Complex Lit Blog

Documents Beyond Complaint That May Be Considered on 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss and for What Purpose — Utility of Affidavit or Declaration

Biro v. Condé Nast, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112466 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2012): When determining the sufficiency of a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), the court is normally required to consider only the allegations on the face of the pleading. "Documents that are attached to the complaint or incorporated in it by reference are deemed part of t ...

RICO — § 1962(d) Requires Conspiracy to Violate RICO, Not Merely Conspiracy to Commit Predicate Acts

Zavala v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16610 (3d Cir. Aug. 9, 2012): This suit was brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by Wal-Mart cleaning crew members who are seeking compensation for unpaid overtime and certification of a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), civil d ...

Minimal 26(a)(2)(C) Disclosure Upheld Because Complaint Sufficiently Elucidated Likely Scope of Testimony

Gilster v. Primebank, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114447 (N.D. Iowa Aug. 14, 2012): Footnote 8. The defendants ... maintain that I erred when I permitted Elizabeth Pratt to offer expert opinion testimony on whether Gilster would experience anxiety and stress in the future because Gilster failed to disclose Pratt's expert opinion on this s ...

Gilster v. Primebank, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114447 (N.D. Iowa Aug. 14, 2012): Footnote 8. The defendants … maintain that I erred when I permitted Elizabeth Pratt to offer expert opinion testimony on whether Gilster would experience anxiety and stress…

Securities — Circuit Split as to Whether PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Standards Apply to Loss Causation Allegations — Rebound in Stock Price after Disclosure of Fraud Does Not Defeat Inference of Economic Loss

Acticon AG v. China NE Petroleum Holdings Ltd., 2012 WL 3104589 (2d Cir. Aug. 1, 2012): This case requires us to consider whether the fact that a stock’s share price recovered soon after the fraud became known defeats an inference of economic loss in a securities fraud suit. Plaintiff–Appellant Acticon AG (“Acticon”) is t ...

Sanctions Based on Misinterpretation of Substantive Law — Where Claims “Quickly and Correctly” Dismissed, They Did Not Vexatiously Multiply the Proceedings within § 1927 — Recklessness Suffices for § 1927 Sanctions in Ninth Circuit

Braunstein v. Ariz. Dep’t of Transportation, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 13150 (9th Cir. June 27, 2012): Under § 1927, an attorney who unreasonably and vexatiously "multiplies the proceedings" in a case may be required to pay the excess fees and costs caused by such conduct. Unlike an award of attorneys' fees under § 1988, an award of sanc ...

Braunstein v. Ariz. Dep’t of Transportation, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 13150 (9th Cir. June 27, 2012): Under § 1927, an attorney who unreasonably and vexatiously “multiplies the proceedings” in a case may be required to pay the excess fees and…

“Motion” to Voluntarily Dismiss under Rule 41(a)(1) May = Notice of Dismissal Despite Title — Court Retains Jurisdiction to Sanction, Cite for Criminal Contempt and Possibly Grant 60(b) Relief

Edwards-Brown v. Crete-Monee 201 U School Dist., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16358 (7th Cir. Aug. 7, 2012): We note first that the district court properly construed Brown's "motion" for voluntary dismissal as a notice of voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(1). That she incorrectly called it a "motion to dismiss" is irrelevant. See S ...

Edwards-Brown v. Crete-Monee 201 U School Dist., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16358 (7th Cir. Aug. 7, 2012): We note first that the district court properly construed Brown’s “motion” for voluntary dismissal as a notice of voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(1).…

Sanctions Proceedings and Imposition of Discipline Not Subject to Automatic Stay of Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)

In re Halo Wireless, Inc., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 12284 (5th Cir. June 18, 2012): [I]n Alpern v. Lieb, 11 F.3d 689 (7th Cir. 1993), the Seventh Circuit held that a proceeding to impose sanctions under Rule 11 was exempt from the automatic stay. The court stated: [t]he Rule 11 sanction is meted out by a gov ...

Circuit Split as to Whether Dismissal Motion Based on Forum Selection Clause Is Properly Raised under Rule 12(b)(1), 12(b)(3) or 12(b)(6)

Lanier v. Syncreon Holdings, Ltd., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114117 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 14, 2012): Whether a motion to dismiss based on the existence of a valid forum selection clause is properly granted pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, Rule 12(b)(3) for improper venue, or Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to stat ...

Rule 26(b)(4)(E) Supersedes 28 U.S.C. § 1821 and Authorizes Award of Expert Fees and Expenses Over § 1821’s Cap — Appellate Brief Filed within 30 Days of Appealed Order = Additional Notice of Appeal for Issues Unmentioned in Original Notice

Halasa v. ITT Educational Servs., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16930 (7th Cir. Aug. 14, 2012): ITT Educational Services is a for-profit corporation that runs "ITT Technical Institutes" in several locations throughout the United States, including Lathrop, California. Plaintiff Jason Halasa was the Lathrop Campus's College Director for six months ...

Halasa v. ITT Educational Servs., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16930 (7th Cir. Aug. 14, 2012): ITT Educational Services is a for-profit corporation that runs “ITT Technical Institutes” in several locations throughout the United States, including Lathrop, California. Plaintiff Jason Halasa…

Notice of Removal May Not Be Amended to Add Jurisdictional Facts Not in Existence at Time Notice Was Filed

Am. Int’l Grp. v. Bank of Am., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106072 (S.D.N.Y. July 29, 2012): Plaintiffs initiated this action in New York State Court in August 2011. Defendants removed the action to federal court, and Plaintiffs then filed a motion in this Court to remand the case to state court. On October 20, 2011, the Court denied Plainti ...

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Documents Beyond Complaint That May Be Considered on 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss and for What Purpose — Utility of Affidavit or Declaration

RICO — § 1962(d) Requires Conspiracy to Violate RICO, Not Merely Conspiracy to Commit Predicate Acts

Minimal 26(a)(2)(C) Disclosure Upheld Because Complaint Sufficiently Elucidated Likely Scope of Testimony

Securities — Circuit Split as to Whether PSLRA’s Heightened Pleading Standards Apply to Loss Causation Allegations — Rebound in Stock Price after Disclosure of Fraud Does Not Defeat Inference of Economic Loss

Sanctions Based on Misinterpretation of Substantive Law — Where Claims “Quickly and Correctly” Dismissed, They Did Not Vexatiously Multiply the Proceedings within § 1927 — Recklessness Suffices for § 1927 Sanctions in Ninth Circuit

“Motion” to Voluntarily Dismiss under Rule 41(a)(1) May = Notice of Dismissal Despite Title — Court Retains Jurisdiction to Sanction, Cite for Criminal Contempt and Possibly Grant 60(b) Relief

Sanctions Proceedings and Imposition of Discipline Not Subject to Automatic Stay of Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)

Circuit Split as to Whether Dismissal Motion Based on Forum Selection Clause Is Properly Raised under Rule 12(b)(1), 12(b)(3) or 12(b)(6)

Rule 26(b)(4)(E) Supersedes 28 U.S.C. § 1821 and Authorizes Award of Expert Fees and Expenses Over § 1821’s Cap — Appellate Brief Filed within 30 Days of Appealed Order = Additional Notice of Appeal for Issues Unmentioned in Original Notice

Notice of Removal May Not Be Amended to Add Jurisdictional Facts Not in Existence at Time Notice Was Filed

Recent Posts

Practice of Seeking Leave to Amend after The Case Is Dismissed Is Discouraged

RICO: Release Executed After Alleged RICO Violations Extinguishes RICO Claim — Eighth Circuit Declines to Address Enforceability of A Release “That Is An Integral Part of An Alleged RICO Scheme Or That Immunizes Future RICO Conduct

Pleading — “Civil pleadings are supposed to mark the boundaries for discovery; discovery is not supposed to substitute for definite pleading” (Good Quote) — Shotgun Pleadings (11th Circuit): Four Categories/Types

Rule 37(c)(1) Exclusion of Untimely Expert Report: Failure to Argue Harmlessness Essentially Waives Issue

Rule 37(b) Sanctions — Exclusion of Supplemental Expert Report for Advancing New Opinions — Third Circuit Exclusion Factors — “Importance of Excluded Evidence:” If, As Proponent Argues, There Is Nothing New, Then Exclusion Doesn’t Harm Proponent; If There Is, It Harms Opponent

RICO Pleading: Generic Allegations of Fraud (Failing Even to Set Forth Any False Representation) And Extortion (Failing to Describe Actual Threats) Too Conclusory to State a Claim

RICO Pleading: Statutory Directive That RICO Be Liberally Construed Does Not Extend to More Liberal Pleading Requirements

FRAP 38 Sanctions Imposed Due to the “Striking Legal Emptiness” of Brief/Appeal, “A Legal Nothingburger” — Bad Faith Not Required: An Appeal “May Also Be Frivolous If It Is Filed Out Of Sheer Obstinacy” (Good Quotes)

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