c h e c ksa thi smot he r ’ shome .Ha wki ns ,r e pr e s e nt i n gCr e a l ,fil e ds ui ti nf e de r a lc our t a s s e r t i n gj ur i s d i c t i onba s e dondi v e r s i t yofc i t i z e ns h i pofpa r t i e s .Ma s t e r sFa r ms ,I nc .mo v e dt odi s mi s songr oun dt ha tt h e r ewa sno di v e r s i t yofc i t i z e ns h i p. Hol di n g:Ye s .A pe r s o ni sc i t i z e nofs t a t ei nwhi c hh ei sdomi c i l e d,e s t a bl i s h e db yp h y s i c a lpr e s e nc ei npl a c ea ndi nt e ntt or e ma i n t he r e .

Se r vi c eofPr oc e s s  Thefir s t t h i n gt od oi st odr a f tc ompl ai nt .  The nΠ’ sl a wy e rmus tf or ma l l ynot i f yΔofs u i t .Rul e4s e t sf or t ht woba s i cme a nsofno t i c e ,o nei ne xpe ns i v ea ndi nf or ma l , o t h e rmor ee xp e ns i v ea ndf or ma l .Thei ne xpe ns i v eme t hod ,c a l l e dwa i v e rofs e r vi c e ,i n v ol v e sma i l i n gΔc o mpl a i nta ndFo r ms 5a nd6;i fΔma i l sba c ks i gne dc op yofFor m 6,s ui tc a np r o c e e d.Thee xpe ns i v eme t hod,us e di fΔr e f us e st oc oop e r a t e , r e qu i r e sl a wy e rt odr a f ts ummons , a ndt a kei tt oc l e r kofc ou r t ,whowi l ls i gna nds e a li t . STATING CASE TheLa wy e r ’ sRe s pons i bi l i t y

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LFQM Br i dg e sv . Di e s e lSe r vi c e ,I nc . 19 94U. S. Di s t .LEXI S9429( E. D. Pa .1994 ) I s s ue :Wh e t he rs a nc t i onsa r ewa r r a nt e dwhe r ec ou ns e lf a i l st ofil eEEOCc ompl a i nt be f or ebr i n gi n gdi s c r i mi na t i ons ui t . Fa c t s :Br i d g e ss u e dDi e s e lSe r vi c e ,I nc .f o ra g edi s c r i mi na t i onunde rAme r i c a nswi t hDi s a b i l i t i e sAc t .Thec ou r tdi s mi s s e dBr i dg e s ’ c ompl a i nton gr oun dt ha th eha d no te xh a us t e da dmi ni s t r a t i v er e me di e sb y fir s tfil i n gc ompl a i ntwi t h Eq ua lEmpl o yme nt Opp or t uni t yCommi s s i on. Di e s e lmo v e df orRul e11s a nc t i onsa g a i ns tBr i dg e s ’a t t or n e y . Hol di n g:No.Rul e1 1s a nc t i onsa r ea p pr o pr i a t ewh e r ec o mpl a i ntfil e di sob j e c t i v e l yu nr e a s on a bl eun de rc i r c ums t a nc e s ,orwhe r e c l a i ma s s e r t e di sp a t e nt l yun me r i t or i ousorf r i v ol ous . Not e :Re ad i ngRul e s  Br i e flypu t ,Rul e sa r el i kes t a t u t e sa ndCons t i t ut i oni nt ha tt he ys t a t eg e ne r a lpr i nc i pl e sr a t he rt ha nd e a l i n gwi t hs p e c i fic i ns t a nc e s ,whi c hi st a s kofc a s e s .Bu tRul e sdi ffe rf r oms t a t u t e si nt woi mpo r t a ntwa y s . o Unl i kes t a t ut e s ,t he ya r eno tdi r e c t l ye na c t e db yl e gi s l a t u r e .As t a t u t e ,28U. S. C.§20 72( c a l l e dRul e sEna bl i n gAc t ) , e mpo we r sU. S.Supr e meCou r tt opr omul g a t e“ r ul e sofpr a c t i c ea ndpr oc e dur e… f o rc a s e si nU. S. di s t r i c tc ou r t s . ” o Al s o,unl i k ef e de r a ls t a t u t e s ,whi c hc a nde a lwi t ha n yt opi cc on c e r n i n gwhi c hCons t i t u t i ona l l o wsCon gr e s st o l e gi s l a t e ,Rul e sma yon l yde a lwi t h“ pr a c t i c ea ndpr oc e dur e . ”De fini n gbo unda r yb e t we e ns u bs t a nc e( whi c hRul e s ma ynotr e gul a t e )a n dp r o c e dur e( whi c ht h e yma y)c a nbedi ffic ul t ,butCon gr e s sha sma dei tc l e a rt ha ti twa nt sRul e s t oc onfin et h e ms e l v e st of or me r .  Theor i g i na ls e tofRul e sb e c a mee ffe c t i v ei n1 938. TheJ u s t i c e sdi dno twr i t eor i g i na lRul e st h e ms e l v e sno rd ot he yn o ws e r v e a sp r i ma r ybod yc on s i de r i n ga me nd me nt st oRul e s .I n s t e a d,a sp r o vi de di n28U. S. C.§§ 2073 7 7,s e r i e so fc ommi t t e e s , a pp oi nt e db yChi e fJ u s t i c eofU. S. Supr e meCour t ,dot h i swor k.SoCommi t t e eonCi vi lRul e s ,c ons i s t i n gofj udg e s ,l a wy e r s , a ndpr of e s s orort wo,c on s i de r spr op os e da me ndme nt st oRul e s .Thi sgr oupc i r c ul a t e spr op os e dc ha n g e st opr of e s s i on,ho l ds pu bl i che a r i n g s ,r e v i s e sc h a n g e si nl i ghtofh e a r i n g s ,a nds u bmi t sr e s u l t st oSt a ndi n gCommi t t e eo nRul e so fPr a c t i c e , Pr oc e dur e ,a ndEvi de nc e .TheSt a ndi n gCo mmi t t e ef u r t he rc ons i de r sa ndr e fine spr op os e da me ndme nt s ,p a s s i n gt he mi nt u r n t oJ u di c i a lConf e r e nc eofU. S. .  I fCon f e r e nc ea ppr o v e sc ha n g e ,i tpa s s e sp r o pos e dRul et oSup r e meCour t .  Und e r28U. S. C. §20 74Cou r t ,i fi tt ooa ppr o v e spr op os e dc ha n g e , mu s t“ t r a ns mi t[ i t ]t oCon gr e s sno tl a t e rt ha nMa y1ofy e a r i nwhi c hs uc hr ul e… i st obe c omee ffe c t i v e . ”Con gr e s sha sunt i lDe c .1t oa c t .  Ones e tofa me nd me nt sde s e r v e ss pe c i a lnot e —t he“ r e s t y l i n g”a me ndme nt st ha tt oo ke ffe c ti n200 7.Un l i kepr e vi ousc ha n g e s , t he s ea me ndme nt sp ur po r t e dt oc ha n g epr oc e dur e so nl yi nv e r yf e wi ns t a nc e s . I n s t e a d,c ha n g e swe r es t y l i s t i c .  Tho ug hi twa sn otc a s ei n193 8,e v e r ys t a t eno wus e sp r oc e dur a lmod e lt ha te mbr a c e smos toft he s epr i nc i pl e s . TheCompl ai nt Be l lv .No vi c kTr ans f e rCo. 17F. R. D.279( D.Md .19 55) I s s ue :Wh e t h e rpa r t ys t a t e sc l a i m upo nwhi c hr e l i e fma ybegr a nt e di fhes t a t e st h a tΔ ne gl i g e nt l yop e r a t e dt r uc k,c a us i n gΠ’ s i n j ur i e s . Fa c t s :TheBe l l sa ndt he i ri nf a nts ue dNo vi c kTr a ns f e rCo .whe nt r uc ko wne da ndope r a t e db yNo vi c kc ol l i de dwi t hBe l l s ’c a r , i n j ur i n gi nf a nt .The i rc omp l a i nt ,i ni t i a l l yfil e di ns t a t ec ou r tb uts ub s e que nt l yr e mo v e dt of e de r a lc our t ,a l l e g e dt h a tc a rwa sb e i n g op e r a t e di nc a r e l e s s ,r e c kl e s s ,a ndne g l i g e ntma nne r .No vi c kmo v e dt odi s mi s s ,a r gui n gt ha tBe l l s ’de c l a r a t i onf a i l e dt os t a t ec l a i m a g a i ns tNo vi c kuponwhi c hr e l i e fc oul dbegr a nt e d,a l l e gi n go nl yt h a ta c c i de nto c c ur r e dduet one gl i g e nc eo fNo vi c ka sr e s ul tof whi c hBe l l swe r ei n j ur e d,a ndf a i l i n gt oa l l e g es pe c i fica c t sofne gl i g e nc e . Hol di n g s :Ye s .( 1)Ac l a i m uponwhi c hr e l i e fma ybegr a nt e di ss hor ta ndpl a i ns t a t e me ntofc l a i ms ho wi n gt ha tpl e a de ri se nt i t l e dt o r e l i e f ;( 2)pa r t yi snot e nt i t l e dt omor ede fini t es t a t e me ntun l e s sf a c t sa r ene c e s s a r yf orpa r t yt of or m hi sr e s pons et opl e a di n g .

TheRe s pons e —Mo t i onsa ndAns we r  Onc eΔr e c e i v e sp r ope rnot i c eofc l a i m, a t t e nt i ons hi f t st ohi sr e s pons e —t hede f e ns eofa c t i on.  Ge ne r a l l y ,t ha tr e s pons et a k e so neoft wof o r ms :mot i ona t t a c ki n gc ompl a i nti ns o mewa yorr e s pons i v epl e a di n g( us u a l l y c a l l e da ns we r ) . Pr e Ans we rMot i ons  Mot i onsi sl a wy e r t a l kf orr e que s t st ha tc our t dos ome t h i n g . TheAns we r 2

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LFQM I nmos tc ommonr e s p ons et oc ompl a i nt ,Δd e ni e st r ut ho fo neormor eofa l l e g a t i onsofc ompl a i nt ,o r ,i fa f t e rr e a s o na bl e i n v e s t i g a t i onΔdoe snotkn o wwhe t he ra l l e ga t i oni st r u e ,hema yde n ya l l e g a t i on.Rul e8( b ) .( Atc ommonl a wt h i smo v ewa s c a l l e dt r av e r s e ;t oda yi t ’ sde ni al . ) TheΔma ywa ntt oa s s e r ta ddi t i ona lma t t e r st ha twi l lwhol l yorpa r t i a l l yde f e a tΠ’ sc l a i m.Atc ommonl a ws uc hma t t e r swe r e c a l l e dc on f e s s i ona ndav oi danc e ;t oda ywec a l lt h e m affir ma t i v ede f e ns e s . Be f or edr a f t i n goura ns we r ,wea l s omus ta s kwhe t he rΔwa nt st oma k ea n yc l a i m ofhi so wn,whi c hwoul dh a v et ob ei nc l ude d i na ns we r .The r ea r et hr e es uc hp os s i bi l i t i e s :c ou nt e r c l a i ms ,c r o s s c l a i ms , a ndt hi r dpa r t yc l a i ms .

Ame ndme ntofPl e adi ngs  TheRul e sr e fle c tl i be r a lpol i c yt o wa r dc ha n g e s( c a l l e dame ndme n t s )t opl e a di n g s . PARTIESTO LAWSUIT Lar s onv . Ame r i c anFa mi l yMut ualI ns .Co. 20 07U. S.Di s t .LEXI S4186 4( D.Co l o.2 007) I s s ue :Ma ya l lpe r s on sb ej oi ne di non ea c t i ona sΔsi ft he r ei sa s s e r t e da ga i ns tt he ma n yc l a i ma r i s i n gouto fs a met r a ns a c t i on, oc c ur r e nc e ,o rs e r i e so ft r a ns a c t i onsoroc c ur r e nc e s ? Fa c t s :La r s onr e t a i ne da t t or ne yRos s Sha nnont os ueh i si ns u r a nc ec ompa n yAme r i c a nFa mi l yMut ua lI n s u r a nc eCo.f orf a i l ur et o pa yhous efir ec l a i m.Af t e rl e a r n i n gt ha tRos s Sha nnondi dnotpu r s uec l a i m duet oa t t or ne y ’ sde s i r et or e pr e s e ntAme r i c a ni no t h e r ma t t e r s ,La r s o nr e t a i ne dot he rc o uns e lwhos ue di ns t a t ec our t .Ame r i c a nwa sgr a nt e dr e mo v a lt of e de r a lc our tonba s i sofdi v e r s i t y j ur i s di c t i on.La r s o ns oo na f t e ra me nde dh i sc ompl a i ntt oi nc l udeRos s Sh a nnon,c l a i mi n gbr e a c hofd ut y ,c ons pi r a c ya ndl e g a l ma l pr a c t i c e ,t he r e b yde s t r o yi n gdi v e r s i t yofpa r t i e sa ndf o r c i n gr e ma ndt os t a t ec our t .Ame r i c a na r gue dt ha t ,unde rRul e2 0( a )of Fe de r a lRul e sofCi vi lPr oc e dur e ,ne wc l a i msdi dno ta r i s eoutofs a met r a ns a c t i onsoroc c ur r e n c e sa sot he rc l a i ms ,a ndne wc l a i ms s houl dh a v ebe e ndi s a l l o we dont ha tba s i s . Hol di n g:Ye s .Al lpe r s o nsma yb ej oi ne di nonea c t i ona sΔsi ft he r ei sa s s e r t e da g a i ns tt he ma n yc l a i ma r i s i n gou tofs a me t r a ns a c t i on,oc c ur r e nc e , ors e r i e so ft r a ns a c t i onsoroc c ur r e nc e s FACTUALDEVELOPMENT—DISCOVERY  Rul e11( b) ( 3)r e qui r e st ha tl a wy e r sdos omepr e p l e a di n gi n v e s t i ga t i onoff a c t s .  Rul e s26 3 7a nd45gi v epa r t i e sbr oa dpo we rofi n v e s t i g a t i on,po we rba c ke db yc our t i mpos e ds a nc t i ons .I ni t i a l l y ,Rul e26( a ) ( 1)r e qui r e spa r t y ,wi t h outbe i n ga s ke d,t or e v e a lt oot he rpa r t yc e r t a i nba s i ci nf o r ma t i ons upp or t i n gt ha tpa r t y ’ sc l a i msor de f e ns e s —na me so fwi t ne s s e s , e xi s t e nc eofdoc u me nt s , ba s e sf orda ma g ec a l c ul a t i on s , a ndl i ke .  Be y on dt he s e di s c l os ur e s ,pa r t i e sma ys e e ka ddi t i on a li nf or ma t i on t h r o ug hs e v e r a lme a ns :a s ki n g wr i t t e nq ue s t i ons ( i nt e r r o g at or i e s )ofpa r t i e st os u i t( Rul e33) ;r e q ui r i n gpr od uc t i onofr e c or ds ,i nwha t e v e rf o r m( Rul e s34a nd45 ( a ) ( 1) ( A) ( i i i ) ) f r om bo t hp a r t i e st os u i ta ndot he r s ;a s ki n gor a lqu e s t i onsun de ro a t h( d e pos i t i ons )( Rul e s30a nd45 ) ;a ndc ompe l l i n g ph y s i c a lorme nt a le xa mi na t i on s( Rul e35) .  Thr e er e s t r i c t i onsl i mi to t h e r wi s ebr oa dpo we r sofc i vi ldi s c o v e r y .Fi r s t ,pa r t i e sma ydi s c o v e ron l ye vi de nc et ha ti sr e l e v antt o c l a i m orde f e ns ei nc a s e .Se c o nd, e v e ni fr e l e v a nt ,r e q ue s t e di nf o r ma t i onma ybepr ot e c t e di fpr i v i l e g e d.Fi na l l y ,e v e nr e l e v a nt , un pr i v i l e g e di nf or ma t i onma ybeun di s c o v e r a bl ei fp a r t yc a nc on vi nc ec our tt ha ti t spot e nt i a lf or“ a nn o y a nc e ,e mba r r a s s me n t , op pr e s s i on,o ru ndueb ur de nore xpe ns e ”ou t we i ghi t se v i de nt i a r yv a l ue .Rul e26 ( c ) . But l e rv . Ri gs by 19 98U. S. Di s t .LEXI S4618( E. D.La .1998) I s s ue s :Wh e t h e ra n yoff ol l o wi n ga r edi s c o v e r a bl e :( 1)e v i de nc eofr e l a t i ons hi pbe t we e ne xp e r twi t n e s sa nda t t or n e y ;( 2)e v i de nc eof i nc omef r om l i t i g a t i on ;or( 3 )p a t i e ntr e c or dsa r edi s c o v e r a bl e . Fa c t s :But l e ra ndt h r e eot he r ss u e dRi gs b yf ori n j ur i e st he ys us t a i ne di nc a ra c c i de nt .Ri g s b yfil e dno t i c e sofde p os i t i onso n Ame r i c a nMe di c a lGr oupa ndMi dt o wnHe a l t hCa r ea ndr e que s t e df r o mt h e s epa r t i e sl i s t soft ot a lnu mbe ro fpa t i e nt sr e f e r r e dt o t he mb yΠs 'a t t or n e y s ,r e por t soft he i rne ti nc ome sa ndpe r c e nt a g eofne ti nc omet ha twa sl i t i g a t i onr e l a t e d,a ndl i s t so ft he i r pa t i e nt s .AMG a ndMHCmo v e df oror de rpr ot e c t i n gi nf or ma t i onf r om di s c o v e r yb yRi g s b y ,a ndc our tde n i e dt h e i rmo t i ons .AMG a ndMHCa ppe a l e d . Hol di n g s :( 1 )Ye s .Thes c op eofdi s c o v e r yi n c l ud e sa n yma t t e r ,no tpr i vi l e g e d,t ha ti sr e l e v a ntt os u bj e c tma t t e ri n v ol v e di npe ndi n g a c t i onori sr e a s o na bl yc a l c ul a t e dt ol e a dt odi s c o v e r yofa dmi s s i bl ee vi de nc e .( 2)Ye s .Re por t sofne ti nc ome sa ndpe r c e nt a g eofne t i nc omet ha ti sl i t i g a t i on r e l a t e da r edi s c o v e r a bl e .( 3 )No.Thel i s t sofpa t i e nt sa r en otdi s c o v e r a bl e ,a st he s er e pr e s e ntc onfide n t i a l c ommun i c a t i onsbe t we e nf a c i l i t i e sa ndt he i rp a t i e nt sa nda r et husp r i v i l e g e da n dnots ub j e c tt odi s c o v e r y PRETRIALDISPOSITION—SUMMARY JUDGMENT 3

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LFQM TheFe de r a lRul e sha v ea dopt e dde vi c eofs u mmar yj ud gme ntt opr o vi deme c ha ni s mf orde c i di n gc a s e sf o rwhi c ht r i a li sno t ne c e s s a r ya ndwoul ds e r v enopur po s e . Rul e56r e gul a t e ss umma r yj ud gme nt .

Houc he nsv . Ame r i c anHo meAs s ur anc eCo. 92 7F. 2 d163( 4t hCi r .19 91) I s s ue :Whe t he rs umma r yj udg me ntoni ns u r a nc ec l a i mf o ra c c i de nt a lde a t hi sa pp r o pr i a t ewhe ni ns ur e dha sdi s a ppe a r e da ndt h e r ei s noe vi de nc et ha thedi e d. Fa c t s :Al i c eHou c he nsbr ou gh ts ui ta g a i ns tAme r i c a nHomeAs s ur a nc eCo.t or e c o v e ronoc c up a t i ona la c c i de nt a li n j ur ya ndde a t h i ns ur a nc epol i c i e si s s ue dt ohe rhus ba nd,Cou l t e r ,whod i s a ppe a r e ddur i n gt r i pt oTha i l a nd.Thec our tha dgr a nt e dMs .Hou c he ns ’ mot i ont ode c l a r ehe rhus b a ndl e ga l l yde a d.Ame r i c a nr e f u s e dt opa yo npol i c i e sbe c a us eb ot hr e q ui r e dde a t ht ooc c urb ya c c i de nt a ndt he r ewa sn oe vi de nc et ha tMr .Houc he nsha ddi e da c c i de nt a lde a t h.Ame r i c a nmo v e df o rs umma r yj ud gme ntonMs .Hou c he ns ’ s ui t ,a s s e r t i n gt ha tt h e r ewa snog e nui nei s s u eofma t e r i a lf a c ta ndt ha ti twa se nt i t l e dt oj ud gme n ta sma t t e rofl a w.Thec our tgr a nt e d Ame r i c a n ’ smo t i on, a ndMs . Houc he nsa ppe a l e d. Hol di n g:No. Summa r yj ud gme nti sgr a nt e d,a f t e ra de qu a t et i mef ord i s c o v e r y ,a g a i ns tpa r t ywhof a i l st oma k es h o wi n gs uffic i e ntt o e s t a bl i s he xi s t e nc eofe l e me nte s s e nt i a lt ot ha tpa r t y ’ sc a s ea ndonwh i c ht ha tpa r t ywi l lbe a rb ur de nofpr oo fa tt r i a l . Not e s  I nEr i eRai l r o adCo.v .T ompk i ns ,Supr e meCour tha she l dt ha ti nc a s et ha ti si nf e de r a lc ou r ton l yb e c a us eofd i v e r s i t y j ur i s di c t i on,s t a t es u bs t ant i v el a wa ppl i e s .  I ns o mec a s e s ,Δwi l lf a i lt oa ns we rc ompl a i nte nt i r e l y ,orwi l lo t h e r wi s ef a i lt ode f e nd,a ndde f aul tj ud gme ntwi l lbegr a nt e d. ( Rul e55)Si mi l a r l y ,i fΠdoe snotobe yor d e rofc our tdur i n gpr oc e e di n g s ,d i s mi s s alma ybegr a nt e d .( Rul e41 ( b) )I na ddi t i on, Πma ys e e ks oc a l l e dv o l unt ar ydi s mi s s alofc a s ei f , f ors omer e a s on ,het hi nkst ha thewou l dbeb e t t e roffs t a r t i n go v e r .( Rul e 41 ( a ) ) TRIAL  Πwi l lha v eop por t uni t y( t oma k eope n i n gs t a t e me nt ,pr e s e nthi sc a s e , a ndma k ec l os i n gs t a t e me nt )f ol l o wi n gwhi c hΔwi l lg e t s a meoppo r t u ni t y .Fo re a c hwi t n e s s ,o nes i deg e t st o“ e xa mi ne ”( t ha ti s ,a s kq ue s t i onsde s i g ne dt odr a w outwi t ne s s ’s t or y ) , f ol l o wi n gwh i c ho t h e rs i deg e t st o“ c r os s e xa mi ne ”( pr obes t or yj us toffe r e db ywi t n e s s ) . Nor t onv . Snappe rPo we rEqui pme nt 80 6F. 2 d1545( 1 1t hCi r . 1987 ) I s s ue :Wh e t he rj udg me ntno t wi t hs t a ndi n gv e r di c ti sa ppr opr i a t ewhe r ec our two ul dha v ewe i ghe de vi de nc edi ffe r e nt l y . Fa c t s :Nor t onwa sope r a t i n gSna pp e rl a wnmo we ra spa r tofhi sc omme r c i a ll a wnmo wi n gbus i ne s s .Thel a wnmo we rbe g a nt os l i de ba c kwa r da sNor t onne a r e dt opofi nc l i ne ,a ndNo r t ona ndmo we rc r a s h e di nt oc r e e k,whe r eNor t on ’ sha ndwa ss e v e r e l yi n j ur e di n l a wnmo we rbl a de .Nor t ons u e dSna ppe rPo we rEqu i pme n t ,a nda tc on c l us i onofNor t on ’ sc a s eSna ppe rmo v e df ordi r e c t e dv e r di c t . Thec our tdi s mi s s e dNor t on ’ sne g l i g e nc ea ndwa r r a nt yc l a i msa nds e nts t r i c tl i a bi l i t yc l a i mt oj ur y .Whe nj ur yr e t ur n e dv e r di c t f a v or a bl et oNor t on,t r i a lj ud g ee nt e r e dj ud gme ntno t wi t h s t a nd i n gv e r di c t ,c onc l ud i n gt ha tj ur yc oul dno tha v ef oundl a wnmo we r de f e c t i v e . Hol di n g:No.Whe nc ons i de r i n ge nt e r i n gj ud gme ntn ot wi t hs t a ndi n gv e r di c t ,c our ts ho ul dc ons i de re vi de nc ei nl i ghtmos tf a v or a bl e t ononmo vi n gpa r t ya ndgr a ntj ud gme ntonl ywh e r ee vi de nc es os t r on g l ya nds of a v or a bl yp oi nt si nf a v orofm...