PROCEDURE MAP66 nodes · 105 edgesgoodmaybebad
Conduct Rule 11 pre-filing investigationFile complaint establishing subject-mat…File complaint establishing subject-matter jurisdiction and venueClerk signs, seals, and issues the summ…Clerk signs, seals, and issues the summonsServe defendant via formal processRequest waiver of service instead of fo…Request waiver of service instead of formal processFail to serve within 90 days -- no good…Fail to serve within 90 days -- no good cause shownDefendant returns executed waiverDefendant refuses waiver without good c…Defendant refuses waiver without good cause -- formal service completed, costs shift under Rule 4(d)(2)Defendant considers removal to federal …Defendant considers removal to federal courtNo removal -- Rule 12 response clock ru…No removal -- Rule 12 response clock runs in the original forumPlaintiff dismisses by notice before an…Plaintiff dismisses by notice before an answer or SJ motion is servedFile notice of removal within 30 days o…File notice of removal within 30 days of formal serviceDecline removal -- remain in the origin…Decline removal -- remain in the original forumPlaintiff moves to remandNo remand motion -- case proceeds in fe…No remand motion -- case proceeds in federal courtCourt grants remand -- lack of subject-…Court grants remand -- lack of subject-matter jurisdiction or removal defectCourt denies remand -- federal forum re…Court denies remand -- federal forum retainedFile answer within 21 days (baseline)File pre-answer Rule 12(b) motion inste…File pre-answer Rule 12(b) motion instead of answeringFail to answer or move -- default expos…Fail to answer or move -- default exposureComplete Rule 12(b) briefingMotion denied -- answer due within 14 d…Motion denied -- answer due within 14 daysMotion granted with leave to amendMotion granted without leave to amend -…Motion granted without leave to amend -- futilityMove to set aside entry of default for …Move to set aside entry of default for good causeClerk or court enters default judgmentLast pleading directed to the issue ser…Last pleading directed to the issue served -- 14-day jury demand clock startsServe and file timely written jury dema…Serve and file timely written jury demandFail to demand within 14 days -- jury t…Fail to demand within 14 days -- jury trial waivedAmend as of right within the 21-day mat…Amend as of right within the 21-day matter-of-course windowSeek leave to amend outside the matter-…Seek leave to amend outside the matter-of-course windowNo amendment -- proceed; consider joind…No amendment -- proceed; consider joinder of partiesResponsive-pleading window reopens for …Responsive-pleading window reopens for the amended pleadingComplete Rule 15(a)(2) motion briefingLeave granted -- justice so requiresLeave deniedJoin a required party (Rule 19) or a pe…Join a required party (Rule 19) or a permissive party (Rule 20)Nonparty intervenes as of right or perm…Nonparty intervenes as of right or permissivelyNo joinder -- proceed to discovery plan…No joinder -- proceed to discovery planningCase proceeds toward discovery planning…Case proceeds toward discovery planning with joined partiesConduct Rule 26(f) conference and submi…Conduct Rule 26(f) conference and submit discovery planExchange Rule 26(a)(1) initial disclosu…Exchange Rule 26(a)(1) initial disclosuresCourt issues Rule 16(b) scheduling orderServe interrogatories (max 25 including…Serve interrogatories (max 25 including discrete subparts, Rule 33(a)(1))Serve requests for production (Rule 34)Serve requests for admission (Rule 36) …Serve requests for admission (Rule 36) -- no timely response is deemed admitted (36(a)(3))Take deposition (Rule 30) -- 10 deposit…Take deposition (Rule 30) -- 10 depositions per side and 1 day of 7 hours absent stipulation or leave (Rule 30(a)(2)(A)(i); 30(d)(1))Serve Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice o…Serve Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice on an organizationServe nonparty subpoena (Rule 45)Meet and confer on a discovery disputeMove for a protective orderParties settle -- file stipulation of d…Parties settle -- file stipulation of dismissalDiscovery record complete -- proceed to…Discovery record complete -- proceed toward dispositive motionsFile motion to compel after good-faith …File motion to compel after good-faith conferral failsDispute resolved informally -- discover…Dispute resolved informally -- discovery resumesMotion granted -- movant's fees shifted…Motion granted -- movant's fees shifted to the noncompliant party (Rule 37(a)(5)(A))Party still fails to obey the compel or…Party still fails to obey the compel order -- Rule 37(b) sanctions consideredMotion denied -- movant's fees shifted …Motion denied -- movant's fees shifted absent substantial justification (Rule 37(a)(5)(B))Complete Rule 26(c) briefing -- good-ca…Complete Rule 26(c) briefing -- good-cause showingProtective order grantedProtective order denied -- discovery pr…Protective order denied -- discovery proceeds unrestrictedLesser sanction imposed -- adverse infe…Lesser sanction imposed -- adverse inference, fee-shifting, or evidence preclusion (Rule 37(b)(2)(A)(i)-(iv))Case-dispositive sanction -- dismissal …Case-dispositive sanction -- dismissal for willful noncompliance or spoliationCase-dispositive sanction -- default ju…Case-dispositive sanction -- default judgment against the disobedient defendantMove for summary judgmentMove to exclude opposing expert testimo…Move to exclude opposing expert testimony pretrialNo dispositive or Daubert motion -- pro…No dispositive or Daubert motion -- proceed to final pretrial conferenceComplete Rule 56 briefingMotion taken under submissionGranted in full -- no genuine dispute o…Granted in full -- no genuine dispute of material factGranted in part -- remaining claims pro…Granted in part -- remaining claims proceed to trialDenied -- genuine dispute of material f…Denied -- genuine dispute of material fact; case proceeds toward trialProceed toward trial on the remaining c…Proceed toward trial on the remaining claimsComplete FRE 702 gatekeeping briefing (…Complete FRE 702 gatekeeping briefing (FRE 104(a))Expert testimony admitted -- reliabilit…Expert testimony admitted -- reliability and fit satisfiedExpert testimony excluded in whole or i…Expert testimony excluded in whole or in partComplete motions in limine (FRE 103(d))Court enters final pretrial orderEvidence closed -- case submitted to th…Evidence closed -- case submitted to the factfinderVerdict / findings for plaintiffVerdict / findings for defendant28-day post-trial motion window opensNo post-trial motion -- proceed directl…No post-trial motion -- proceed directly toward appealRenew motion for JMOL (requires a prece…Renew motion for JMOL (requires a preceding Rule 50(a) motion)Move for a new trialMove to alter or amend the judgmentMove for relief from judgmentNo post-trial motion -- proceed to appe…No post-trial motion -- proceed to appealComplete Rule 50(b) briefingComplete Rule 59 briefingComplete Rule 59(e) briefingComplete Rule 60(b) briefingPost-trial motion denied -- FRAP 4(a)(4…Post-trial motion denied -- FRAP 4(a)(4) tolling ends, appeal clock now runsPost-trial motion granted -- amended or…Post-trial motion granted -- amended or new judgment enteredFile notice of appeal within 30 days of…File notice of appeal within 30 days of entry of judgmentMiss the FRAP 4(a) deadline -- no timel…Miss the FRAP 4(a) deadline -- no timely extension soughtElect not to appeal -- judgment becomes…Elect not to appeal -- judgment becomes finalNotice served on all partiesFile cross-appealNo cross-appeal -- appellee will defend…No cross-appeal -- appellee will defend the judgment on the existing recordCross-appeal docketed with the lead app…Cross-appeal docketed with the lead appealComplete FRAP 28 briefing and oral argu…Complete FRAP 28 briefing and oral argumentCourt of appeals affirmsCourt of appeals reverses or vacates an…Court of appeals reverses or vacates and remandsAffirmed in part, reversed in part -- n…Affirmed in part, reversed in part -- net affirmance for appelleePre-Filing InvestigationFRCP 11(b)pre-filing-group · HERESubject-Matter Jurisdicti…28 U.S.C. 1331; 1332(a); 1391(b)pre-filing-groupComplaint FiledFRCP 3; 8(a); 28 U.S.C. 1914(a)pre-filing-groupRule 4(m) Service WindowFRCP 4(m)pleading-group · CAUTIONWaiver of Service Request…FRCP 4(d)(1)pleading-group · CAUTIONService of Process Comple…FRCP 4(c); 4(e); 4(h)pleading-group · CAUTIONDISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDI…FRCP 4(m)pleading-group · BURNEDRemoval Window (Defendant…28 U.S.C. 1441; 1446(b)(1)pleading-group · CAUTIONCase Removed to Federal C…28 U.S.C. 1441; 1446(a)pleading-group · CAUTIONCourt Rules on Motion to …28 U.S.C. 1447(c)pleading-group · CAUTIONRemanded to State Court28 U.S.C. 1447(c); 1447(d)pleading-group · CAUTIONRule 12 Response WindowFRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i)pleading-group · CAUTIONAnswer FiledFRCP 8(b); 8(c); 12(a)(4)(A); 13pleading-groupRule 12(b) Motion FiledFRCP 12(b)pleading-groupCourt Rules on Motion to …FRCP 12(b)(6); 12(d)pleading-group · CAUTIONDISMISSED WITH PREJUDICEFRCP 12(b)(6); 41(b)pleading-group · BURNEDClerk's Entry of DefaultFRCP 55(a)pleading-group · CAUTIONDEFAULT JUDGMENT ENTEREDFRCP 55(b)(1); 55(b)(2)pleading-group · BURNEDVOLUNTARY / STIPULATED DI…FRCP 41(a)pleading-group · OPTIMALRule 15(a)(1) Amendment-a…FRCP 15(a)(1)(B)amendment-joinder-group · CAUTIONAmended Complaint FiledFRCP 15(a); 15(c)(1)(C)amendment-joinder-groupMotion for Leave to Amend…FRCP 15(a)(2)amendment-joinder-groupCourt Rules on Leave to A…FRCP 15(a)(2)amendment-joinder-group · CAUTIONJoinder of PartiesFRCP 19; 20; 24amendment-joinder-group · CAUTIONAdditional Parties JoinedFRCP 19; 20; 21; 24amendment-joinder-groupRule 26(f) ConferenceFRCP 26(f); 26(d)(1)discovery-groupRule 26(a)(1) Initial Dis…FRCP 26(a)(1)(A); 26(a)(1)(C)discovery-groupRule 16(b) Scheduling Ord…FRCP 16(b)discovery-groupDiscovery OpenFRCP 26(b)(1); 26(d)(1)discovery-group · CAUTIONMeet-and-Confer on Discov…FRCP 37(a)(1)discovery-group · CAUTIONCourt Rules on Motion to …FRCP 37(a)(3); 37(a)(5)discovery-group · CAUTIONMotion for Protective Ord…FRCP 26(c)discovery-groupCourt Rules on Protective…FRCP 26(c)discovery-group · CAUTIONCourt Rules on Rule 37 Sa…FRCP 37(b)(2); 37(e)discovery-group · CAUTIONCASE DISMISSED -- Discove…FRCP 37(b)(2)(A)(v); 37(e)(2)(C)discovery-group · BURNEDDEFAULT JUDGMENT -- Disco…FRCP 37(b)(2)(A)(vi)discovery-group · BURNEDDiscovery ClosedFRCP 16(b)(3)discovery-group · CAUTIONMotion for Summary Judgme…FRCP 56(a); 56(b)pretrial-motions-groupSummary Judgment Briefing…FRCP 56(c)pretrial-motions-groupCourt Rules on Summary Ju…FRCP 56(a)pretrial-motions-group · CAUTIONSUMMARY JUDGMENT ENTEREDFRCP 56(a)pretrial-motions-group · OPTIMALPartial Summary JudgmentFRCP 56(a); 56(g)pretrial-motions-groupDaubert / Rule 702 Motion…FRE 702; FRE 104(a)pretrial-motions-groupCourt Rules on Daubert Mo…FRE 702pretrial-motions-group · CAUTIONMotions in LimineFRE 103(d)pretrial-motions-groupFinal Pretrial ConferenceFRCP 16(e)pretrial-motions-groupJury Demand WindowFRCP 38(b); 38(d)trial-group · CAUTIONTrial CommencesFRCP 43; 50(a)trial-groupVerdict / Findings Render…FRCP 52(a); 58trial-group · CAUTIONFinal Judgment EnteredFRCP 58; 28 U.S.C. 1291post-trial-motions-group · CAUTIONPost-Trial Motion WindowFRCP 50(b); 52(b); 59(b); 59(e)…post-trial-motions-group · CAUTIONRenewed Motion for JMOL F…FRCP 50(b)post-trial-motions-groupMotion for New Trial FiledFRCP 59(a); 59(b)post-trial-motions-groupMotion to Alter/Amend Jud…FRCP 59(e)post-trial-motions-groupMotion for Relief from Ju…FRCP 60(b); 60(c)(1)post-trial-motions-groupCourt Rules on Post-Trial…FRCP 50(b); 59; 60(b)post-trial-motions-group · CAUTIONNotice of Appeal WindowFRAP 4(a)(1)(A); 4(a)(1)(B)judgment-appeal-group · CAUTIONNotice of Appeal FiledFRAP 3; 4(a)(1)(A)judgment-appeal-groupAPPEAL FORFEITED -- Judgm…FRAP 4(a)(1)(A); Bowles v. Russ…judgment-appeal-group · BURNEDJUDGMENT FINAL -- No Appe…28 U.S.C. 1291judgment-appeal-group · OPTIMALCross-Appeal WindowFRAP 4(a)(3)judgment-appeal-group · CAUTIONCross-Appeal FiledFRAP 4(a)(3); 28judgment-appeal-groupAppellate Briefing & Argu…FRAP 28; 34judgment-appeal-groupCourt of Appeals Decision28 U.S.C. 1291judgment-appeal-group · CAUTIONJUDGMENT AFFIRMED ON APPE…28 U.S.C. 1291judgment-appeal-group · OPTIMALJUDGMENT REVERSED / VACAT…28 U.S.C. 2106judgment-appeal-group · CAUTION