Civil Procedure - Verdicts and Judgments
Study for the Bar in Your Car · Angela Rutledge, LLM, LLB
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Show Notes
Ready to conquer the final stages of a lawsuit? Understanding verdicts and judgments is key to mastering Civil Procedure! In this essential episode of Study for the Bar in Your Car, join AI hosts Ma and Claude as they break down Angela's comprehensive bar study notes on how cases reach their conclusion – and what that means for future litigation.
Tune in to decipher:
- Defaults & Dismissals (Rules 55 & 41): What happens when a party fails to respond, how cases get ended early (voluntarily or involuntarily), and the crucial distinction between dismissals with and without prejudice – including the critical "two dismissal" rule that bars refiling a claim.
- Jury Verdicts & Challenges: Explore the different types of verdicts (General vs. Special) and the powerful motions used to challenge them after trial, including Judgment as a Matter of Law (JML/RJML) based on the sufficiency of evidence (Rule 50) and motions for a New Trial (Rule 59) on broader grounds like legal errors or the verdict being against the weight of the evidence.
- The RJML Prerequisite & Strict Deadlines: Learn the absolutely vital rule that you generally must move for JML during the trial to preserve your right to file an RJML motion after the verdict. Crucially, grasp the strict 28-day deadline to file RJML and New Trial motions after judgment is entered – miss it and you lose the chance!.
- Judicial Decisions & Summary Judgment (Rule 56): Understand how judges make findings in bench trials and the high bar for ending a case before trial via Summary Judgment – demonstrating there's no genuine dispute of material fact and entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. Discover why judges don't weigh credibility at this stage and the need for the opposing party to present actual evidence.
- The Power of Preclusion: Get a handle on Claim Preclusion (Res Judicata) and Issue Preclusion (Collateral Estoppel) – what they stop you from relitigating later, and the fundamental importance of whether a prior judgment was "on the merits". Learn how the Full Faith and Credit clause makes judgments portable.
Angela's notes provide practical insights into these complex topics, essential for understanding the finality of litigation and spotting key bar exam issues.
Don't leave the finish line to chance! Listen now and subscribe to Study for the Bar in Your Car to master verdicts, judgments, and their lasting impact.