............FEDERAL CIVIL PROCEDURE ONE
..............................PROBLEM #3 ----------
ISSUE ALL 4: WHERE CAN P LAY VENUE?
(this question applies to the following four scenarios)

......................................................................FfFILE:
.................................................................
.Scenario One:
 Plaintiff's residence  .....Nature of claim  Defendants' residence
 Diversity
 NY
CA
 Transitory
 NY
   ..IInjury: Wash., D.C.  

.................................................................Scenario Two:
 Plaintiff's residence  Nature of claim  Defendants' residence
 Diversity
 NY
PA
 Transitory
 NJ
   ..Injury: Toronto (Can.)  

...............................................................Scenario Three:
 Plaintiff's residence  Nature of claim  Defendants' residence
 Fed Question
 NY
PA
 Transitory
 NJ
   ..Injury: Toronto (Can.)  

.................................................................Scenario Four:
 Plaintiff's residence  Nature of claim  Defendant's residence
 Diversity
CA
 Transitory
NY corporation
  ..Injury: Wash., D.C.  


[continued below]

 

 

 

 

 

 

......................................................PLEADING & MOTION
...........................................(fresh scenario unrelated to prior 4 cases)
Facts:
* Peter's claim against Dorothy arose outside of Washington, D.C.--but within the US.
* Peter resides in Washington, D.C. [Remember that "resides" & "domicile" are not necessarily
...synonymous.]

 PETER PLAINTIFF
..................v.
DOROTHY DEFENDANT and
NUCORP, INC.
................... COMPLAINT
....................for DAMAGES
....
.........
Southern District of New York
....................(28 USC §1332)

.....1. This is a "case arising" under 28 USC §1332 (Diversity Jurisdiction). Peter is domiciled in California. Dorothy is domiciled in New York. NuCorp is a New York corporation. NuCorp's principal place of business is in Los Angeles, CA.

.....2. [Charging allegations.]

.....3. [Requisite amount in controversy plead in good faith against all defendants.]

................................................................................. Lawrence Lawyer, III
..................................................................................Dewey, Cheatem & Howe
..................................................................................Attorneys for the Plaintiff


 PETER PLAINTIFF
..................v.
DOROTHY DEFENDANT and
NUCORP, INC.
MOTION TO DISMISS COMPLAINT
.........Southern District of New York
......................FRCP 12(b)
.....Defendant Dorothy hereby moves this court for an order dismissing Peter's complaint on the following grounds * * * [all possible bases, based on course material to date--and thus, a mini course review].
................................................................................. Wild Bill McTavish
..................................................................................Last, Only & Chance
..................................................................................Attorneys for the Defendant

Issue: How should the court rule on D's motion?

[continued below]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Facts/New Issue:
* Peter still resides in Washington, D.C.
* We still do not know where the claim arose.
* There is nonfederal ("state") law applicable in Washington, D.C. (Congress wears "two hats").
* Washington, D.C. is a "state" for purposes of fed civ pro.
* Hypothetical legislation passed by the U.S. Congress for "state" purposes in Washington, DC appears below.
* The general federal venue statute [28 USC 1391] no longer includes a "plaintiff's residence" as it once did.
..That former federal venue alternative was removed about a dozen years ago from the general federal venue
...statute. (Does this suggest a significant counterveiling federal interest, for choice of law purposes?)

......................................................FILE (Litigation Documents)

 PETER PLAINTIFF
..................v.
DOROTHY DEFENDANT
. .......MOTION TO TRANSFER
.........Southern District of New York
.................28 USC 1404(a)..... ....

.....1. Defendant Dorothy resides in New York. Peter resides in Washington, DC.
.....2. Dorothy hereby moves for an order of the court, transferring Peter's action from the New York federal trial court to the federal trial court in Washington, DC. Peter has stipulated to trial of this action in Washington, DC.
.....3. Trial of this action in Washington, DC would thus be convenient for both parties.

................................................................................. Wild Bill McTavish
..................................................................................Last, Only & Chance
..................................................................................Attorneys for the Defendant




....
............................................................
LIBRARY (two statutes)

.............................................................. STATUTES:
 .............................District of Columbia (non-federal) Statutes at Large
.....................................................................***
§123456789.10: A plaintiff who resides in Washington, DC, may lay venue in the Washington, D.C. "state" judicial system.

..........................................28 United States Code (Judicial Code)
...... ...................[applicable in all federal districts including the Wash. DC federal court]
§1391(a) A civil action wherein jurisdiction is founded only on diversity of citizenship may, except as otherwise provided by law, may be brought only in: (1) a judicial district where any defendant resides, if all defendants reside in the same State, (2) a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is situated * * * .

Issues: Can the federal court in New York transfer this case from where Dorothy resides to the
Washington, DC federal court? Should the judge who is considering Dorothy's request for a
transfer to Washington, DC apply "state" (Wash., DC) or federal venue law? Is there a govderning
law issue related to D's venue transfer request?


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