PRETRIAL LITIGATION IN A NUTSHELL. R. LAWRENCE DESSEM Professor of Law University of Tennessee ST. PAUL, MINN. WEST PUBLISHING CO.

Transcription

1 PRETRIAL LITIGATION IN A NUTSHELL By R. LAWRENCE DESSEM Professor of Law University of Tennessee ST. PAUL, MINN. WEST PUBLISHING CO. 1992

2 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.. TABLE OF CASES TABLE OF STATUTES AND RULES v xv xvn Chapter One. Introduction 1 I. An Overview of Pretrial Litigation 1 II. The Law Governing Pretrial Litigation 3 III. The Lawyer's Role in Pretrial Litigation 9 Chapter Two. Client Interviewing and the Establishment of the Attorney-Client Relationship - 11 I. The Importance of Client Interviewing 11 II. The Structure of the Initial Attorney- Client Interview 13 A. Introductions and Introductory Remarks 14 B. The Client's Problem Definition.. 16 C. The Client's Narrative.. 17 D. The Relief Sought by the Client.. 18 E. Attorney Follow-Up Questioning 19 F. Concluding Remarks 22 III. Interviewing Techniques 23 A. Traditional Techniques to Facilitate Communication 24 IX

3 III. Interviewing Techniques Continued B. Active Listening 29 IV. The Client's Retainer of the Attorney 31 Chapter Three. Pretrial Planning and Investigation 35 I. The Need to Plan Litigation 35 II. Preparing the Litigation Plan 38 III. Legal Research 43 A. Legal Research During the Pretrial Process 44 B. The Litigation Grid 47 IV. Factual Investigation 50 A. Investigative Structure and Strategy 51 B. Investigative Techniques Witness Interviews Witness Statements 64 Chapter Four. The Complaint 68 I. Prerequisites to Suit 68 II. The Claims Asserted 75 III. The Relief Requested 78 IV. Modern Pleading and Practice 85 V. Rule 11 Pleading Requirements 93 VI. Amendment of the Pleadings 96 Chapter Five. Responses to the Complaint 100 I. Defenses to the Action 100 II. Consolidation and Waiver of Defenses 102 III. Rule 12 Motions 104 A. The Motion to Dismiss 106 X

4 III. Rule 12 Motions Continued B. The Other Rule 12 Motions Ill IV. The Answer 115 V. Counterclaims, Cross-Claims, and Third-Party Claims 121 A. Counterclaims 121 B. Cross-Claims 125 C. Third-Party Claims 127 Chapter Six. The Scope of Civil Discovery 131 I. The General Scope of Discovery Under Rule A. Relevance 134 B. Privilege 137 II. The Work-Product Doctrine 139 III. Discovery Concerning Experts 144 IV. Discovery Conferences, Orders, and Planning 149 V. Discovery Supplementation and Certification 153 Chapter Seven. Interrogatories 157 I. The Rule 33 Interrogatory 157 II. Using and Drafting Interrogatories III. Responding to Interrogatories 172 Chapter Eight. Depositions 179 I. Depositions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 179 II. The Decision to Take a Deposition 186 III. Preparing to Take a Deposition 190 XI

5 IV. The Taking of Deposition Testimony V. Deposition Questioning Techniques VI. Expert Depositions 202 VII. Preparing Witnesses for their Depositions 204 VIII. Defending Depositions 211 Chapter Nine. Requests for Production, Examinations, and Admissions 218 I. Rule 34 Requests to Produce. 218 II. Rule 35 Examinations III. Rule 36 Admission Requests 228 Chapter Ten. Judicial Intervention Into the Discovery Process. 237 I. Discovery Disputes 237 II. Rule 26(c) Motions for Protective Orders 241 III. Rule 37 Motions to Compel 246 IV. Rule 37 Motions for Discovery Sanctions 249 Chapter Eleven. Pretrial Motion Practice 258 I. Pretrial Motions A. Motions Based Upon a Party's Failure to Properly Contest a Lawsuit 259 B. Motions for a Change of Forum C. Motions Affecting the Timing of the Action 268 XII

6 I. Pretrial Motions Continued D. Motions Affecting the Trial of the Action 269 E. Other Miscellaneous Motions 270 II. Pretrial Motion Strategy 271 III. The Written Motion Papers 275 IV. Motion Argument 283 Chapter Twelve. Summary Judgment 292 I. Rule 56 Summary Judgment Procedure 292 II. Effective Use of Summary Judgment Motions 297 III. Defending Against Motions for Summary Judgment 307 Chapter Thirteen. Pretrial Conferences and Pretrial Orders 315 I. Pretrial Conferences 315 II. Preparation for, and Handling of, Pretrial Conferences 319 III. Pretrial Orders 323 IV. Judicial Involvement in the Pretrial Process 333 Chapter Fourteen. Negotiation and Settlement 337 I. Pretrial Settlement Negotiations 337 A. Evaluating a Case for Settlement 338 B. Negotiating the Settlement 343 C. Negotiation Tactics and Techniques 349 Xffl

7 II. Third-Party Settlement Facilitation m. Negotiation Ethics 361 IV. Memorializing the Settlement 365 INDEX 371 XIV