Nebraska Civil Practice & Procedure Manual

Nebraska Civil Practice & Procedure Manual TABLE OF CONTENTS Case Analysis, Screening & Preparation...17 I. Introduction: Case Analysis, Screening and Initial Preparation...23 II. Questions of Ethics, Common Sense and the Merits in Accepting or Rejecting a Client s Case...23 A. Conflicts of Interest...23 B. Fact Gathering: Two Steps...24 C. Assessing the Potential of a Conflict...24 D. Lack of Experience...25 E. No Meritorious Claim...26 1. Governing Rules and Law...26 2. Statutes of Limitations and Repose...26 3. What Does the Client Want and Is It Possible to Get?...26 4. Accumulating the Facts...27 F. Other Counsel?...27 G. Is It Practical for Me or My Firm to Accept This Case?...28 III. Advising the Client Whether the Case is Accepted...28 A. Disengagement Letters - Declining Employment...28 B. Engagement Letters...29 IV. Forms A. Disengagement Letter (Sample)...31 B. Engagement Letter (Sample)...32 C. Fee Contract (Sample)...33 D. Contingent Fee Agreement (Sample)...37 Getting Started: Pleadings, Complaints, and Service of Process...41 I. State Court...47 A. Complaints...47 1. Form/Contents...47 2. Attorney Signature...48 3. Remedies...48 B. Statutes and Ordinances...48 C. Pleading Special Matters...49 1. Capacity...49 2. Fraud, Mistake, Undue Influence, Condition of the Mind...49 3. Conditions Precedent...49 5

4. Official Document or Act...49 5. Judgment...49 6. Time and Place...49 7. Special Damages...50 8. Libel, Slander, and Invasion of Privacy...50 D. Joinder of Claims and Parties...50 1. Joinder of Claims...50 2. Joinder of Parties...50 3. Misjoinder and Nonjoinder...51 II. Federal Court...51 A. Complaint...51 1. Form/Contents...51 2. Attorney Signature...53 3. Remedies...54 4. Civil Cover Sheet...54 5. Pleading Special Matters...54 a. Fraud or Mistake...54 b. Time and Place...54 c. Certain Civil Rights Suits...54 d. Special Damages...55 e. Interest...55 f. Costs...55 g. Attorney Fees...55 h. Capacity, Authority to Sue, and Legal Existence...55 i. Conditions Precedent...55 j. Official Document or Act...55 k. Judgment...56 B. Joinder of Claims and Parties...56 1. Joinder of Claims...56 2. Joinder of Parties...56 3. Misjoinder and Nonjoinder...57 C. Removal Actions...57 1. Jurisdiction...57 2. Procedure for Removal...58 3. Answer...58 D. Request for Juries and Places of Trial...59 III. Service of Process...59 A. State Court...59 B. Federal Court...60 IV. County Courts...62 6

V. Forms Complaint...63 Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial...65 Assignment...70 Civil Cover Sheet...71 Responsive Pleadings and Motions...73 I. Responsive Motions...79 A. Motions in State Court...79 1. Motion to Dismiss...79 2. Challenging Personal Jurisdiction and Service...80 3. Motions to Make More Definite and Certain to Strike: Neb. Ct. R. Pldg. 6-112(E-F) (2008)...80 4. Motions to Separately State and Number...81 B. Federal Motions...81 1. Effect on Time to Plead Under Federal Rule 12(a)...81 2. Presenting Defenses by Motion: Federal Rule 12(b) (Official Form 19)...81 a. Personal Jurisdiction, Process and Service: Federal Rules 12(b)(2), (4), (5)...82 b. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Federal Rule 12(b)(1)...83 c. Venue: Federal Rule 12(b)(3)...83 d. Rules 12(b)(7) & 19: Joinder of Necessary and Indispensable Parties...86 e. Failure to State a Claim: Federal Rule 12(b)(6)...88 3. Motions for a More Definite Statement and To Strike: Federal Rules 12(e) and 12(f)...89 II. Answers...90 A. Nebraska Rules on Answers...90 1. Form for the Answer...90 2. Time for Filing the Answer...90 3. Admissions or Denials of the Complaint s Allegations...91 4. Affirmative Defenses...92 B. Answers in Federal Court...93 1. Form of the Answer...93 2. Time for Filing the Answer...93 3. Admissions or Denials of the Complaint s Allegations...93 4. Affirmative Defenses...94 5. Pleading Special Matters...94 6. Inconsistent Pleadings...94 7

III. Replies and Answers to Counterclaims and Cross-Claims...95 A. Replies in Nebraska State Court...95 1. Time for Filing the Reply...95 B. Replies and Answers to Counterclaims in Federal Court...95 1. Time for Filing an Answer to a Counterclaim or Cross-Claim in Federal Court...95 IV. Recoupments, Set-offs, Counterclaims and Cross-Claims...95 A. Pleading Cross-Demands in Nebraska State Court...95 1. Distinctions Between Recoupments, Set-offs and Counterclaims...96 2. Required Relationship of Set-off, Counterclaim, Cross-Claim to Plaintiff s Claim...96 B. Federal Counterclaims and Cross-Claims...97 1. Federal Cross-Claims...97 2. Federal Counterclaims...97 V. Third-Party Actions...98 A. Third-Party Practice in Nebraska (Form 8)...98 B. Federal Third-Party Practice...99 VI. Amendments...100 A. Amendments in Nebraska Courts (Form 9)...100 B. Amendment of Pleadings in Federal Court...100 C. Relation Back of Amendments...101 VII. Forms Form #1: Motion to Dismiss...103 Form #2: Motion to Make More Definite and Certain...104 Form #3: Motion to Strike...105 Form #4: Motion to Separately State and Number...106 Form #5: Official Form 19 - Motion to Dismiss...107 Form #6: State Court Answer and Counterclaim...109 Form #7: Federal Court Answer...113 Form #8: Third-Party Complaint and Praecipe...115 Form #9: Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint...117 Summary Judgment Motions...119 I. Introduction and Tactical Considerations...125 II. Genuine Issue of Material Fact...126 8

III. Pertinent Nebraska Statutes and the Federal Rules for the District of Nebraska...127 A. Timing, Evidence and Argument - State Court...127 B. Timing, Evidence and Argument - Federal Court...128 C. Permissible Evidence - State Court...129 D. Permissible Evidence - Federal Court...129 E. Briefs - State Court...129 F. Briefs - Federal Court...130 IV. Case Not Fully Adjudicated on Motion and Partial Summary Judgments...131 V. Opposing a Motion for Summary Judgment...132 A. Continuances...132 B. Shifting Burdens...134 C. Evidence Considered in the Light Most Favorable to the Party Opposing Summary Judgment...134 VI. Conclusion...134 VII. Forms Motion for Summary Judgment...135 Notice of Hearing...136 Index of Evidence for Federal Court...137 Sample Foundational Affidavit for Federal Court...138 Nebraska State Court Discovery Guide...139 I. Introduction...145 II. Goal and Target of Discovery...146 III. Changed Discovery Scope and Limits...147 IV. Informal Discovery...148 V. Written Discovery...150 A. Interrogatories to Parties (Neb. Ct.R.Disc. 6-333)...151 B. Requests for Production of Documents, Electronically Stored Information, and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes (Rule 6-334)...153 C. Deposition Upon Written Interrogatories (Rule 6-331)...155 D. Entry Upon Designated Land or Other Property (Rule 6-334(a)(2))...156 E. Requests for Admission (Rule 6-336)...157 F. Physical and Mental Examination of Persons (Rule 6-335)...159 9

G. Other Considerations...161 1. Supplementing Discovery (Rule 6-326(e))...161 2. Stipulations of the Parties (Rule 6-329)...162 a. Extensions of Time...162 b. Discovery Stipulations Under Rule 6-329...162 3. Evidence for Trial...162 4. Failure to Make Discovery or Supplement Discovery, etc.: Sanctions (Rule 6-337)...163 5. Filing of Discovery Materials (Rule 6-326(g))...165 VI. Discovery From a Nonparty Without a Deposition (Rule 6-334(A))...166 VII. Depositions Upon Oral Examination (Rule 6-330)...167 A. Preparing Clients and Lay Witnesses...167 B. Preparing Expert Witnesses...171 C. Taking Depositions...173 D. Deposition of Person Before Action Filed or Pending Appeal (Rule 6-327)...175 E. Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken (Rule 6-328)...176 F. Interpreters (Proposed Rules)...177 G. Using Depositions in Court Proceedings (Rule 6-332)...177 VIII. Closing...179 IX. Forms Requests for Admissions...181 Requests for Production of Documents and Other Things...183 Interrogatories...184 Certificate of Personal Consultation...185 Motion to Compel...187 Notice of Deposition...189 Answers to Interrogatories and Responses to Requests for Production of Documents...191 Objections to Requests for Production...193 Notice of Intent to Serve Subpoena...195 Subpoena Duces Tecum with Attached Rule 34A...197 Pretrial...203 I. General Comments...209 II. Calling Cases to Trial...209 A. Court Rules...209 B. Case Progression Standards...210 C. Motion for Trial Progression...210 10

III. Pretrial Conference...211 A. Purpose...211 B. Procedure...212 C. Case Law...212 IV. Motions in Limine...213 A. Appeal...214 B. Abuse...214 V. Jury Instructions...214 VI. Conclusion...215 VII. Forms Form A: Motion for Trial Progression...217 Form B: Pretrial Order...218 Form C: Witness List...221 Form D: Exhibit List...224 Form E: Unique Points of Law...226 Form F: Plaintiff s Statement of Elements...227 Form G: List of Anticipated Discovery and Pretrial Motions...229 Form H: Plaintiff s Pretrial Conference Memorandum...231 Form I: Defendant s Motion in Limine...233 Trial...235 I. Jury Selection...241 A. Practical Advice...241 B. Qualifications and Disqualifications...242 C. Selecting Jurors...243 D. What Questions Should Be Asked...245 E. Tort Reform...245 II. Opening Statement...248 A. Use of Evidence...249 B. Use of Demonstrative Aids/PowerPoint...249 III. Examination of Witnesses...250 A. Direct Examination...250 1. General...250 2. Direct Examination of a Hostile/Adverse Witness...250 3. Use of Demonstrative Exhibits in Direct Examination...251 4. Avoiding Objections...251 B. Cross-Examination...252 1. General...252 2. Technique...252 C. Expert Witnesses...253 11

IV. Objections...255 A. General...255 B. Unfair Prejudice...256 C. Necessity of Timely Objection...256 D. Specific Ground of Objection...257 1. Form of the question is not a specific ground of objection...257 2. The document speaks for itself is not a valid objection...257 3. You can t impeach a witness you called! - also not a valid objection...258 E. Motion to Strike/Request for Curative Instruction...258 F. Offer of Proof...259 V. Jury Instructions...259 VI. Final Argument...261 A. General...261 B. Use of Jury Instructions...261 C. The Golden Rule...262 D. Impermissible Tactics...262 E. What to Do If Opposing Counsel Uses Impermissible Tactics...264 VII. Jury Deliberations and Verdict...264 A. Questions from the Jury...264 1. During Trial...264 2. During Deliberations...265 B. Hung Jury...265 C. Polling the Jury...266 VIII. Motion for New Trial...266 Enforcement of Judgments Collections...269 I. Garnishment in Aid of Execution...275 II. Execution...281 III. Exemptions...284 IV. Examinations in Aid of Execution...288 V. Filing Foreign Judgment...289 VI. Prejudgment Attachment and Garnishment...289 12

VII. Forms Form #1: Garnishment Affidavit and Praecipe...295 Form #2: Application and Order of Continuing Lien...297 Form #3: Application to Deliver Nonexempt Funds...299 Form #4: Employers Instructions for Garnishment, Type A and Interrogatories...301 Form #5: Employers Instructions for Garnishment, Type B and Interrogatories...305 Form #6: Employers Instructions for Garnishment, Type C and Interrogatories...309 Form #7: Employers Instructions for Garnishment, Type D and Interrogatories...313 Form #8: Employers Instructions for Garnishment, Type E and Interrogatories...317 Form #9: Employers Instructions for Garnishment, Type F and Interrogatories...321 Form #10: Garnishments, Employers Instructions...325 Form #11: Notice of Extension...327 Form #12: Notice of Filing Foreign Judgment...329 Form #13: Notice to Judgment Debtor...331 Form #14: Order of Summons in Garnishment and Interrogatories...332 Form #15: Release of Garnishee...333 Appellate Practice in Nebraska: A General Overview...335 I. Perfecting Your Appeal...341 A. Notice of Appeal...341 B. Issues on Appeal: Assignment of Error...341 C. The Record...342 D. Petition to Bypass...342 E. Constitutional Questions...342 II. Briefing Your Appeal...343 III. Oral Argument...346 IV. Disposition and Beyond...347 A. Summary Disposition...347 B. Motion for Rehearing...348 C. Petition for Further Review...348 Appeals from County to District Court...349 I. Generally...355 II. Appeals Procedure...356 III. Supersedeas Bond...359 IV. Transcript...360 13

V. Bill of Exceptions...361 VI. Statement of Errors...361 VII. Trial on Appeal...362 VIII. Liability of Surety...364 IX. Dismissal for Procedural Reasons...364 X. Costs...364 XI. Judgment by Confession...364 Administrative Appeals...365 I. Appeals Under the Administrative Procedures Act...371 A. Applicability...371 B. Appeals to the District Court...371 1. Time for Taking Appeal...371 2. Parties...372 3. Service of Summons...372 4. The Petition...372 5. Preparation of the Official Record...372 6. The Standard of Review...372 C. Appeals to the Nebraska Court of Appeals...373 II. Error Proceedings...374 A. Decisions Which May Be the Subject of an Error Proceeding...374 B. Perfecting the Error Proceeding...375 C. Time for Filing...375 D. Allegations in the Petition in Error...376 E. Presenting the Full Record...377 F. Standard of Review...377 III. Claims Statutes...378 A. Claims Against Metropolitan Cities...378 1. The Appeals Statute...378 2. Claims Within the Purview of the Statute...379 3. Review in the District Court...380 B. Claims Against Counties...380 1. The Appeal Statute...380 2. Allegations on Appeal...381 3. Claims Within the Purview of the Statute...381 4. Effect of Failure to File Claim with the County Clerk in a Timely Fashion...381 5. Review in the District Court...381 14

V. Forms Sample Petition on Appeal Under the Administrative Procedures Act...383 Sample Proof of Service for Appeal Under the Administrative Procedures Act...385 Sample Answer on Appeal Under the Administrative Procedures Act...386 Sample Petition in Error...387 Sample Praecipe for Transcript...389 Sample Petition on Appeal from Denial of a Claim in Metropolitan Cities...391 Sample Petition on Appeal from Denial of a Claim by a County...393 15