Joinder Flashcards

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1
Q

WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO BE SUED? JOINDER

A
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2
Q

can a third party beneficiary sue?

A

a third-party beneficiary can sue in their own right - even if they are not mentioned in the contract

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3
Q

can P sue joint obligors and/or tortfeasors?

A

a Plaintiff can sue one of a joint obligor OR a tortfeasor - some of them, or all of them at her option
- fact that she may be barred as to one does not affect her right to sue others
- fact that she settles with one does not affect her right to sue the others (although judges against others can be reduced by amount received in settlement)

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4
Q

can a partnership sue or be sued?

A

yes!
- partners can be sued in their individual names “doing business under the firm name XXXXX” OR
- the partnership can sue or be sued in its own name

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5
Q

would a plaintiff suing a partnership want to sue the partnership itself or also at the individual partners?

A

both! would want to name partnership and individual partners as defendants - so she can execute judgment against individual partners

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6
Q

what are the P’s options of the case relates to the acts of a DECEDENT?

A

if the case relates to acts of the decedent, an executor or administrator can sue OR be sued in REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY.

**if the case relates to acts by this person individually –> the executor or administrator can sue in either capacity BUT must be sued in individual capacity

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7
Q

who is a minor?

A

a minor is someone under age of 18 who has not been emancipated; lacks legal capacity because it is a minority

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8
Q

as a Plaintiff - minor can sue in their own name, how?

A

“by ______(insert name of next friend), her next friend”.

The court will not disturb the choice of next friend UNLESS there is a conflict of interest or impropriety.

*a judgment in favor of a minor will not necessarily be disturbed for failure to sue through a next friend

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9
Q

as a defendant - how can minor be sued?

A

a minor as defendant, can be sued in their won name, BUT the minor can ask the clerk or the court to appoint a GUARDIAN AD LITEM (for litigation)

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10
Q

what is a guardian ad litem?

A

a guardian ad litem is a guardian for the purposes of litigation; must be present throughout the trial

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11
Q

what happens if a child is not appointed a guardian ad litem?

A

if no guardian ad litem is appointed, but the minor is represented by a lawyer who has entered an appearance for him, the judgment will be valid, with one exception –>
— in suit to encumber minor’s land - minor must have a guardian ad litem

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12
Q

what are the litigation options if a person who is under a DISABILITY has a substantial estate?

A

If a person under a disability has a substantial estate, there is usually a FORMAL INCOMPETENCY PROCEEDING –> which results in appointment of a fiduciary to act for the mentally incompetent person.

Such a fiduciary might be a “committee” or guardian or conservator. If such a fiduciary is appointed, suit by or against the person under disability will be by or against the fiduciary.

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13
Q

what happens if no fiduciary has been appointed for a person under a disability?

A

if the person under a DISABILITY is the PLAINTIFF - a guardian sue or, if none, the person sues in their own name through his next friend

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14
Q

what if the person under disability is a DEFENDANT?

A

IF THE PERSON under the disability is the DEFENDANT - the case proceeds in the same way as it would if the person were a minor

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15
Q

when can a convict be sued/sue?

A

while the convict is in custody - he cannot be sued individually! A committee must be appointed!

Technically - the convict in custody should not be able to sue in his own stead and should have a committee (but instituting suit waives the failure to have a committee appointed)

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16
Q

what happens if a plaintiff or defendant dies?

A

in VA - all causes of action survive the death of any plaintiff or defendant

i.e. - p sues D - while the case is pending - P dies. the cause of action survives, but the P’s executor will make a motion to substitute himself as the plaintiff

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17
Q

what happens if a party to the case has some other change in civil status?

A

if a party to the case has some change in civil status, such as becoming mentally incompetent, falling under a disability, or is convicted and goes to jail - the case survives - but it must be revived in representative’s name

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18
Q

COUNTERCLAIMS - what are they?

A

they are claims against an opposing party

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19
Q

counterclaims - when must they be filed in CIRCUIT court?

A

in circuit court, defendant must file any counterclaims within 21 days of service of process on her

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20
Q

counterclaims - when must they be filed in GDC?

A

counterclaims in GDC can be filed ANY TIME before TRIAL (must have SMJ)

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21
Q

is a counterclaim compulsory?

A

a counterclaim is NEVER compulsory - the defendant has the choice of whether to assert it - even if it’s transactionally related

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22
Q

must a counterclaim be transactionally related to the P’s claim?

A

No! it need not be transactionally related to Plaintiff’s claim - it can be for any claim, under any theory, that the defendant has against the plaintiff

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23
Q

who is a counterclaim against?

A

a counterclaim is against a plaintiff or all plaintiffs jointly

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24
Q

does a counterclaim need to be served formally?

A

no! they do not need to be served formally (so don’t need to serve a summons)

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25
Q

how many days does a plaintiff have to respond after a counterclaim is served?

A

after a counterclaim is served - the plaintiff (now a counter-defendant) has 21 days in which to respond

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26
Q

can a counterclaim exceed P’s claim?

A

Yes!!! a counterclaim can exceed the P’s claim
***BUT keep an eye out for GDC jurisdictional limit - if the counterclaim is for non-personal injury damages in a GDC case exceeds $25,000 - it CANNOT be asserted in GDC - it would be a separate case in the circuit court

27
Q

what are cross claims?

A

a claim against a co-party

28
Q

are cross-claims permissive or compulsory?

A

crossclaims are permissive - never compulsory

29
Q

does a crossclaim have to be transactionally related to the underlying case?

A

yes! cross-claim must be transactionally related to the underlying case (same as federal)

30
Q

who can a cross claim be asserted against?

A

cross claims can be asserted against one of several co-parties (same as federal)

31
Q

how is a cross claim different from federal?

A

a cross-claim is different from federal: historically you needed to serve a crossclaim with a summons - this might no longer be true, so all you need to do is MAIL IT or otherwise SEND IT AS A SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENT (to be safe tho - follow old practice)

32
Q

when must a cross claimant file a crossclaim?

A

a cross claimant must file crossclaim within 21 days of service of process on them.

BUT REMEMBER - GDC - crossclaim may be asserted ANY time before trial –> remember the jurisdictional limitation on GDC

33
Q

how many days does the defendant have to respond to a cross-claim?

A

the defendant has 21 days in which to respond!

34
Q

what is an impleader action?

A

an impleader action - a defendant party wants to join a third party from whom he will seek indemnity or contribution on the underlying claim against D

35
Q

what is the D’s pleading called when they are submitting an impleader action?

A

it is called a THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINT

36
Q

when does the defendant file the third-party complaint?

A

the defendant has a RIGHT to file no later than 21 DAYS after he serves his first responsive pleading

after the 21 days - needs leave of court

37
Q

when does the defendant file the third-party complaint in GDC?

A

the D has within 10 days after service OR up until trial date, whichever is earlier

38
Q

what is the defendant called when he files a third party complaint?

A

he is called the “third party plaintiff”

39
Q

what else must the defendant do after filing the third party complaint?

A

the defendant must also serve process on the third-party defendant because the TPD is being sued.

40
Q

what does process in a third party complaint look like?

A

the process would consist of
(1) the third party complaitn
(2) a summons

41
Q

what about claims by the OG plaintiff against the TPD // claims by TPD against the Plaintiff?

A

such claims are OK if they arise from the same transaction or occurrence as the underlying claim

42
Q

VA law on contribution among joint tortfeasors

A

a defending party can implead anybody who may owe hm indemnity or contribution on the underlying claim.

43
Q

in what ways can the duty to indemnify or contribute arise?

A

in various ways - through contract, contribution among joint tortfeasors

44
Q

contribution among joint tortfeasors

A

a tortfeasor can seek contribution from a joint tortfeasor IF the tort is NEGLIGENCE - and the case involves NO moral turpitude

45
Q

when can you not implead a joint tortfeasor?

A

you cannot implead a joint tortfeasor against whom plaintiff could not recover (i.e. against who the plaintiff would not be able to sue against - i.e. employee suing employer - because of workers comp)

46
Q

OTHER PARTY JOINDER DEVICES:

A

a) necessary party
b) indispensable party
c) interpleader
d) intervention
e) class action

47
Q

a) necessary party - who is a necessary party?

A

Necessary parties are absentees who should be made to join the case.

48
Q

can VA order joinder of parties?

A

VA has a statute that allows the court to order joinder of parties as the ends of justice requires

49
Q

when is a party indispensable?

A

if the absentee cannot be joined (i.e. no PJ over her) - the court may decide to dismiss the entire case rather than to proceed without the absentee.

**if the court decides to dismiss the case - we call the absentee “indispensable”
**treat it the same as FEDERAL COURT LAW

50
Q

va statute - re: no dismissal re joinder

A

in VA there is a state that says there is no dismissal for nonjoinder without giving the P a chance to join (but no case law saying that court cannot dismiss if it determines that an absentee who cannot be joined is indispensable)

**just means to treat the case the same as if in federal court

51
Q

what is an interpleader action?

A

an interpleader action is when a holder (“the stakeholder”) or REAL personal property oR money know that there are others who claim a right to the property (“the claimants”)

rather than go through several suits, the stakeholder wants to interpleader to litigate all claims in a single proceeding. the stakeholder can claim that he should be able to keep the property

52
Q

how does a party interplead in GDC?

A

in GDC - the court can order interpleader as to property worth $25,000 or less OR in any amount (even over $25,000) for earnest money deposit in a land sale contract.

It cannot issue an injunction against purchasing other related proceedings.

53
Q

how does a party interplead in Circuit Court?

A

if the state is more than $25,000 - the parties can go to Circuit Court.

The circuit court can enjoin parties from litigating in other proceedings

54
Q

how does an absentee intervene?

A

if an absentee wishes to join a pending case - intervention is ONLY available in CIRCUIT COURT

55
Q

is there ever a right to intervene in state court?

A

Nope!! the absentee must make a motion and the decision is within the discretion o the court

56
Q

when must an absentee intervene?

A

there is no time limit prescribed - but watch for delay and prejudice

57
Q

must the intervenor’s claim or defense be related to the case?

A

yes! the claim or defense in intervention must be related to the case. The court may be able to wrap up the entire dispute by allowing intervention

58
Q

what is the procedure for intervention?

A

a petition for intervention must be filed with the motion

If the petition is granted - then the intervenor-plaintiff would file a complaint and serve it formally with process.

The defending parties then respond as they woudl to any complaint.

59
Q

what is the process for a defendant intervenor?

A

a defendant intervenor whose petition to intervene is granted would file an ANSWER in iNTERVENTION

60
Q

how do class actions work in VA?

A

there are no class actions!!!

61
Q

payment of judgment by one join tortfeasor has what effect?

A

payment of judgment by one tortfeasor will DISCHARGE all of the other remaining possible claims (cannot collect more than once for a judgment)

62
Q

when MUST a minor have a guardian ad litem?

A

in a suit to encumber the minor’s land - representation by lawyer who has entered an appearance for him is not enough - and judgment will not be valid

63
Q

if a plaintiff brings an action against a minor in their own name, and has process served properly, but the minor never makes an appearance - will a default judgment be proper?

A

no!! he is a minor and no guardian ad litem nor attorney was representing him - so judgment is invalid