Law Commons^™

Rulemaking, Litigation Culture And Reform In Federal Courts, Edward D. Cavanagh

Faculty Publications

Culturally based litigation practices are central to the policies of federal courts. Unlike the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, cultural based practices are neither uniform nor explicitly defined among the federal courts. These practices are specifically tailored to ensure judicial efficiency, and in turn, they heavily influence practice and procedure in federal courts. This Article examines the significance of cultural litigation practices and their influence on amending or establishing new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The author proposes that rulemaking must compliment cultural practices in order to be successful and concludes that when conflict exists between these practices and rulemaking, …

Developing Standards Under Amended Rule 11 Of The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Edward D. Cavanagh

Faculty Publications

(Excerpt)

Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is designed to ensure the integrity of pleadings and other papers filed in federal district court. The rule was amended in 1983 in response to the widely held perception that its provisions, as originally promulgated, had proven ineffective in deterring strike suits, litigation abuses, and lawsuits used as instruments of delay and oppression. Amended Rule 11 introduces more stringent standards designed to make attorneys stop and think about their legal obligations before signing pleadings and motions. These obligations are reinforced by imposing mandatory sanctions upon violation of the standards. The …

The August 1, 1983 Amendments To The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure: A Critical Evaluation And A Proposal For More Effective Discovery Through Local Rules, Edward D. Cavanagh

Faculty Publications

(Excerpt)

The 1983 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (1983 amendments) represent by far the most ambitious effort to date to remedy the widely perceived problem of discovery abuse in federal practice. These amendments are designed to improve the conduct of discovery by eliminating improper practices and making discovery more cost-effective for the parties, and thereby helping the pretrial phase of an action to run more smoothly. The 1983 discovery amendments have three basic thrusts: (1) active involvement by the court in the pretrial phases of a case pursuant to rule 16; (2) recognition of specific limitations on …