Civil Procedure assignments (Stetson Law, section 2), Fall 2025

Required book. Per the Stetson online bookstore, the required casebook is the current version of Glannon’s Civil Procedure: A Coursebook (5th ed. Aspen 2025) (casebook), along with Glannon’s 2025 rules supplement. Using the link on the bookstore, you can purchase hard copies of the casebook and rules supplement along with an electronic copy of the casebook. Do not use or purchase older versions of the casebook or rules supplement, as the law changes constantly.

Abbreviations. “FRCP” refers to rules of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which can be found in the rules supplement. “Casebook” refers to the 5th edition of the Glannon casebook.

Bring to class. Bring your casebook and rules supplement to each and every class.

Future assignments. I’ll post more further assignments shortly. If you have any questions in the interim, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at inathenson@law.stetson.edu.

WEEK 1

Mon., Aug. 18 (class 1): Introduction

  1. Skim pp. 1-40 of the casebook for background on the American court system. However, the bulk of our first class will be spent on the materials below.
  2. Two Men and a Truck case with study/drafting questions, at https://www.nathenson.org/courses/civpro/resources/two-men/.
  3. FRCP 55 and 65.

Wed., Aug. 20 (class 2): SMJ (Diversity 1, AIII, 1332(a) COS)

  1. Rules supplement: U.S. Const’n, Art. III; 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a), (e).
  2. Casebook pp. 43–63.
  3. Prepare answers to Diversity Jurisdiction problem set questions 1-9. I will do some, but not all of these, in class. Be prepared to explain your answers if called on. Pay especially careful attention to the text of Section 1332, also heeding that some of the law relevant to diversity jurisdiction comes from the cases as well.
Supplemental materials for week 1 (posted 8/22/25):

Diversity screencasts. The second video has information on 1332(a)(2) that I’d like to address in class 3, but you can watch it now:

Briefing guidance.

WEEK 2

Note (8/22): See boxed “Supplemental Materials for week 1” above under week 1 assignments (added 8/22), as promised. I also added some materials on case-briefing you might find to be helpful. TLDR: In my opinion, the only difference between 1L case briefs, judicial opinions, and IRAC essay answers are the audiences and purposes of each type of writing. But all include IRAC, and two of them add F (facts). Please see the “Briefing guidance” above for further details. I’ll surely discuss it in class at some points. Additionally, keep your eyes out for an email from me with the promised ChatGPT “brief,” my case markup, and the link to LB.

Mon., Aug. 25 (class 3): SMJ (Diversity 2, corporations, AIC)

Supplemental materials (posted 8/26/25):

The explanations for the diversity problem set have been unlocked. Materials taking another dive into what we covered in this class, for you to review at your chosen pace:

Here are other learning materials that are intended to help you learn how to read statutes and the FRCP. We will address this in class from time to time.

Wed., Aug. 27 (class 4): SMJ (Federal question)

    • 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338
    • Casebook pp. 93-109, 125-27
    • FQ problem set
Supplemental materials (posted 8/27 and 8/28/25):

WEEK 3

Mon., Sept. 1 (no class)

  • Labor Day

Wed., Sept. 3 (class 5): SMJ (Removal)

Thurs., Sept. 4: Evening Zoom chat session (7PM)

  • Optional, Q&A, AMA, outlining ideas.
  • Zoom link sent via email. Contact me if you did not receive it.
Supplemental materials for week 3 (posted 9/4/25):

  • Removal explanations. Note that in the next class, I’ll spend a few minutes on the last hypo, on 1441(c), a somewhat wacky statutory provision. Read the statute subsection carefully, then review the hypo again and come up with your own solution before you peek at the explanation.
  • As noted in class, I’ll host the first group Q&A chat tonight (Thursday, 9/4/25 at 7PM EST on Zoom. Check your email for the link.). One potential topic is to take a second dive into any questions you may have. Another might be to discuss outlining, something that I would recommend you start doing now, since we have completed our initial study of SMJ.

WEEK 4

Mon., Sept. 8 (class 6): Personal jurisdiction (traditional and modern frameworks)

Wed., Sept. 10 (class 7): Personal jurisdiction (refining Shoe)

Supplemental materials for week 4 (posted 9/11/25):

WEEK 5

Mon., Sept. 15 (class 8): Personal jurisdiction (stream of commerce, relatedness)

Wed., Sept. 17 (class 9): Personal jurisdiction (general jurisdiction; in-rem/quasi-in-rem)

WEEK 6

Mon., Sept. 22 (class 10): Personal jurisdiction (state and federal “long arm” statutes; review of PJ)

Wed., Sept. 24 (class 11): Other aspects of Due Process (notice, service of process)

Thurs., Sept. 25: 7PM EST Zoom session (optional) to discuss PJ

  • Link sent out via email
Supplemental materials (posted 9/22, 9/25, & 9/26/2025):

WEEK 7

Mon., Sept. 29 (class 12): Venue, transfer, forum non conveniens

Wed., Oct. 1 (class 13): Introduction to pleading; notice versus plausibility pleading

  • FRCP 7, 8(a), 8(d), 8(e), 9, 10, 12(b)(6)
  • CB pp. 405-407, 421-440, 447-452 (starting with n.2)
  • Be prepared to discuss Iqbal hypos
Supplemental materials for week 7 (posted 10/2/25):

WEEK 8

Mon., Oct. 6 (class 14): Defendant’s options (default, pre-answer motion, answer)

  • FRCP 12 and FRCP 55. Pay close attention to the language of these rules, particularly Rule 12.
  • CB pp. 453-455, 464-489, 496-497

Wed., Oct. 8 (class 15): In-class midterm

  • Open book
  • Formative, scored, but does not count towards your final grade.
  • I would urge you to take it very seriously nonetheless.
  • You can find some of my old midterms here to prepare.
Important information on Civ Pro midterm (posted 10/2/25):

CIV PRO – The exam is 90 minutes long, with one fact pattern, two essay questions, and five multiple-choice questions. I’ve also resolved matters with the Registrar’s office. The exam will be open-book as intended: you can bring in your supplement, your physical casebook, and any printed notes or outlines, etc. You can also access any materials available on your computer such as saved notes, etc., but the internet will be locked out. Thus, if you use an electronic casebook, make sure it is downloaded to your device prior to the exam. I’ve also uploaded my most recent midterm to the website and provided a link to a page with additional exam resources.

WEEK 9

Mon., Oct. 13 (class 16): Care & Candor in Pleading, Sanctions

  • FRCP 11
  • Casebook pp. 499-523

Wed., Oct. 15 (class 17): Amendments & Relation-Back

  • FRCP 15
  • Casebook pp. 525-529, 539-564
  • Prepare answers to relation-back scenarios found here. Draw timelines, be prepared to discuss.

Week 10:

Mon., Oct. 20 (class 18): Joinder

  • FRCP 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 42
  • Casebook pp. 567-605 (read text and notes; skim cases)

Wed., Oct. 22 (class 19): Supplemental jurisdiction

Week 11:

Mon., Oct. 27 (class 20): Discovery I (standard; privileges, work product, and proportionality)

Wed., Oct. 29 (no class): Professor in-service day

  • No classes

Week 12:

Mon., Nov. 3 (class 21): Discovery II (devices)

Wed., Nov. 5 (class 22): Discovery III (enforcement & sanctions)

Week 13:

Mon., Nov. 10 (class 23): Choice of Law (Erie/REA)

Wed., Nov. 12 (class 24): Voluntary dismissal; summary judgment

Week 14:

Mon., Nov. 17 (class 25): Trial & post-trial motions

Wed., Nov. 19 (class 26): Appeals & preclusion

  • Appeals
  • Preclusion:
    • Handouts at this link
    • Casebook pp. 1132-1135, 1167-1169
Note 11/21/25 – 

  • Explanations for all problem sets (not study questions, but problem sets) should be online. Please let me know if you cannot access them.
  • Reminder: prior exams (including this year’s practice midterm) can be found at this link.
  • The email has been sent out for today’s open Q&A zoom, scheduled for 3PM EST

Updated Nov. 21, 2025