CIVIL PROCEDURE I (3-units)
California Civil Procedure / Prof. Slomanson / Fall 2017 / M&W 4:30-5:45 PM / Room 316Required—Cases and Materials on California Civil Procedure (5th ed. 2015) and Cal Forms &
Motions online Supp: <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/CCP_Forms&Motions.htm.
Optional—Summaries—Cal Civ Pro in a Nutshell (5th ed. 2014); Quick Review (3d ed, 2016). Rules book—Civil Procedure in California: State and Federal (2017 ed). [All 4 publications = West Academic.]
Web Details—see Course Web Page (“CWP”) at: http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb,scroll to CAL CIV PRO
(1) Course Description: <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/CCP Course Description.doc>.
(2) Course Learning Outcomes: <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/OutcomesTable.docx>.
(3) Reading: see below & <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/CCP Reading Fall 2016.docx>.
(4) Forms & Motions: Review, but you need not read closely. I will briefly cover them in class.
(5) Daily Blueprint: <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/CCP Daily Blueprint 2016.docx>.
(6) How to Present Case: <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/CCP How State Appearance.doc>.
(7) Course Starter Outline: <http://www.tjsl.edu/slomansonb/CCP Outline.doc>.
(8) California State Bar Civility Code−briefly peruse at least once during the course:
http://ethics.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/9/documents/Civility/Atty-Civility-Guide-Revised_Sept-2014.pdf>, p. 17.
Associated Themes:
• I will usually send an e-mail, each Thursday morning, with the following week’s assigned
debates and/or problems. There will be occasional “prof” presentations by an assigned
student—important material, but not enough for a robust debate.
• Only the italicized cases below, and their specifically stated notes, are required reading.
• I occasionally assign only the notes following an unassigned principal case; e.g., Day 1, n.2-3
to the unassigned Schmier case.
• Each case/problem debate is argued/presented at the trial court level. Do not use any higher
court’s result as your reasoning for an argument in the trial court. You are of course free to use
any argument in the assigned case (and other sources). Creativity OK, but not any fact changes.
• Grading: see above Course Description, sent via e-mail well prior to Day 1 of this course.
• There will be a 5 raw point oral grade deduction for any unprepared or no show. As in practice,
the client must always be represented. Get a buddy who can cover for you, just in case. Also,
as in practice, there are no ex parte communications with the court (me) after the weekly case
debate/problem schedules are published (via my Thursday e-mails).
• Feel free to: (1) volunteer for future class days; (2) juggle assigned cases with other students;
(3) switch sides for assigned cases/parties; and (4) let me know in advance—i.e., by the end of
a prior Wednesday’s class—when you will be absent during the following week. I will then
know not to assign you for days you cannot attend class. My algorithm will yield an equal
number of assignments for each student.
• Reading/Blueprint errors: I’ve revised the course in a number of ways. If you wait until class to
report some error, I probably can’t do anything about it (i.e., the error involves that day’s
assignment). So send me an e-mail, in advance, so I can problem solve.
• Prior exams: I will provide these, when requested during the semester. DO NOT give them to
anyone else, for two reasons: (1) profs at other schools who are using this casebook
occasionally use these old exams; and, (2) I have no interest in assisting students at other
schools with passing the California Bar Exam.
• We will have two optional out-of-class Q & A sessions−after midterms, and in Review Week.
Reading:
DAY 1: Subjects: Course Introduction; Sources of California law; Jurisdiction;
California Case Classification; Illustrative “Prof” & Case Moots.
Video: Video on Videos (borrowed from my 1L class, but 95% applicable).
Reading: 1-8; 13 n.2-3; 14 (Rules)-15; 23 (Local)-39; 41-(Stearn)-54 n.1 & n.3;
first online form−Case Questionnaire Form. (Load forms before class.)
Assessment: Jurisdiction Quiz.
DAY 2: Subjects: Service of Process; Venue; Forum Non Conveniens.
Reading: 66.2 (Espindola) & n.3,4; 71 (Dill) & n.5-6; Summons & Proof of
Service Form; 88.C.1. (Brown) & n.1; 98.2 (Guimei) & n.2-3.
Assessment: Venue Quiz.
DAY 3: Subjects: Choice of Law; Pleading: Special Filing Requisites; Note HCSP;
Comparative Terminology; Complaint; “Fact” Pleading.
Video: COL—Fed Review & CA Approach.
Video: State v. Federal Pleading Terminology.
Reading: 112.2 (Kearney) & n.2; 122 (Brack); 132.A.1 (Stockton) + n.2 n.5; Form:
Civil Case Cover Sheet (based on Stockton); 140 Note-(Bockrath) & n.2-3.
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 4: Subjects: Form Pleadings; Various Pleading Sidebars; Demand/Prayer; Statement of
Damages; Pleading Punitive Damages; General & Special Demurrer; Judicial
Notice; Motion to Strike; Motion Practice.
Video: Demurrers
Reading: Form Contract & Tort Complaints; 148(c) (People)-(Schwab) n.1-4; 161(b)
(College) & n.1 & n.4; 169.1 (Sheehan); Forms/Motions: Demurrer (midterm
model); 176.2-179.3; 181-top 184.
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 5: Subject: Practicum on Demurrers (Jeremy Robinson, Esq.).
Reading: None.
DAY 6: Subjects: Appearances; Form Answers—Contract & Tort; Denials; Affirmative
Defenses; SOL.
Reading: 79.3 (Air Machine)-87 n.1; 184.C (Advantec)-190 & n.2; 191(b) (Norgart)
& n2; 197 (Jolly); 216-217 n.4 & 5.
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 7: Subjects: Amendments; Doe Defendants; Frivolous Pleadings.
Reading: 228.E.1 (not Problem); 230.E.2 (Davaloo); 237(b)-240; 241 (Fuller) & n.2
& n.4; 247.F.1(a) (Interstate) + n.1; n.4; and n.6.
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 8: Subject: Anti-SLAPP motions.
Video: Anti-SLAPP Motions (recommend end-of-video problem).
Reading: Forms/Motions: Anti-SLAPP (brief looksee); 256.2 (Flatley); 271(b)
(Blanchard); CWP—Chap. 3 JAMS v. Super. Court; 283(d) (Trump U)-290.
DAY 9: Subject: Practicum on Anti-SLAPP motions (David Beavans, Esq.).
Reading: None.
DAY 10: Subjects: Discovery: Philosophy; Initial Disclosures; Informal Discovery;
Proportionality; Form Depo Subpoena;
Reading: 329.A (Greyhound) & (Pullin) & n.1[EW]; 339.2 (Stewart) & n.1;
344.3 (Pioneer) & n.2.
DAY 11: Subjects: Privileges; Work Product; Waiver.
Video: Work Product
Reading: 351(b) (Hernandez) & n.1 & n.3; Form: Privilege Log; 356 (Coito) & n.2-
4[EW]; 368 (County L.A.) & n.1-3; Form: Substitution of Atty; 374 (Note).
DAY 12: Subjects: Interrogatories; Depositions; Examinations; Inspection.
Reading: Forms—Interrogatories; 377.C.1 (Sinaiko) + n.2 & n.4; 385.2 (Maldonado);
394.3 (Vinson) & n.1; 403.4 (Stadish) & n.3; midterm assignment announced
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 13: Subject: Practicum 1 of 2 on Depositions (CD plus Q & A).
Reading: None.
DAY 14: Subject: Practicum 2 of 2 on Depositions (CD plus Q & A).
Reading: None.
DAY 15: Subjects: Requests for Admission; Experts; Continuing Discovery; Electronic Disc.
Reading: Forms—Requests for Admission & Electronic Service; 410.5 (St. Mary) &
n.5; 418.6 (Bonds) & n.2; 426.7 (Biles) & n.1; 432.8 (Toshiba) & n.2. Midterm due 4:30.
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 16: Subjects: Meet&Confer; Forms−Meet&Confer (see Demurrer); Discovery Sanctions; mini-Q & A*
Reading: 441.D.1. (Obregon) & n.2; 415.2; 446.2 (Ellis) + n.1 & n.3 & n.5;
* Review before class (your questions, then our answers).
DAY 17: Subjects: Protective Orders; Discovery Completion; Punitive Damages.
Video: Three Stages of Punitive Damages.
Reading: 459.3 (Planned) & n.1, 2, 4; 468.4 (Fairmont) n.3[EW]; 475.5. (Jabro)
& n.3 & n.4[EW].
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DAY 18: Subject: Dispo w/o Trial—Contractual Arbitration.
Video: Arbitration.
Reading: Form: ADR 101; 482.A (Moncharsh) & n.2; 500 Fee Note; 501 (Engalla)
n2; 512 (Armendariz) & n.2; 522-525 (top).
DAY 19: Subjects: Judicial Arbitration; Mediation; Case Management Statement; Sanctions.
Reading: 525(b) (Porreco) n.3; 531.2-534 (Foxgate) + n. 3, 4 & 6; 543.B.1 (Garcia) Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 20: Subjects: Voluntary Dismissal; Involuntary Dismissals—Failure Prosecute; Default.
Reading: 551 (Franklin); 559.2(a)(i) (Putnam) & n.2; 566(ii) (Bruns) & n.4-5; 573(b);
574.D (Fasuyi) & n.1-2; 583-585 Penalty Default Note.
Assessment. Quiz.
DAY 21: Subject: Settlements.
Reading: 585.E.1 (Walton) & n.2; 592(a) (Leung) & n.3[EW]; 601(b) (Weidenfeller)
& n.2[EW].
DAY 22: Subject: 998 Offers.
Video: Offers of Judgment
Reading: 606(a) (TM Cobb) & n.1, 2 & 4(c)[EW]; 613 (Guzman); 618 (Adams)
& n.2; 624 (Note).
DAY 23: Subjects: Summary Judgment (CA); Reconsideration; Relief from Judgment;
Right to Jury.
Reading: 625F.1 (Robinson) & n.1; Forms—Summary Jmt (CRC) Separate Statement,
subsec. (h); 635(b) (Kojabian) & n.4; 640.G.1 (Le Francois); 648.2
(Zamora) & n.5-6; 669 (Grafton); 680 Note.
DAY 24: Subjects: Trial: Jury Pool; Community; Voir Dire; Judicial Challenges.
Reading: 680.2 (Burgener) & n.1; 689 (Williams) & n.1 and 4; Form—Juror
Questionnaire; 698.3 (Garcia) & n.1; 710 (Challenge Note).
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 25: Subjects: Instructions; Verdicts; Navigating the Performance Test.
Reading: 711.B.1 (Mitchell) & n.6; 725.C.1 (Resch); review 2014 Final Exam [was
handed out in Day 12 class].
DAY 26: Subjects: Attacking Evidence—Nonsuit; Directed Verdict; JNOV; New Trial.
Reading: 737.D.1 (Panico) & n.1; 743.2 Dailey) & n.1; 745.3 (Garretson) & n.1; 745.3 (Fountain); 760 Punies Note.
Assessment: Quiz.
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DAY 27: Subjects: Security Attachment; TRO/Prelim Injunction; Contempt.
Reading: Form—Writ of Attachment; 765.A.1 (Western) & n.2; 779 n.2; Form—TRO
(Domestic Violence); 780 (Right Site); 795.2 (Ivey) & n.1.
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 28: Subjects: Costs & Atty’s Fees; Appeal: Appeals & Writs.
Reading: 802.C.1-802 (not El Dorado); Forms—Cost Memo Summary & Worksheet;
810.2 (Sokolow); 821 (PCLM); 839.1 (Morehart) n.5; 846.3(d) (Baycol).
Assessment: Quiz.
DAY 29: (Review Wk) Subjects: Prior Suit: CA Res Judicata & Stare Decisis (5 min.);
Q&A (2 hours)
Reading: None; attendance optional. Last rev: 10/21/17