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Tables of Contents for Civil Litigation
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Preface
ix
Acknowledgments
xvii
About the Authors
xix
PART I INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL LITIGATION
Litigation and the Paralegal
3
24
What Civil Litigation Is
4
4
Different Types of Civil Lawsuits
8
1
Alternatives and Limitations to Litigation
9
1
Procedural versus Substantive Law
10
1
Sources of the Law
11
2
The Role of the Litigation Paralegal
13
4
Skills Required of the Litigation Paralegal
17
3
Practical Tips for Success in the Law Firm
20
7
The Courts and Jurisdiction
27
32
The Courts and Litigation
28
3
Federal Court System
31
2
State Court Systems
33
1
Jurisdiction
34
17
Venue
51
8
PART II INITIATING LITIGATION
Preliminary Considerations
59
24
Determining the Existence of a Cause of Action
60
2
Time Limitations
62
6
Feasibility of the Lawsuit
68
1
Turning Down a Case
68
2
Ethical Considerations in Accepting a Case
70
2
Ethical Considerations after Accepting a Case
72
11
Investigation and Evidence
83
26
The Client Interview
84
6
Locating Fact Witnesses or Elusive Defendants
90
2
Techniques for Interviewing Fact Witnesses
92
3
Evidence
95
7
Methods for Locating and Preserving Evidence
102
2
Expert Witnesses
104
5
The Initial Pleadings
109
40
Initial Pleadings
111
2
Parties to the Lawsuit
113
6
Jurisdiction and Venue
119
1
The Claim or Cause of Action
120
6
Demand for Relief
126
3
Drafting the Complaint
129
4
Filling the Complaint
133
3
The Summons
136
1
Service of the Complaint
136
3
Amending the Complaint
139
10
Responses to the Initial Pleading
149
32
Responding to the Initial Pleading
150
5
Types of Answers
155
3
Drafting the Answer
158
7
Counterclaims, Cross-Claims, and Third-Party Complaints
165
7
Legal Challenges to the Complaint
172
3
Failure to Answer
175
6
Motion Practice
181
26
Motions Generally
182
1
Preparing, Serving, and Responding
183
5
Court Procedures Involving Motions
188
4
Specific Motions
192
7
Preliminary Injunctions and Temporary Restraining Orders
199
8
PART III DISCOVERY
Overview of the Discovery Process
207
24
The Nature of Discovery
209
4
The Extent of Allowable Discovery
213
6
Duty of Mutual Disclosure under Rule 26
219
4
Cooperating with Discovery
223
8
Depositions
231
22
The Deposition
232
1
The Nature of the Oral Deposition
233
2
The Paralegal's Role Before the Oral Deposition
235
7
The Paralegal's Role During the Oral Deposition
242
2
The Paralegal's Role After the Oral Deposition
244
3
Special Types of Depositions
247
6
Interrogatories
253
20
Interrogatories
254
2
Drafting Interrogatories
256
9
Drafting Answers to Interrogatories
265
8
Physical and Mental Examinations
273
16
The Physical or Mental Examination
274
2
Filing a Motion for Compulsory Examination
276
1
Requirements for Granting the Motion for Compulsory Examination
276
2
Granting a Motion for Compulsory Examination
278
2
The Paralegal's Role in Physical and Mental Examinations
280
9
Request for Documents
289
30
The Request for Documents
290
6
Protection of Documents
296
2
Requesting the Production of Documents
298
7
Responding to a Request for Documents
305
7
Organizing and Indexing the Documents After Production
312
1
Inspection of Property
313
6
Request for Admissions
319
18
The Request for Admissions
320
3
Drafting the Request for Admissions
323
6
Responding to the Request for Admissions
329
8
PART IV PRETRIAL, TRIAL, AND POSTTRIAL
Settlements, Dismissals, and Alternative Dispute Resolution
337
26
The Settlement
339
2
Settlement Offers
341
7
Settlement Agreements and Releases
348
4
Dismissals, Consent Decrees, and Distribution of Funds
352
3
Alternative Dispute Resolution
355
8
Trial Techniques
363
48
Preliminary Preparation for Trial
364
9
Preparation of Witnesses
373
3
Preparation of Exhibits and Briefs
376
10
Coordinating Trial Logistics
386
2
Preliminary Steps in the Trial Process
388
1
The Jury Process
389
3
The Trial
392
12
The Paralegal's Role at Trial
404
7
Posttrial Practice
411
20
Posttrial Motions
412
1
The Preliminary Steps in the Appeal
413
5
The Appellate Brief
418
5
Coordinating the Oral Argument
423
1
Final Procedures
424
7
Appendix A Sample Deposition
431
14
Glossary
445
12
Index
457