Civil Procedure Outline – Studicata

Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

Authority of a court to hear a particular type of case.

Personal Jurisdiction

Power of a court to require a party to appear before it.

Notice and Service of Process

Requirement that defendants receive adequate and legal notice of legal actions against them.

Venue

Geographic location in which a lawsuit may be tried.

Justiciability

The appropriateness of a court to consider a legal question or dispute.

Federal-Question Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction based on cases arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.

Diversity Jurisdiction

Federal jurisdiction that requires the parties to be from different states and involves an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000.

Supplemental Jurisdiction

Allows federal courts to hear additional claims closely related to claims within their original jurisdiction.

Ripeness

A matter ready for adjudication; prevents courts from hearing cases that are too abstract or premature.

Mootness

A doctrine that denies hearing cases where the issues have already been resolved or no longer exist.

Capable of Repetition Yet Evading Review

An exception to mootness that applies when an action is too short to complete litigation before ending.

Domicile

The established, permanent residence of an individual.

General (All-Purpose) Jurisdiction

Judicial authority over a party regardless of where the events occurred.

Specific (Case-Linked) Jurisdiction

Judicial authority tied to specific events or conduct that connects a defendant to the forum state.

Forum Non Conveniens

A legal doctrine allowing courts to dismiss a case when a more convenient forum is available.

Erie Doctrine

Legal principle that federal courts must apply state substantive law in diversity cases.

Plea of Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

A party's assertion that the court lacks authority to adjudicate the matter.

Default Judgment

A binding judgment in favor of either party based on the failure to take action by the other party.

Motion for Summary Judgment

A request for the court to rule that the other party has no case, based on the information presented.

Joinder of Claims

Rules that govern how claims can be joined; allows multiple claims to be heard together.

Class Action

A legal action in which a group of individuals collectively bring a claim to court.

Arbitration

A method of dispute resolution where a neutral third party makes a binding decision.

Pretrial Conference

A meeting between the parties to a lawsuit to prepare for trial.

Pleadings

Formal documents filed with the court that outline the parties' claims and defenses.

Laches

An equitable defense that bars claims based on a party's unreasonable delay in bringing the claim.

Judgment as a Matter of Law (JMOL)

A ruling by the court that no reasonable jury could reach a different conclusion.

New Trial Motion

A request to the court for a new trial, typically due to an error in the trial process.