Constitutional Law
1. Standing – injury, causation, redressability
2. Jurisdiction – subject matter (FQ or complete diversity+$75k+,
supplemental for added claim w/CNF), personal (long-arm), opportunity to
be heard, service, venue (all Ds reside, event, FNC), removal (orig. file-able,
30 days, all Ds, not P, not own state), 11th Amend Sovereign Immunity
3. Ripeness & mootness
4. State Action
5. Commerce powers – Dormant Commerce (federal statute, discrimination,
undue burden), Privileges and Immunities
6. Standard of review – strict (fundamental – travel/vote/privacy/1st Amend,
suspect - race/alien/NO), intermediate (quasi-suspect - sex, legitimacy),
rational basis (age, mental disability, poor)
7. Equal Protection – intent to discriminate
8. 1st Amend
a.
Speech – prior/content: strict; conduct: mid – time, place (public/ltd/
non-public), manner; overbroad; V for V; unfettered, scope/not speak
b. Unprotected – CPD, fighting words, obscenity(POSLAP), libel, comm’l
(heightened – substantial, advances, narrowly tailored)
c.
Religion – Free Exercise (law of general applicability), Establishment
(secular prp, neither advance nor inhibit rel, no excess entanglement)
9. 4th Amend – privacy expectation/standing, (PMEP) – prob. cause,
magistrate, exec., particularity, exceptions (APCASAE-incident arrest, plain
view, consent, auto, stop & frisk, administrative inspection, emergency)
10. 5th Amend – life/liberty/property right; procedural/substantive
11. Taking – gov’t use and legit purpose, balancing (economically viable use)
12. Admissible FPT (GTIII) – GF belief in valid warrant, no longer tainted,
independent source, inevitable discovery, impeach D
Civil Procedure
1. Jurisdiction, ripeness & mootness, in personam (min. contacts, subst. just.,
strong state interest, reasonableness, occurrence, residence, consent)
2. Claim – jurisdiction, claim, damages
3. Rule 12b defenses (SPVPSCI) – subj matter jur, pers jur, venue, process,
service, claim, indispensible party
4. Motions (DPSJRR) – dismissal, pleadings, summary J, JML, RJML (requires
JML motion), relief from J (mistake, new evidence, fraud, J void, J satisfied)
5. Appeals – no interlocutory (except CISCC – collateral, immediate harm,
statutory, class certification, contempt)
6. Class action (NCTRA) – numerosity, commonality, typicality, rep. adequate
7. Final judgment – res judicata (claim; P bar, same parties) & collateral
estoppel (issue): merits, essential, same parties or in privy, mutuality (by
party/sometimes), Full Faith and Credit
Community Property
1. Married – legal, putative, QCP, QMP, separation
2. Source - CP presumed, SP, onerous (stock options, severance), gift/devise,
tracing (direct, exhaustion), credit, PI damages
a.
Pensions, disability, Terminable Interest Doctrine
3. Actions – commingling, value enhanced (business – Perreira/Van Camp,
land, goodwill – market value or capitalization of past excess earnings),
transmutation requires writing after 1985
4. Presumptions (JGHPB) – joint form presume CP, gift (pre-1984: if joint form,
then SP gift to CP; 84-87: CP at divorce only if JT, post 87 all jt=CP; Lucas
applies at death regardless of date), H&W (presume CP if H&W id as such),
pre-1975 MW, bank accounts, if title held at death CP presumption doesn’t
apply if divorce more than 4 yrs prior; each ½ of JT is SP; SP family expenses
gift to CP; CP on own SP = no gift, CP on other spouse’s SP = gift
5. Dispute resolution – creditors, management rights (fiduciary duty, sale for
value, personal items)
Contracts
1. Formation – mutual assent, consideration (illusory, PE, UCC-GF mod), no
defenses
2. Defenses (CMUFDUIS) – capacity, mutual mistake, unilateral mistake,
fraud, duress, unconscionability, illegality, SoF (MYLEGS – Executor
personal, Surety main purpose doctrine)
a.
UCC SoF (SWAP) – specially made, writing 10 day no response, admit,
performance
b. Parol evidence – integration, merger clause, ambiguity
c.
Interpretation – course of dealing, custom; shipment vs. destination
contract; risk of loss (on delivery to common carrier, on tender)
3. Discharge of obligations (PIIF MR MANL) – substantial performance,
impossibility, impracticability, frustration, mutual recission, release,
modification, accord and satisfaction, novation, lapse
a.
Goods acceptance (NFI) – notify seller, fail to reject, act inconsistent
b.
Warranties (TEMF) – title, express, merchantability, fitness of
purpose; disclaimers (PI: can’t)
4. Excuse of conditions (PIIF+FAAPDEW) – failure to cooperate, actual breach,
anticipatory repudiation, prospective inability, divisibility, estoppel, waiver
5. Breach – material, minor
6. Third parties – TPB (incidental, intended, vesting, reliance/knowledge, preexisting debt), assignees rts (warranty, 4 horsemen – PJNI: indicia), delegate
7. Remedies
a.
Damages (GCIPNLEC) – general, consequential, incidental, punitive,
nominal, liquidated, emotional, collateral sources
b. Restitution (4 Rs) – reliance, recission, reformation, restitution (unjust
enrichment, quasi-contract, benefit is value; constructive
trust/equitable lien)
c.
Equity
i. Torts injunction – IPFBD
ii. Contract specific performance - CCIMFD
Corporations
1. Security laws – 10(b)5 (FIIRD) – fraud(scienter), in conn w/ sale, interstate
commerce, reliance, damages; tipper (improper purpose), tippee (knew),
insider, misappropriator, 16(b) 6-mo trade, 10% during both trades
2. Board - Fiduciary, diligence, recommendations to shareholders
3. Corporate opportunity doctrine
4. Business Judgment Rule – GF, best interests
5. Defenses – board, shareholder approval
6. Shareholder derivative suit – own stock, demand
7. Piercing corporate veil – fraud, unfairness; alter ego, undercapitalization
8. Agency (AAIRE) – actual, apparent, inherent, ratification, estoppel; creation
(ABC) – assent, benefit, control; frolic vs. detour; written auth where SoF
requires it
Criminal Law
1. Crime – mental state, physical act, intent (GSIT - gen., spec., inferred, trans.)
a.
Liability exclusions (PNW) – protected class, necessary, withdrawal
b. Conspiracy (WWLCH) – withdr, Wharton, liab co-con, chain/hub-spoke
2. Defenses (SLIVENIDDAM) – self-defense, legal impossibility, invol.
intoxication, vol. intoxication/specific intent, entrapment, necessity,
insanity (MIDM-M’n, irresistible impulse, Durham, MPC), double jeopardy,
duress, abandonment (of attempt), mistake
a.
Heat of passion (RPTC) – reasonable person would be provoked,
provoked, no time to cool off, did not cool off
b. Felony murder (GDFS) – guilty of felony, distinct, foreseeable, safety
c.
Proximate cause – year and a day, superseding intervening acts
Evidence
1. Witness Competency- oath, knowledge, remember, communicate
2. Relevance – CA Prop 8: Truth in Evidence, all relevant evidence admissible
3. Expert – FRE: testable, reasonably accepted; CA: generally accepted
4. Character – prior act no propensity, MIMIC ok (civil: DICK-danger,int,cap,kn)
5. Policy exclusions – settlement, insurance, remedial measures
6. Hearsay
a.
Offered not for the truth of the matter asserted – verbal acts, effect
on hearer, state of mind e.g. intent
b. Non-hearsay(PPIAC) – prior inconsistent statements under oath, prior
consistent statements to rebut, identification, admission (silence,
agent, co-conspirator
c.
Exception, unavailable (privilege, memory loss, refusal)(TDSHU) –
former testimony, dying declaration, statement against interest
(criminal/exculpatory – corroborating circumstances), personal or
family history, statement against person procuring unavailability
d. Exception, availability immaterial – state of mind, excited utterance,
present sense impression, present bodily condition, past bodily
condition for treatment, recorded recollection, business records,
public records, judgments, ancient documents, property documents,
learned treatises, reputation, family records, market rpts
7. 6th Amend – Confrontation Clause, testimonial inadmissible in criminal case,
co-D confession inadmissible unless redacted, co-D testifies, or co-D conf
used to refute D’s claim of invol conf
8. Foundation
9. Authentication – unique, made unique, chain of custody; self-authenticate
10. Best Evidence Rule
11. Impeachment (PBRCUC) – PIS, bias (collateral evidence ok), reputation of
bad char, prior criminal convictions, unprosecuted bad acts, contradiction
shown via evidence
12. Objections (RACAHACLANNS)– Relevance, Ambiguous, Compound,
Argumentative, Harassment, AA, Character, Leading, AFNE, Narrative, Nonresponsive, Speculation
Professional Responsibility
1. Duty to client (CCCCC) – loyalty/interest conflict, confidentiality,
competence, diligence, not assist in crime, communicate, fin’l resp incl fees,
trust acct, 5-yr record
2. To 3rd Parties – fairness to adversary, produce evidence, avoid fraud and
misrepresentation, accept rep, to prosecutors
3. To court – candor, honesty, state law truthfully, not improperly influence
witnesses & jurors, can’t testify, expedite cases
4. To profession – avoid unauth legal practice, no false ads, no improp solic,
dignity/decorum
5. Remedies – inform, persuade, withdraw, notify, advise other atty, written
permission/agreement
6. ABA-CA differences – CA conf ends w/settled estate, report pending:ABAcrime/CA-injury, loans ABA-fees/CA-all, former gov’t: ABA-personally &
substantially(regs not matter), screened-no fee-gov’t informed/CA-can’t
defend where prosecuted, fees reasonable/not unconscionable, not in
divorces/OK if don’t encourage divorce, arbitration encouraged/req’d, no
referral fees/yes, can withhold mat’ls for fees/can’t, no real-time electronic
contact/OK, tell judge false testimony/ask for narrative, report disc
violations raising subst question/self rpt-assist prevention
Real Property
1. Adverse possession – mental, physical, time
2. General (special) warranty deed (SREQWA– seisin, right to convey, no
encumbrances, quiet enjoyment, warranty to defend, further assurances;
reqts (PIDS); Shelter Rule (recording), Wild Deed (no notice), Estoppel Deed
3. Recording – types, BFP, notice (actual, inquiry, constructive)
4. IWMT – flaw in chain, encumbrances, events (eminent domain, adv poss)
5. Easement – types (appurtenant-passes automatically, in gross), estates,
creation (PING), end (ENDCRAMPS-exp,nec,dest,condemn,rel,aban,merger,
prescription, sale to BFP) profit has same rules as easements
6. Covenants (damages)/servitudes (injunctions) – writing (SoF), creation
(PING), run w/land (burden/benefit: TINP/TI); servitudes – TIN/TI; RNS –
common scheme
7. Rent defenses – failure to deliver, IWH (MR3), quiet enjoyment breach (no
nuisance), eviction (act/constr-SiNG), surrender, destruct
8. Lease analysis – 1) valid? 2) type 3) mesne (rental) damages, 4) SoF
9. Landlord– privity of K/estate w/assignee, not sublessee; CLAPS – Common
areas, Latent defects, Assumed repairs, Public areas, Short-term furnished;
Hold Over Doctrine – evict or hold over for new period
10. Estates – FS, FSD (while, PoR), FSCS (but if, RoE/PT by Grantor), FSSEI (but
if…then to, shifting EI by 3rdP), life (for life, reversion to G, rem to 3rd P), RAP
11. Transferee future interests: vested (asc pers, no CP; indefeasibly, subj to
defeasance, subject to open), contingent, executor (shifting, spring from G)
12. Rule of Destructibility – abolished
13. Doctrine of Worthier Title – to A, then O’s heirs = to A, reversion to O
14. Rule of Convenience – class closes when any member can take (womb rule)
15. Waste: voluntary (PURGE – prior use, repairs, granted, exploitable)
16. Joint ownership – TIC (no rent absent ouster), JTWROS (4 unities ITTP, salepartition-mortgage/SPaM – M in minority, lien theory states), Entirety (Cr
can’t touch), CP
Remedies
1. Tort (DR RECEI) – damages, rest, replevin, eject, constr tr, eq lien, injunctive
2. Contract (DR RR RECS)- dam, rest, rep, rec, ref, eq lien, con tr, spec perform
3. Damages
a.
General – foreseeable, reasonably certain, obligation to mitigate
b. Types – compensatory, nominal, punitive (excessiveness)
c.
Torts – chattel trespass (destruction, injury, conversion), land trespass
(severance, encroachment, destruction, waste – voluntary,
permissive, ameliorative, nuisance), personal injury, defamation,
privacy, fraud, inducing contract breach, tortious interference, libel
d. Contracts – direct, consequential, liquidated, punitive, attorneys’ fees;
types (land sale, construction, personal services)
4. Restitution – rest, rep, ref, rescission, ejectment, constr tr, eq lien
a.
Rest - Avoid unjust enrichment/quasi-contract – D pays P benefit
obtained, quantum meruit; UCC: lesser of $500/20% of obligation
b. Rescission (grounds, defenses) – legal, equitable; mutual mistake,
fraud; sue first for this then damages (Election of Remedies; suit for
damages affirms K validity); def (unclean hands, laches)
c.
Reformation (valid K, grounds, defenses) – mutual mistake, fraud;
defenses (UH, L)
5.
Equitable (constructive trust, equitable lien,
a.
Requirements for torts injunction (IPFBD) – TRO, preliminary,
permanent – encroachments, nuisance
i. I – speculative, irreparable harm, suit multiplicity, ongoing tort)
ii. Property right
iii. Feasibility – mandatory, negative injunctions; states
iv. Balance hardships
v. D – unclean hands, laches, sale to BFP
b. Contracts (CCIMFD) – specific performance
i. Contract definite and certain
ii. Conditions satisfied
iii. I Mutuality of performance/security of performance F
iv. D (LUFEESH) – unclean hands, laches, fraud, equitable estoppel,
election of remedies, sale to BFP, hardship (sharp practices,
disproportionate); other: formation (CMUFDUIS)
c.
Realty – time of essence, abatement, equitable conversion
Torts
1. Types – intentional, fraud, privacy invasion (CM, I to S, FL, PDPF),
defamation (slander per se (CDFU) - crime, disease, fit for prof, unchaste)
2. Negligence – duty, breach, cause (but for), proximate cause (foreseeable), D
3. Vicarious liability – respondeat superior, ind. contractor, partner, JV
4. Product liability – product liability, warranties, negligence, battery
5. Defenses – consent, risk assumption, contributory, failure to mitigate
(Avoidable Consequences Doctrine)
Trusts
1. Trust requirements – intent, settlor, res, trustee, beneficiary, legal P, RAP
2. Trustee – qualifications, removal, resignation, powers (express/implied)
a.
Duties (CALIPCEDPI– care, account (U Principal & Income Act), loyalty,
impartiality (adj power), perform personally, no commingling,
earmark, defend, preserve, invest (state lists, prudent person test, U
Prudent Investor Act)
b. Remedies (DCTRR) – damages, const trust, tracing, ratify, remove
3. Special types – spendthrift (no vol alien or attach; pref creds attach-IRS,
necessities, support, alimony), discretionary, support
a.
Resulting – purchase money, failed express, excess corpus
b. Constructive – theft, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, homicide, NOT
breach of promise (except conf relationship, decedent received svcs,
heir took for 3rd party, buyer at foreclosure)
4. Doctrine of Changed Circumstances – unforeseen + necessary
5. Will substitutes – revocable trusts, pour-over gifts, life ins trust, Totten
Wills
1. Intent to Formation to Revocation to Distribution
2. Validity (AMIE) – age, mental capacity (know property, know natural
objects, nature of act; defeated by IUFNM – insane delusion, undue
influence, fraud, not mistake), intent; execution w/both witnesses (or 2009
clear/convincing evidence) or holographic; defenses (undue influence-prima
facie, presumed, statutory; susceptibility, opportunity, active participation,
unnatural result; presumed w/confidential relationship, active participation,
unnatural result; or lawyer/drafter/custodian beneficiary unless related,
fraud); interested witness takes intestate share unless rebuts presumption
of undue influence or other improper behavior
3. Will issues – integration, inc by reference, facts of independent significance
(blanks), personal property devises (signed/handwr, <$5k/$25k), pour-over
wills (inc by ref, fact of ind sig, Uni Test Adds to Trusts Act-UTATA)
4. Revocation (PILC) – physical act, instrument, law, change in property held;
Dependent Relative Revocation – mistaken belief in new will; 1st will prob’d
5. Revival – destroying will 2 doesn’t revive will 1 unless T expresses intent so
6. Intestacy – issue, parents, PI, GP, GPI, PSI, kin, PPS, PPSI, escheat; per capita
with representation at 1st level w/living heirs; per stirpes no 1st level req’t;
CP: 100% to spouse, SP: 0 C, 0 P, 0 PI: 100%; 1 C or P/PI: ½; 2 C: 1/3
7. Step/foster child: child if minority, continuous, legal barrier; adoption, by
estoppel; after born DP:named on BC, voluntary promise to pay; womb rule
8. Statutory devises – pretermitted heirs (intent not to provide on face, devise
to child’s parent, outside will transfer; spouse <= ½ SP, waiver), anti-lapse
(kindred of T/spouse/DP; applies to class gifts), RAP
9. Devises – types (general, specific, demonstrative, residual), ademption (CA:
did T intend gift to fail?), satisfaction/advancement w/writing (intestate),
accretion, no exoneration
10. Administration – fiduciary duties