3: Litigation
- Page ID
- 41863
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Identify the parties involved in litigation.
- Explore the responsibilities of attorneys.
- Understand the roles and types of juries.
- Explore the standing requirement.
- Follow a trial from opening statements to closing arguments.
Litigation provides an opportunity for each side in a dispute to tell their story to an impartial jury or judge to decide who wins. Business professionals have a responsibility to their company and stakeholders to avoid legal liability. Acting ethically helps achieve this goal. Agreeing to mediation or arbitration may help businesses avoid court. However, litigation may be the only dispute-resolution mechanism available or the one that is best for the situation.
- 3.2: The Parties, Attorneys, and Jury
- This page outlines the U.S. litigation system, highlighting the roles of plaintiffs, defendants, and the prosecution in criminal cases. It details the options for legal representation, including the standards for pro se litigants, and describes the qualifications and ethical obligations of attorneys.
- 3.3: Standing
- This page explains standing as a constitutional requirement under Article III of the US Constitution, ensuring that courts only hear actual cases and controversies. It prevents advisory opinions and judicial overreach. To establish standing, a party must show a direct stake in the case, which must be timely and not moot. Notably, standing is procedural and unrelated to the merits of the case.
- 3.4: Subject Matter and Personal Jurisdiction
- This page discusses the requirements for courts to hear cases, emphasizing the importance of subject matter and personal jurisdiction. Subject matter jurisdiction enables a court to adjudicate a case, while personal jurisdiction requires parties to appear, determined by minimum contacts with the state. It also touches on long-arm statutes for out-of-state defendants and the varying complexities of serving legal documents to individuals versus businesses.
- 3.5: Venue
- This page discusses the concept of venue, highlighting its importance in determining the appropriate geographic location for a court to hear a case based on the events of the lawsuit. It notes that while multiple courts may have jurisdiction, only certain venues are deemed proper, exemplified by a company in Colorado where the correct venue relates to the plaintiff's injury location or the business's office.
- 3.6: Pretrial Procedures
- This page outlines the civil litigation process, starting with the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's response through pleadings. It details the discovery phase, where information is exchanged via various methods. The text also mentions that motions can be filed throughout the process, including for default judgments or dismissals, emphasizing the need for timely legal action and evidence preservation to resolve issues before trial.
- 3.7: The Trial and Appeal
- This page explains the civil litigation process, highlighting that most cases settle before trial. It discusses jury selection (voir dire), the trial structure including opening statements, evidence presentation, witness cross-examinations, and closing arguments. After jury deliberation, a verdict is reached and entered as judgment, with the possibility of appeals. It also mentions the doctrine of res judicata, which prevents the relitigation of resolved disputes, ensuring legal finality.
- 3.8: Concluding Thoughts
- This page explains litigation as a judicial dispute resolution process critical for businesses. It highlights the complexity and cost involved, emphasizing the need for businesses to understand it. The aim is to uncover the truth, with attorneys advocating for justice. Additionally, it describes the roles of grand and petit juries in protecting against prosecutorial abuse and determining the facts in trials, respectively.
Litigation is like any other business effort: you are trying to get someone to see things your way. The best way to do that is to be likable and persuasive to the judge, other lawyers, and the jury. Construct your theory of the case early on. Meet your deadlines. Maintain a strict ethical standard in your professional life. Work hard to explore both sides of the case, and develop a short and compelling statement about why your side should prevail. If you do all that, you will make it easy for others to want to find in your favor. Why does this work? Because as humans, we want good to prevail. Be good. ~Valerie M., magistrate