Kentucky Law School 1L Study Guide for Civil Procedure
I. Introduction to Civil Procedure
- Overview: Civil Procedure concerns the rules and standards by which courts adjudicate civil lawsuits. It encompasses everything from the initiation of a lawsuit to the final resolution, whether by trial or appeal.
II. Jurisdiction and Venue
- Subject Matter Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to hear cases of a particular type or cases relating to specific subject matter.
- Personal Jurisdiction: The power of a court to require a party (usually the defendant) to come before the court. This usually depends on the defendant’s connection to the forum state.
- Diversity Jurisdiction: Under 28 U.S.C. § 1332, federal courts have jurisdiction when the case is between citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
- Erie Doctrine: In diversity cases, federal courts apply state substantive law and federal procedural law (Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins).
- Long-Arm Statutes: Allow for a court to obtain personal jurisdiction over out-of-state defendants who have certain minimum contacts with the forum state.
- Kentucky Long-Arm Statute: KY Rev Stat § 454.210, which allows Kentucky courts to assert jurisdiction to the extent permissible under the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
- Venue: Refers to the specific location or court where a lawsuit is to be tried. Kentucky’s venue rules are codified in KY Rev Stat § 452.105 and § 452.210-§ 452.470.
III. Pleadings
- Complaint: A pleading by the plaintiff that initiates the lawsuit, stating the claim and the demand for relief.
- Answer: The defendant’s response to the complaint, which may include defenses and counterclaims.
- Motion to Dismiss: A request for the court to dismiss the case for specified reasons such as lack of jurisdiction, improper venue, or insufficiency of the complaint.
- Amended and Supplemental Pleadings: Rules for amending pleadings are governed by KY Rules of Civil Procedure (CR) 15.
IV. Pretrial Procedures
- Discovery: The process by which parties obtain information from each other to prepare for trial. Includes depositions, interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admissions.
- Summary Judgment: A judgment entered by the court for one party against another without a full trial. May be granted when there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law (CR 56).
- Pretrial Conference: A meeting of the parties and the judge to discuss the issues of the case, possible settlement, and preparation for trial (CR 16).
V. Trial
- Jury Selection: Process of choosing a jury from a pool of potential jurors. In Kentucky, this process is governed by KY Rev Stat § 29A.100 and subsequent sections.
- Burden of Proof: The obligation to prove one’s assertion. In civil cases, this is typically by a “preponderance of the evidence.”
- Direct and Cross-Examination: When witnesses provide testimony in court, with direct examination by the party who called the witness and cross-examination by the opposing party.
VI. Post-Trial Procedures
- Judgment as a Matter of Law (JMOL): A motion made by a party during trial, claiming the opposing party has insufficient evidence to reasonably support its case (CR 50).
- Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law (RJMOL): Made after the jury has reached a verdict, asking the court to overturn the jury’s decision if it is not supported by legally sufficient evidence (CR 50).
- Motion for New Trial: Requesting the court to set aside the judgment and conduct a new trial based on specific grounds such as errors during the trial or newly discovered evidence (CR 59).
VII. Appellate Review
- Notice of Appeal: Must be filed to initiate an appeal. In Kentucky, governed by CR 73.
- Standard of Review: The appellate court’s method of reviewing the trial court’s decisions. Standards vary based on the nature of the decision being reviewed (e.g., de novo, abuse of discretion, or clear error).
- Final Judgment Rule: Appeals are typically only available from final judgments, though Kentucky law has exceptions under CR 54.02 for interlocutory orders.
VIII. Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel
- Res Judicata (Claim Preclusion): When a final judgment on the merits prevents the parties from re-litigating the same claim in a future lawsuit.
- Collateral Estoppel (Issue Preclusion): When a final judgment on the merits precludes the parties from re-litigating specific issues that were determined in a previous lawsuit.
IX. Special Proceedings
- Class Actions: Lawsuits where a few individuals represent the interests of a larger group (KY CR 23).
- Joinder of Parties: The combination of multiple parties in a single lawsuit, governed by KY CR 20.
- Interpleader: Allows a party holding property to join potential claimants to the property in a single lawsuit to determine rights (KY CR 22).
X. Kentucky-Specific Rules and Practices
- Kentucky Civil Rules (CR): The rules governing civil procedure in Kentucky’s state courts.
- Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS): Contains the statutory laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including procedural statutes.
For a more comprehensive understanding, it’s important to consult the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, relevant statutes, and key case law that interpret these rules and statutes. Remember, while many of the concepts overlap with federal civil procedure, always be sure to check for Kentucky-specific rules and practices.