1 Civil Procedure United Kingdom Steps 1- Consult a solicitor (not obligatory) 2- If legal action: solicitor decides if taken to county

court or High court Classes of Proceedings County courts Matters [cuestiones]: Legal action begun by an originating application or ; PetitionActions: Legal action begun by a plaint * Ordinary actions [proceso ordinario] & * Default actions [proceso ejecutorio] Ordinary action: Steps Plaintiff: -request for summons from county court office -files the request in the county court office Registrar [secreatrio] of the court: prepares summons [citacin] of service [notificacin y traslado/diligenciamiento] on the defendant Summons with the particulars of claim, the form of admission and the form of defence [contestacin de la demanda] and counterclaim [reconvencin]: served upon the defendant (21 days till hearing) Defendant: 14 days to admit liability for all or part of the claim - pays the sum in full settlement [en un solo pago] at a later date or by instalments Plaintiffs acceptance: court enters judgement [dicta sentencia / pronuncia autos]; Offer not accepted: action proceeds Summons: information about the parties, nature of the claim [demanda], amount of damages claimed Ordinary action: Steps Defendant: files a defence [contestacin de la demanda], or makes a counterclaim [reconvencin] (existent) defence) - served on the plaintiff within 14 days) Pre-trial review: Preliminary consideration of the action by the registrar [secretario del juzgado] who tries to narrow down [reducir] the issue in dispute, see if admissions [reconocimiento de hechos] may be made by one or both sides, etc. Trial date: defendant not present, trial may proceed in his absence and judgement may be entered for the plaintiff plaintiff not present, action generally stuck out for want of prosecution Ordinary action: Steps a) Opening speech from the plaintiffs lawyer b) Examination of the plaintiffs witnesses by the plaintiffs lawyer, then cross-examination c) Examination of the defendants witnesses by the defendants lawyer, then cross-examination d) Speech to the judge from the defendants lawyer (asks for judgement in his favour e) Speech in reply from the plaintiffs lawyer (asks for judgement in favour of the plaintiff f) Decision of the judge

2 Steps in a default action Plaintiffs solicitor: same steps as ordinary action (after summons and particulars of claim) - if defendant does nothing, plaintiff may enter judgement - If defendant pays the amount claimed action, mostly, will be stayed If defendant admits the debt, and plaintiff accepts the offer if he wants to change it, judgement will be entered for the plaintiff If defendant admits the whole claim but plaintiff does not accept mode of payment, a date is set to state the payment If defendant admits only part of the claim, registrar will fix a pre-trial review and date for hearing If defendant does not admit the claim at all the registrar will fix a pre-trial review. Enforcement of judgement in a county court - Judgement enforced for a sum of money - Warrant of execution [orden de cumplimiento de ejecucin de sentencia / orden judicial de embargo definitivo]: bailiffs [alguaciles] seize sufficient property of debtor and sell same if in need to satisfy amount of the judgement plus costs - Attachment of earnings order [orden de embargo de sueldo] - Employer of the defendanrt: periodical payments for the debtors earnings - Bankruptcy proceedings [procedimiento en caso de declaracin de quiebra]: If debtor does not pay the sum claimed (after being served bankruptcy notice [dar traslado a notificacin de quiebra]), act of bankruptcy (proceedings will ensue in the normal way - Garnishee proceedings [procedimientos para embargar, citar o emplazar bienes o crditos en poder de un tercero depositario- del demandado-] available when a third party owes a sum of money to the judgement debtor. Enforcement of judgement in a county court - Appointment of a receiver [designacin de un cobrador]: officer of the Court who collect the rents and profits - Charging order [orden judicial por la que se establece una suerte de embargo sobre acciones o crditos del deudor respecto de una sociedad]: land and certain other forms of property may be sold in settlement of the debt - Judgement summons [citacin judicial]: in a few cases - Administration order [orden para la administracin de losbienes por parte de un administrador judicial]: administration of an insolvent debtors estate by the court Other judgements Methods of enfoforcement of other judgements (e.g. for possession of a chattel) a) Warrant of delivery of possession [orden judicial / mandamiento de entrega o posesin de bienes]: Warrant issued by the court to authorize the bailiff to take by force the goods to be delivered to the person adjudged to have rightful Ownership b) Warrant of attachment [orden judicial / mandamiento de embargo preventivo]: Warrant issued by the court to attach the defendant for contempt [desacato] Enforcement of judgements in the High Court Writs of execution issued by the court a) Fieri facias [orden de embargo ejecutivo: auto judicial que ordena el embargo de bienes del deudor, a fin de satisfacer el monto de la sentencia]: Writ directed to the sheriff commanding

3 that out of the goods and chattels of the debtor the sheriff takes the sum endorsed on the writ with interests and costs b) Garnishee order c) Charging order d) Appointment of a receiver e) Sequestration [secuestro de bienes / decomiso]: It authorizes commissioners to enter the debtors lands, to take possession and collect the rent and profits from the debtors real and personal estate until the debtor has paid the amount due. f) Attachment of earnings: Available to the plaintiff only when the defendant neglects to obey a maintenance order made by the High Court Committal to prison [envo a prisin]: Rare, but available when the defendant refuses to obey an order of the court h) For possession of land or delivery of goods Civil Procedure United States of America Parties to the Legal Proceeding * Plaintiff - party bringing the suit * Defendant - party being sued A) Initiation of the Suit Damaged party (plaintiff) [parte actora /actor / actora / demandante / parte demandante] files a complaint [inicia demanda] or a *praecipe for a summons [citacin del demandado] usu. with clerk of proper court. * praecipe: a written request to a court to issue a writ or otherwise require an action from a party to a suit. Complaint * names and addresses of plaintiff and defendant * statement of jurisdictional facts [declaracin del objeto de la demanda que determina la competencia de un tribunal] * cause of action (basis of the suit) [accin / derecho de iniciar accin] * demand [pretensin objeto de la causa] for some type of *relief (money, damages [daos y perjuicios], injunction [medida cautelar o precautoria / mandamiento / orden de no innovar / interdicto, etc.)] * relief: reparacin de los derechos jurdicos lesionados concedida por los tribunales, ya sea exoficio o a pedido de la parte interesada / reparacin de agravios Service of the Complaint * Personally (served directly on defendant) or * By publication Summons defendants response; otherwise, a judgment can be entered against the defendant - default judgment (sentencia pronunciada / dictada en rebelda del demandado)

4 Motions (mociones/solicitudes/peticiones) Defendant: * demur (object) to the complaint (file a *demurrer (excepcin por falta de accin) [response]: failure to state cause of action sufficient to justify legal action. (In many jurisdictions, demurrer replaced by a motion to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action); or * file an answer to the complaint (denying allegations and setting up grounds for defense), also file an answer and counterclaim against plaintiff) * to quash [invalidar /anular /derogar] service of summons * to strike [solicitud para que se impugnen o excluyan pruebas, o cuestiones impertinentes o no esenciales] * to make the statement more definite and certain [solicitud presentada para que se especifique con presicin el objeto de la demanda] * to dismiss pleading [escrito judicial] for insufficiency [solicitud para que se desista de la accin / solicitud a fin de que no se haga lugar a la accin] *Sheriff serves summons [citacin del demandado] to the defendant *Sheriff: En el derecho angloamericano, es el principal funcionario ejecutivo y administrativo del Condado, elegido por votacin popular. Sus funciones principales consisten en colaborar con los tribunales penales y civiles notificando procesos, citando jurados, ejecutando sentencias, etc. * Defendant files a notice of appearance [notificacin (que se enva a la parte contraria) de comparecencia a estar a derecho en un juicio (de la parte que enva la notificacin o de su representante legal, apoderado o letrado patrocinante) * Defendant files an answer to the complaint: denies, admits allegations [argumentos]. * Defendant pleads an excuse [solicita / interpone justificacin] * COUNTERCLAIM [reconvencin/contrademanda] * Plaintiff files reply [reply] * Taking of depositions [declaracin de un testigo prestada en forma extrajudicial] out of court: answers to written questions; oral examination [interrogatorio verbal]; crossexamination [formulacin de repreguntas y repreguntas] B) PRETRIAL PREPARATION * Prior to trial, plaintiff and defendant may use certain discovery procedures to find out as much as possible about the others case, finding out what *testimony will be given at the trial to avoid being surprised. Most important *pretrial discovery tool: Deposition. (A deposition is a sworn statement consisting of answers to questions put to a prospective witness) * Testimony: If referred to plaintiff and defendant: absolucin de posiciones; if referred to witness/es: declaracin testimonial prestada por un testigo. *Pretrial discovery: presentacin de pruebas e inspeccin de documentos en forma extrajudicial previa a la etapa de prueba. Discovery proceedings [procedimientos para la presentacin de la prueba]: submission of interrogatories, answer to interrogatories, production of books, records, documents for inspection, submission to physical examinations, admittance or denial of genuiness of documents

PRETRIAL CONFERENCE [audiencia previa a la etapa de prueba] PRETRIAL HEARING: the parties try to settle the case without trial (if not, court - trial date) TRIAL (etapa/perodo de prueba) Resolution of any pleading questions [escritos que contienen las pretensiones y defensas, por ej.demanda, contestacin, reconvencin] If filing of a demurrer or motion to dismiss the case due to insufficient facts, judge decides if complaint states a valid cause of action If judge upholds the demurrer [considerar vlido], plaintiff amends the complaint (if possible) to state a cause of action If plaintiff - unable to properly amend, defendant wins on the pleadings If judge overrules the demurrer [no hacer lugar a la excepcin por falta de accin], defendant can file an answer denying the allegations Parties are said to be at issue [en controversia / controvertido] TRIAL: Steps 1- Jury selection: attorneys conduct *voir dire Attorneys: allowed challenges for cause (a reason for challenge is required) [recusaciones con causa] & granted peremptory challenges (a reason for challenge is not required) [recusaciones sin causa] *voir dire: Examen voir dire. Examen preliminar para determinar la competencia de un testigo o de un miembro del jurado (NdT / TsN) Jury: Petit / Petty / traverse / Trial jury [jurado compuesto por 6 hasta 12 personas]: chosen from the venue (list) or jury array [jurado/totalidad de miembros del jurado / aparicin de los nombres de los miembros del jurado] (tax assessment rolls [determinacin de impuestos] or voter registration lists) - Court calls 12 veniremen Attorneys for the parties: brief statements of facts involved Jurors: questioned [sometidos a interrogatorio] and challenged Once selected, jury is sworn in by the Court. 2- OPENING STATEMENT [argumentos preliminares] Each attorney, starting with the plaintiffs attorney, is allowed the opportunity to make a statement of what he or she expects the evidence [prueba] to show. it may be waived by the parties. Plaintiffs attorney advises the jury what he intends to prove in the case. Defendants attorney may present it. PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE Plaintiff presents evidence [prueba] and witnesses: * Direct examination [absolucin de posiciones / interrogatorio del testigo] * Cross- examination [formulacin de repreguntas]

6 * Expert witnesses opinion (Hypothetical questions) [dictamen / opinin del perito] * Hearsay evidence [NdT: norma que rige la prueba por referencia] * Redirect examination * Motion for directed verdict: the def. may demur [oponer excepcin por falta de accin] the Pls case on the grounds that a cause of action [accin / derecho de iniciar accin / pretensin objeto de la causa] has not been proven. The judge may sustain [hacer lugar] it: the case is concluded, but if it is overruled [desestimar / no hacer lugar / anular / ] the def. is given the opportunity to present his evidence. * Presentation of evidence by the defendant (the Pl. must prove his case by preponderance of the evidence.) * Rebuttal evidence [NdT: es la prueba que se produce a fin de demostrar que la declaracin de los testigos con respecto a ciertos hechos es falsa]: presented by Pl. * If so, Def. may present additional evidence to contradict it. 3- PLAINTIFFS CASE IN CHIEF The plaintiff calls his/her witnesses, who are allowed to testify. Each witnesses is subjected to * direct examination [interrogatorio del testigo], * cross-examination [formulacin de preguntas y repreguntas], and, in some instances, * re-direct and re-cross-examination [formulacin de pregunatas y repreguntas nuevamente]. Acceptable exhibits [pruebas aceptadas] are presented. The court takes judicial notice of matters of common knowledge, meaning that such matters need not be proved. When the plaintiffs case is concluded, the defendant may file a motion for nonsuit [solicitar desistimiento de la accin/proceso] or for a *directed verdict [solicitud de directed verdict]. In a directed verdict, the court dictates the jurys verdict, thereby withdrawing the case from the jury. *directed verdict: *N. del T.: instrucciones impartidas al jurado por el juez para que se pronuncie a favor de una de las partes. Cuando la parte que tiene la carga de la prueba no ha fundamentado prima facie ante el jurado su pretensin, o no presenta argumento alguno en su defensa, el juez puede impartir instrucciones al jurado ordenndole que pronuncie un determinado veredicto, ya que el juez considera, en base a sus conocimientos del derecho, que en esa causa slo podra pronunciarse ese veredicto y no otro. MOTION FOR DIRECTED VERDICT*: *N. del T.: solicitud de 'directed veredict'. a) Solicitud presentada por el demandado con posterioridad a la presentacin (produccin) de la prueba del actor, solicitando al tribunal que resuelva si la prueba del actor tiene suficiente mrito como para fundamentar el pronunciamiento de una sentencia que haga lugar a la demanda. Antiguamente se la denominaba: MOTION FOR AN INVOLUNTARY NONSUIT. La solicitud de 'directed verdict' interpuesta con posterioridad a la produccin de la prueba por parte del actor tiene por objeto cuestionar si el actor ha presentado prueba suficiente como para fundamentar su pretensin.

7 b) Instrucciones impartidas al jurado para que se pronuncie a favor de una de las partes. - (old term ~ FOR AN INVOLUNTARY NONSUIT) 4- DEFENDANTS CASE IN REPLY The same procedure is followed as in the plaintiffs case. Proof is offered in support of the defendants answer and counterclaim, if one was filed. Following the defendants case in reply, the plaintiff may file for a directed verdict. 5- SUMMATION [alegato de bien probado] Each attorney : final arguments to the jury. CLOSING ARGUMENTS / FINAL ARGUMENTS [alegatos]: Plaintiffs attorney: presentation of first argument in closing the case [concluir la causa], summarizing and commenting on the evidence in the most favorable way for his side. Defendants attorney: presentation of arguments. Plaintiff : conclusion of argument to answer the defendants argument and final appeal to the jury. 6- INSTRUCTIONS The judge then provides instructions to the jury, informing them of the law pertinent to the case. The judge also tells the jury all the different verdicts that they may render, depending on how they ascertain the facts in the case. Each way in which the facts are judged requires a specific verdict. 7- JURY VERDICT [veredicto del jurado] The jury resolves all questions of fact (not questions of law) and returns a verdict. The judge instructs the jury (charge to the jury). The instructions cover the law applicable to the case. Judge states the issues [hechos controvertidos] in the case and define any terms or words necessary. The jury elects a foreman/foreperson (a person who speaks and answers for the jury) [presidente del jurado] of the jury. The verdict will be signed by the foreman/foreperson of the jury. (Federal Courts require unanimous verdict). Upon reaching a verdict, the jury foreman reads it aloud in open court [audiencia pblica]. Once the verdict is read and accepted by the court, the jury is dismissed and the trial is concluded. JUDGMENT The judge enters judgment upon the verdict. He will deliver a paper called an EXECUTION [ejecucin de sentencia] to the sheriff, commanding him to do something (for ex. Take and sell the property of the Defendant). 8- DECISION The jurys verdict coupled with the law in the particular case, determines the outcome of the litigation. The judge gives a judgment in the case and grants appropriate relief [reparacin de los hechos jurdicos lesionados concedida por los tribunales, ya sea ex-oficio o a peticin de parte], if any.

MOTIONS AFTER VERDICT * motion in arrest of judgment: attacks the sufficiency of the indictment or information. *motion for judgment non obstante veredicto: it requests that the judge enter a judgment for one party, notwithstanding the verdict of the jury in favor of the other side. (similar to directed verdict). *motion for a new trial: it sets out alleged errors committed in the trial and asks the trial judge to grant a new trial. *motion for judgment non obstante veredicto [judgment NOV]: peticin / solicitud presentada a fin de que se dicte sentencia no obstante el veredicto previo. *motion for a new trial: peticin / recurso de nulidad de sentencia y de una nueva apertura a prueba de la causa. A party to the suit may wish to appeal the decision. The First Step: Filing a notice of appeal [recurso de apelacin] and serving it on the adversary party. Appellant (party that appeals) : putting up of bond [caucin que se debe depositar al interponer un recurso de apelacin] for the costs of the other party. Application for a stay of judgment: [suspensin de ejecucin de sentencia] (to prevent the original judgment from being carried out immediately) A record of the trial must then be forwarded to the appellate court. This record consists of the original documents and exhibits along with a transcript of the proceedings. Attorneys for the appellant and appellee (party that receives notice of appeal) file the legal propositions contained in the *briefs [escritos donde consta un resumen de los hechos de la causa, la controversia]. The appellate court reaches a decision and files a written opinion that either affirms the original judgment, reverses it, or reverses and remands [devolver el expediente al tribunal inferior] it for further proceedings. MOTIONS AFTER VERDICT: Brief *N. del T.: documento mecanografiado o impreso que seala los fundamentos del recurso de apelacin contra la sentencia del Tribunal Inferior y que brinda informacin a la Cmara de Apelaciones y a la parte contraria. Contiene un resumen de los hechos de la causa, la controversia y los alegatos. Se lo utiliza generalmente para la apelacin y tambin en primera instancia. En este ltimo caso y cuando lo solicita el juez de primera instancia se lo denomina TRIAL BRIEF. MOTIONS AFTER VERDICT APPELLATE BRIEF / Legal Brief : Either party may appeal to a higher court. Grounds: errors in trial procedure, errors in substantive law [derecho de fondo/sustantivo]. The party appealing must file a *supersedeas bond (it binds the party and his surety [caucin] to pay or perform the judgment in the event it is affirmed [confirmado] on appeal). *supersedeas bond: auto de suspensin del procedimiento / auto de sobreseimiento

9 Appellant [apelante]: Filing of a transcript of the trial court record with the Appellate Court. Appellee [apelado]: filing of his answer brief. Appellant: may file a second brief (brief in reply) Case set for hearing on oral argument [alegato de agravios (apelacin) / escrito de agravios / expresin de agravios] before the appellate court. Case: assigned to one of the judges but the full court [sesin del tribunal en pleno] will hear the argument. Judge assigned to the case writes an opinion [fallo/sentencia/providencia]. Any judge disagreeing with the result, files a dissenting [en disidencia] opinion A trial [perodo / etapa de prueba] is reversed [revocar / derogar / anular] for errors of law only (admission of improper evidence) [prueba inadmisible / no esencial / irrelevante / no procedente] a time is fixed *for the filing of a petition for rehearing, *for transfer [traslado / transferencia] or * for **writ of certiorari if there is a Higher Appellate Court) **writ of certiorari: mandamiento u orden de revisin de sentencia por un tribunal inferior / cmara de apelaciones. Appellate Court will send its mandate to the trial court for further action in the case. If law court is affirmed [confirmar], the case is ended. If law court is reversed [revocar], appellate court may direct a new trial or the modification and correction [reforma] of judgment.