COMPASS Pleadings & Motions

PLEADINGS
.....The 4 Types of Complaint (all joinder issues for the rest of the course begin here):
..........P: Original Complaint
..........D: Counterclaim (compulsory & permissive) If compulsory counterclaim, must be raised in Suit 1---
....................otherwise (the Suit 1 D who's now the Suit 2) P is barred from proceeding with Suit Two.
...............Crossclaim (v. co-party)
............. .Third-party Claim (v. non-party) If 3PD = same domicile as P, supplemental SMJ over 3P claim
.....................[recall Owen v. Kroger IowaP v. Neb D, who brings in third party D Neb corp & Iowa PPB)

.....Pleading the Complaint
..........State "Fact" Pleading standard v. Federal "Notice" Pleading Standard
...............---State Fact (aka Code) Pleading -> one fact must match each element
.................................................................if 4 elements, need 4 facts to avoid state court demurrer .
.............Gillespie = Huh? What are all the possible torts P may be claiming?
………………….......... Demurrer (sate ct equivalent of 12b6 dismissal) required b/c mostly conclusions of law
.............Federal Notice Pleading
.............---Complaint components (jurisdiction, claim, demand) set forth in FRCP 8a(1-3)
.............---Conley-> can't dismiss unless "no set of facts" could possibly be stated that might justify seeking relief
.................................P's Complaint may be missing 1 of the 4 facts,
... but no 12b(6), if D is generally on general notice as to why s/he is being sued
……...---Dioguradi Complaint (p.561) Huh? (Conley built upon this 1st post-FRCP case re fed notc standard)
...........---FRCP 8a(2) -> "short and plain statement" of facts entitling pleader to relief, aka "Notice Pleading"
...........---Iqbal -> "plausibility" approach = P must cross the line b/t former "relief possible" pleading approach
.............................(former Conley standard) and current Iqbal "plausibility" standard
(Congress may restore Conely by legislatively overruling Iqbal)

..........Mini-review:
...............(1) What must P plead in a state complaint, that is not required in a federal Complaint? [Fact-matching]
…...........(2) What must P plead in a federal complaint (Bell/Iqbal), that is not required in a state Complaint?
.....................[factually plausible claim, suggesting that fed is now toughwer than state to get past plsg stage]
................
..........Heightened pleading requirements
...............* Fraud (per FRCP) & and statutory claims (per caselaw)
...............* Special damages: If P wants out-of-pocket (special) damages, s/he's gotta plead 'em.
...............* General damages, aka tort action pain & suffering are presumed & need not be plead.
..........What about D's Answer to the Complaint?
..................... D must fairly respond to the substance of the allegations in the Complaint [FRCP 8b(2)].
......................There must be dangers associated with a general denail. [Zievogel]
......................What is a general denial? What is a specific denial?
..........Remedies
...............* Damages (compensatory & punitive). What kind of conduct authorizes P to seek punitive damages?
...............* Equitable relief (preliminary & final). What is an equitable claim?
..........Amendments
...............* Core concept = liberality [FCRP 15a]
...............* Variance/consent = can you ask for more at trial than you pled at the pleading stage? [FCRP 15b]
...............* Relation back (claim v. party). What is "relation back?"
................................................................ Must have something to do with the intervening expiration of the statute of limitations.

.....Responses to Complaint
..........Answer
...............* Denials (general & special)
...............* Affirmative defenses
..........Motions
...............* Rule 12 = course beacon
...............* 12(b), 12(e), 12(f)

.....Sanctions
..........Reasonable investigation under the circumstances [FRCP 11b]
..........Safe harbor requires drafter to take time out
.........................reconsider withdrawal
........................and/or subsequent amendment to cure defect [Merrill]

.....More Joinder (augmenting 4 types Complaint)
..........Compulsory counterclaim (supplemental SMJ) [been there, done that]
..........Third-party complaint (supplemental SMJ)
.........................[been there, done that---but we'll review choice of law b/c of st-fed procedural difference]
..........Permissive joinder (Ps & Ds)
.........................When can Ps joint together? Join various Ds to that Complaint? [Ryder]
..........Required joinder (nec. v. indisp)
....................... Typically arises via D's 12b(7) motion for falure to join party needed for complete adjudication.
........................D will always say absentee is "indispensible."
........................P will counter that absentee is only "necessary."
........................Court will have to decide whether to dismiss, or resolve at least "half a loaf" (which is better than none) [FRCP 19b]
................So when do problems arise? Back to the future: lack of IPJ over a D [Bank of CA]
.....................................................................................& lack of SMJ over the suit [Prov Tradesmen]
..........Intervention = Similar to 12b(7) indispensible party, an unnamed absentee requests entry into the suit as a P or D.
.....................................So when does a court allow the non-party to become one?
.....................................Would doing so overshadow P's underlying claim? [Schmuck]
..........Interpleader = Two Ps or potential Ps want the same finite monetary fund or object.
......................................Insurance companies = garden-variety Ps in interpleader.
......................................Back to the future: From a jurisdictional perspective, there are three types of Interpleader action:
...................................................................Diversity-based Interpleader [FRCP 22 & Pan Am]
...................................................................Federal Question-based Interpleader [USC 1335 & State Farm]
..........Class actions
...............* 4 basic elements (chart based on FRCP 23a) = must have for any class action exam [Adams]
...............* Back to the future: Jurisdictional requirements and limitations [assigned reading]............

Last rev: 10/29/09