CIVIL PROCEDURE CLASS 39

Professor FischerColumbus School of LawThe Catholic University of AmericaNovember 21, 2005

Venue vs. Subject Matter Jurisiction

What are the differences between venue and subject matter jurisdiction?

Venue vs. Subject Matter Jurisiction

What are the differences between venue and subject matter jurisdiction?Venue can be waived - see 12(b)(3), 12(g), 12(h)(1)Court does not have to question venue sua sponte as R. 12(h)(3) requires for subject matter jurisdictionParties can consent to what would otherwise be improper venue (using, for example, a forum selection clause)

VENUE FOR CORPORATIONS

Where does venue lie if a defendant is a corporation? Cite the relevant provision(s) of the federal venue statute.

VENUE FOR CORPORATIONSSection 1391(a), (b), (c)

A corporation is deemed to reside in any judicial district in which it is subject to personal jurisdiction at the time the action is commencedIf the state has more than one judicial district, corporation is deemed to reside in any district within the state in which its contacts would subject it to p.j. if that district were a separate state; if no such district, where it has most significant contacts

VENUE FOR ALIENS

Where does venue lie for alien defendants? Cite the relevant provision of the federal venue statute.

VENUE FOR ALIENS

Section 1391(d) provides that “an alien may be sued in any district”

OBJECTING TO VENUE?

Is this waivable (like personal jurisdiction)?

OBJECTING TO VENUE

Waivable if not made in timely manner – see FRCP R. 12(1)28 U.S.C. § 1406 - The district court of a district in which is filed a case laying venue in the wrong division or district shall dismiss, or if it be in the interest of justice, transfer such case to any district or division in which it could have been brought.

VENUE AND COLLATERAL ATTACK

“Unlike personal jurisdiction, proper venue is not a constitutional requirement for a valid judgment, and thus cannot be raised by way of collateral attack” (CB p. 783)

VENUE and COLLATERAL ATTACK

Unlike personal jurisdiction, proper venue is not a constitutional requirement for a valid judgment and cannot be raised by way of collateral attack.

Courts Have Laid Down Exceptions to the Venue Requirements

One of the most important is exceptions is for actions that are removed to federal court (because removal statute specifies the district to which case must be removed at §1441(a))Another example - “local” suits that must be brought in district where land is located. Most actions are not “local” but “transitory”.

FINALITY OF JUDGMENTS: CLAIM PRECLUSION

Also known as the doctrine of res judicataWhat is res judicata? What is the purpose of res judicata?What is the idea of “merger” and “bar” - see Restatement (2d) of Judgments s. 17 at CB p. 885What does FRCP 8 (c ) say about res judicata? Why?NB. Res judicata can be waived!

CLAIM PRECLUSION AND ENFORCEMENT

Once a damage claim succeeds, the claim becomes a claim on the money judgment.P becomes judgment creditor, and D judgment debtor.If D doesn’t satisfy judgment, P must bring an enforcement action vs. D. See R. 69(a)Claim preclusion will help judgment creditor in this enforcement action. Judgment debtor cannot relitigate on the merits.

CLAIM PRECLUSION V. ISSUE PRECLUSION

What is the basic difference between claim preclusion and issue preclusion? (see CB p. 884)What is the difference between claim preclusion and stare decisis?

CLAIM PRECLUSION

Does claim preclusion extend to claims only to claims that were made in the first lawsuit, or does it also extend to claims that could or should have been litigated in the first lawsuit?What must D show to prove that res judicata bars a P’s claim (the elements of res judicata)?

ELEMENTS OF CLAIM PRECLUSION

1. Prior suit that proceeded to a final valid judgment on the merits2. Present suit arises out of same claim as the prior suit 3. Same claimant against the same defendant (or litigants in privity with them)

FINAL VALID JUDGMENT ON THE MERITS

VALID: To be valid, court rendering judgment must have valid subject matter and personal jurisdiction (if action dismissed for lack of p.j. or s.m.j., no claim preclusion for action brought in court with p.j. or s.m.j.)You can’t argue that a judgment is invalid simply because it was based on error, e.g. relying on unconstitutional statuteIs a dismissal without prejudice a final valid judgment on the merits? See R. 41What about a dismissal under R. 41(b)?Summary judgment in favor of P?

CONTRASTING RES JUDICATA WITH JOINDER

Why does Glannon describe res judicata as a myrmidon?Contrast the rules for res judicata with the joinder rules

VARIETY OF PRECLUSION RULES

Note that each state system has its own rules on preclusionNote also that there has been a general trend of increased preclusion

FINALITY OF JUDGMENTThere must be nothing left for judge to do but enter judgmentWill a judgment determining liability be final for claim preclusion before damages have been adjudicated?What about dismissal of one of Ps claims, if the other claim is allowed to continue?Will the grant of preliminary injunctive relief bar an action for permanent injunctive relief for the same claim?Does an appeal destroy finality?

JUDGMENT ON THE MERITS

Disposition based on validity of Ps claim rather than technical procedural groundIs a judgment entered after a full trial a judgment on the merits? What about:12(b)(6) dismissal? 12(b)(2) dismissal?Voluntary dismissal under FRCP 41(a)?A second voluntary dismissal under FRCP 41(a)?Dismissal for failure of prosecution under FRCP 41(b)?

WHAT IS THE SAME CLAIM?

Federal courts generally employ a “transactional” approach to determining whether the claim in the first suit is the same as the claim in the second suit.Describe this “transactional” approach (See Restatement (2d) of Judgments s. 24 at p. 887 of CB) NOTE IT BASICALLY MIRRORS THE JOINDER RULES (see Rule 20)

ALI RESTATEMENT (2d) OF JUDGMENTS

Most influential modern claim preclusion test§24(1) “…the claim extinguished includes all rights of the plaintiff to remedies against the D with respect to all or any part of the transaction, or series of connected transactions, out of which the action arose.”

TRANSACTION/OCCURRENCE TEST BARS….

Not only claims that were brought in the original action but also claims that were available to the plaintiff in the first suit if they arose out of the underlying transaction/occurrence that gave rise to the first suitNote that this is a more narrow approach than the joinder rules (see R. 18)

OTHER MINORITY APPROACHES

To determining what is the same claim1. Same evidence test2. Same right test

CLAIM SPLITTING CLAIM PRECLUSION HYPO

Jeremy’s car is damaged in a collision with Marie’s car. Jeremy sues Marie in negligence for damage to the right fender of his car. The claim is dismissed on Marie’s motion for summary judgment. Can Jeremy then sue Marie for damage to the left fender of his car allegedly suffered in the same accident?

SAME PARTIES/PARTIES IN PRIVITY

What is privity for the purposes of res judicata?

Gonzalez v. Banco Central Corp. (1st Cir. 1994)

What are the key facts?What is the procedural history?What is the issue on appeal?Did the Gonzalez plaintiffs win their appeal to the First Circuit?

Gonzalez: Final/Valid Judgment on the Merits

Did the 1st Circuit find that there was a final judgment on the merits in the earlier Rodriguez suit?

Gonzalez: Same Claim

Did the 1st Circuit find that the claims asserted in the Rodriguez suit were the same as in the Gonzalez suit?Why or why not?

Gonzalez: Parties

Were the parties the same in the Rodriguez/Gonzalez suits? Why or why not?Did the 1st Circuit find that the parties in both suits were in PRIVITY? Why or why not?What are some examples cited by the 1st Circuit of when parties would be in privity?What is the doctrine of virtual representation? Why did the Gonzalez court find it did not apply?

Gonzalez: Same Parties/Parties in Privity

Why are courts unwilling to interpret privity broadly? Why does Judge Selya describe it as a “murky corner of the law?” (CB 903)

Happy Thanksgiving!