NYP 6

  1. How can ∆ respond to π's Summons and COMPLAINT?
    • Serve an ANSWER, or
    • Pre-answer MOTION to DISMISS
  2. What may ∆'s ANSWER contain?
    • DENIALS (failure to deny any allegation is an implied admission)
    • AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES (affirmative defenses not raised in Answer are waived)
    • COUNTER CLAIMS against π
    • CROSS-CLAIMS against other ∆s

    ***Parties must serve copies of their pleadings on ALL other parties who have appeared in the action
  3. INTERLOCUTORY PAPERS

    1) What are they?
    2) How are they served?
    INTERLOCUTORY PAPERS are all litigation papers other than π's initial service of process

    SERVICE may occur by

    • a) regular mail***
    • b) personal delivery
    • c) facsimile
    • d) overnight courier

    ****Service is complete when MAILED (not on receipt) provided that mailing occurs through a post office or depository under the exclusive care and custody of the USPS within New York State
  4. TIME LIMITS FOR SERVING ANSWER if service made by

    1) Personal delivery within NY?
    2) First class mail with acknowledgement?
    3) All other cases?
    • 1) 20 days from date of service
    • 2) 20 days after return acknowledgement has been sent back
    • 3) 30 days after service is complete
  5. MOTION TO DISMISS

    What are grounds for dismissal? (hint: DOWNFALL)
    • D: Documentary evidence
    • O: Other action or pleading
    • W: Want of capacity of the π (e.g., π is infant suing w/o proper representative)
    • N: Non-joinder of necessary party
    • F: Failure to state cause of action (NB, state elements of underlying claim)
    • A: Affirmative defenses
    • L: Lack of basis of jurisdiction (personal, in rem, quasi in rem)
    • L: Lack of subject matter jurisdiction (can be raised anytime)
  6. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES

    What are they? (hint: SPARE RIBS)
    • S: Statute of limitations
    • P: Payment
    • A: Arbitration and award
    • R: Res judicata (claim preclusion)
    • E: Estoppel (collateral estoppel—i.e., issue preclusion)
    • R: Release
    • I: Infancy of ∆
    • B: Bankruptcy discharge
    • S: Statute of frauds
  7. PROCEDURAL ASPECTS OF PRE-ANSWER MOTION TO DISMISS (PAMTD)

    1) When made?
    2) Time for filing answer?
    3) Waiver of defenses, if not included?
    • 1) Made BEFORE service of the answer
    • 2) Must file Answer within 10 DAYS if motion is denied
    • 3) EXCEPT for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (LOPJ), failure to waive an affirmative defense in PAMTD does not bar ∆ from raising it in the Answer
  8. If ∆ pleads IMPROPER SERVICE as a defense in his Answer, what else must happen? (hint: motion for something)
    Must make a follow-up motion for SUMMARY JUDGMENT on that ground (i.e., improper service) within 60 DAYS of serving the Answer
  9. RESPONSE TO SUMMONS WITH NOTICE

    How do you force π to file a Complaint?
    Serve

    • 1) notice of APPEARANCE, and
    • 2) DEMAND for complaint

    ***No waiver of jurisdictional objections occurs by service of a demand for the complaint or a notice of appearance
  10. RESPONSE TO SUMMONS WITH NOTICE

    After being served with π's summons and notice, how long does ∆ have to respond?
    ∆ must serve demand or notice of appearance within

    • 1) 20 DAYS of personally served in NY
    • 2) 20 DAYS if served by First Class Mail with Acknowledgement
    • 3) 30 DAYS in all other cases
  11. RESPONSE TO SUMMONS AND NOTICE.

    If ∆ timely responds

    1) How long does π have to serve complaint?
    2) If π serves complaint, what must ∆ do next?
    3) If π doesn't serve complaint, what can ∆ do?
    • 1) 20 DAYS from ∆'s service
    • 2) ∆ has 20 DAYS to (i) serve an Answer, or (ii) make a PAMTD
    • 3) ∆ can move to dismiss based on π's noncompliance (though π can defend by showing BOTH (i) reasonable excuse for delay, and (ii) affidavit of merit of π's claim)
  12. AMENDMENTS OF PLEADINGS

    When may π amend the pleadings?
    • AS OF RIGHT: ONCE within 20 DAYS of when ∆ serves Answer
    • ON MOTION: if opponent (i.e., ∆) has suffered NO incurable prejudice (e.g., loss of evidence, death of witnesses, running of S/L)
Author
paul
ID
23237
Card Set
NYP 6
Description
NYP 6 - Defendant's Response
Updated