Civil Procedure

This is a tutorial lecture that introduces discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Fist, I give an overview of five of the most important discovery devices, namely depositions, interrogatories, document requests, physical and mental examinations, and requests for admission. Second, I briefly describe mandatory initial disclosure obligations. Next, I discuss the three components that define the scope of discovery: relevance, privilege, and proportionality. And finally I discuss m...

This episode is a lecture tutorial that offers an overview of the doctrines of claim preclusion and issue preclusion. These doctrines are also know as res judicata and collateral estoppel, respectively. (Confusingly,) These doctrines are also sometimes jointly referred to as "res judicata."

This episode is a tutorial lecture about the practical application of the doctrine of removal. Removal jurisdiction describes the circumstances under which an action can be removed, by a defendant, from state court to federal court. The lecture focuses primarily on the application of Sections 1441 and 1446 of Title 28. This is one of several episodes regarding related topics of federal subject matter jurisdiction.

This episode is a tutorial lecture about original subject matter jurisdiction in federal courts. It introduces--and focuses exclusively on--the doctrines of federal question under 28 USC 1331 and diversity under 28 USC 1332. I do not cover class actions nor any of other (less common) bases for original subject matter jurisdiction. In this episode I also focus on a very practical application of the contemporary doctrine. Consult other episodes for lectures about historical context and fo...

This episode is a tutorial lecture about Service of Process under Federal Rule, and the 12(b)(4) and 12(b)(5) motions to dismiss. The episode focuses on a practical application of these Rules.

This episode is a tutorial that puts the doctrine of personal jurisdiction into some broader context. I offer a little bit of history and offer some big-picture framing that might help you with your mastery of this subject. Notice that there is a separate episode that focuses on applying the doctrine to a given set of facts--that episode is called 12(b)(6) in Practice. The episodes do not really overlap, except to the extent that they both address one of the most important topics in a C...

This episode is about the practical application of summary judgment and FRCP 56.

This episode is a tutorial lecture about the joinder of claims and parties under Rules 18 and 20, respectively.

This episode is a tutorial about the defendant's answer to a plaintiff's complaint. I discuss the obligation to admit or deny the allegations of the plaintiff's complaint. And I discuss affirmative defenses. I also briefly mention counterclaims, cross-claims, and third party claims even though those topics are the subject of a separate episode.

This episode puts the 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss in context. I address the historical context of the motion, and its importance in the scheme of litigation.

This episode is an overview lecture about procedural due process. We cover the five elements of due process claims under the 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, paying particular attention to the 5th element, which requires us to apply the Mathews 3-part test.

This episode is about the 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The episode gives an overview of the following jurisdictional bases: Congressional Statutes (S), Federal Rule 4(k)(1)(B) and 4(k)(2) (R), Personal Service (S), Waiver (W), Status (S), Consent/Forum Selection Clauses (C), General Jurisdiction (G), and Specific Jurisdiction (S).

This episode is an introduction to topics in Remedies. We discuss (1) the difference between equitable and legal relief; (2) the difference between preliminary and permanent relief; (3) the traditional 4-part test for preliminary relief; and (4) types of final relief. We also briefly mention pre-judgment attachments.