Civil Procedure

This is FindLaw’s collection of Civil Procedure articles, part of the Litigation and Disputes section of the Corporate Counsel Center. It is the body of law surrounding procedural rules detailing how the court will handle a civil case. Civil procedure is a set of rules that help determine what pleas, orders and motions are allowed, as well as how to handle depositions and discovery. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the US federal court in 1938, has been used by most states. Law articles in this archive are predominantly written by lawyers for a professional audience seeking business solutions to legal issues. Start your free research with FindLaw.

Civil Litigation

Civil Procedure Articles

Rules for Mediation

1. Mediation is a process under which an impartial person, the Mediator, facilitates communication between the parties to promote reconciliation, settlement, or understanding among them. The mediator may suggest ways of resolving the dispute. 2 ...
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Selecting A Lawyer Specializing In Civil Trial Law

Maybe you have never needed the services of an attorney before; but now you do. Obviously, you want a lawyer who is able to handle your particular legal situation, and who has experience in the area of law relating to your legal needs. To assist you ...
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Selection And Effective Use Of Environmental Consultants-Part II

This article, which is the second in a series, (see Part I and Part III) reviews the content of the requests for proposals, the process for review of responses, as well as the need for and conduct of interviews of prospective consultants. It is ...
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Star Wars Technology in the Courtroom

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a moving picture is worth a hundred thousand words. Courtroom animations are revolutionizing the way modern trial lawyers present cases. While increasing numbers of trial lawyers spice up trial ...
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State Appellate Court Decision Concludes That Actions By “Holders” of Corporate Securities Does Not State Actionable Claim

On November 13, 1998, the Sixth Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal issued an opinion affirming an order from the Santa Clara County Superior Court which dismissed with prejudice the purported class action entitled Paul Chai, et al ...
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State Courts

Just as the federal courts interpret federal statutes and decide matters of federal common law, the state courts are the arbiters of issues of state law. They interpret the state's constitution and statutes, and have broad powers in developing ...
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Statute of Limitations Applicable to Governmental Entities?

In Texas, a person must generally bring suit for personal injury or property damages within two years after the day the cause of action accrues. However, an exception to this rule has been created by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section ...
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Summary of Important New Tax Legislation

As I am sure you are aware, a number of significant changes have been made to the tax laws in recent years. For example, 1996 saw the adoption and implementation of The Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2; The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity ...
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Testify Within Your Area of Expertise

In working with an attorney, you should be careful to keep the attorney from having you testify on matters beyond your qualifications. If you are a mechanic, do not allow an attorney that is trying to save money to have you testify as a design ...
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Texas Sets Pace in Drug Tort Reform

Reprinted from Drug Discovery & Development, June 2004 We could see it coming. 2003 was a time for legislative action in Texas. Our pharmaceutical clients had long been the targets of "iffy" – but potentially dangerous and certainly very costly ...
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