CIVIL LITIGATION
WITH ELISABETH MCKECHNIE
Civil Litigation Timeline
Precipitating Event
Action Filed
Statute of Limitations runs
Service of Process on
Defendant(s)
Defendant(s)
Answer or
file motion
Statute of Limitations begins
to run
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Civil Litigation Timeline
Case over
Discovery continues:
Status Conf.
i.e. Interrogatories
Sent to non-binding
Depositions
Arbitration
Expert Witnesses
hired/deposed
Attys further research case
Elisabeth McKechnie, 2009
Discovery Trial
cut off
Post-trial
Motions or
Appeal
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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
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Rutter: Civil Procedure Before Trial
 Practice Manual
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California Forms of Pleading & Practice
 Forms Manual
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Where Do You Start?
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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
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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
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Legal Research Task Form
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Client/Matter Number:________________________________
Date Project Received:_______________________________
Project Received From:_______________________________
Project Due Date:____________________________________
Project Format (i.e. e-mail, memo, etc.):______________________________
Question/Issues Presented:______________________________________________
Jurisdiction: ____________________________________________________________
Key Search Terms: __”assumption of risk”, “summary judgment”, duty: driver, passenger
Cost Restraints:_________________________________________________________
Amt. of Time Allowed to Spend on Project:____________________________________
Number of other projects already pending:____________________________________
Any Experts in Firm Who Can Help:_________________________________________
List of Sources I’ve used (include database names for
Lexis/Westlaw):_____________________________________
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Rutter Group Personal Injury Hbk
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Using Form Books
 A Good Form Book has:
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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.
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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 DeadlinesCalifornia Rules of Court
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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
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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
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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:
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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?
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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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