California Civil Procedure ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the difference betwen federal courts subject matter jurisdiction and California subject
matter jurisdiction. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Federal court jurisdiction is limited to
defined types of cases, notably those raising federal questions or pitting diverse parties. By
contrast, courts in CA (and every other state) enjoy general jurisdiction over all civil matters.
What are Cali trial courts called. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Superior Courts
What are the three categories of civil cases in Cali - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Small
claims:10,000 or less (for individuals) and 5,000 or less (for other litigants
Limited: 25,000 or less
Unlimited: more than 25,000
When will a SC automatically reclassify a case - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅SC will
automatically reclassify a case if:
o The plaintiff amends the complaint and changes the amount to above or below $25,000; or
o "Cross complaint" increases the amount of the entire case to above $25,000 - reclassified as
unlimited.
If a case was initially misclassified, SC does NOT lose jurisdiction. Rather, a party (or the
court) can move to reclassify. Two possible outcomes:
i) Court will reclassify from unlimited to limited if it determines that the verdict will
necessarily be $25,000 or below.
ii) Court will reclassify from limited to unlimited if it concludes that the verdict might be
above $25,000.
What does Cali's long arm statute provide? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅CA's is broad: It
allows its courts to exercise jurisdiction on any basis that accords with the CA or the U.S.
Constitution.
What standards apply to In-Rem and Quasi In-rem jurisdiction in Cali? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅If a CA court seeks to exercise in rem, quasi in rem, or attachment
jurisdiction over property belonging to an "out-of-stater," the same due process standards
apply, such as "minimum contacts."
, May a CA court assert personal jurisdiction over a defendant in state temporarily to
participate in judicial proceeding? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Yes. CA has rejected the
traditional rule that nonresident defendants are immune from personal jurisdiction if they
enter the state temporarily to participate in a judicial proceeding.
Where is venue proper in CA state court? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅In California, venue
lies in the superior court of the appropriate county (compare federal court, where venue is in
the proper federal judicial district).
What is the venue for disputes over real property (called "local" actions)? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅In the county where the property is located.
What is the venue for "transitory" actions (which might have arisen anywhere)? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅In the county where any defendant resides at the time when the action
begins. If no defendant resides in CA then any county court
What is the venue for Contracts? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅County where the contract
was executed or performed
What is the venue for personal injury or wrongful death? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅County where the injury occurred
What is the venue for mixed (i.e., it might be brought in more than one venue) action? -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅If the action is mixed (i.e., it might be brought in more than one
venue), then the basic rule is that you sue defendants in the county where one of the
defendants resides unless there is a compelling reason to hold the trial elsewhere.
What is the venue gainst corporations, associations, and partnerships? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Venue against corporations, associations, and partnerships lies in the county
where it executed or promised to perform a contract, where the breach occurred, or where
liability arose. Venue also lies in the county where the corporation has its principal place of
business.
When is transfer of venue permitted - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Transfer of venue is
permitted if:
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the difference betwen federal courts subject matter jurisdiction and California subject
matter jurisdiction. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Federal court jurisdiction is limited to
defined types of cases, notably those raising federal questions or pitting diverse parties. By
contrast, courts in CA (and every other state) enjoy general jurisdiction over all civil matters.
What are Cali trial courts called. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Superior Courts
What are the three categories of civil cases in Cali - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Small
claims:10,000 or less (for individuals) and 5,000 or less (for other litigants
Limited: 25,000 or less
Unlimited: more than 25,000
When will a SC automatically reclassify a case - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅SC will
automatically reclassify a case if:
o The plaintiff amends the complaint and changes the amount to above or below $25,000; or
o "Cross complaint" increases the amount of the entire case to above $25,000 - reclassified as
unlimited.
If a case was initially misclassified, SC does NOT lose jurisdiction. Rather, a party (or the
court) can move to reclassify. Two possible outcomes:
i) Court will reclassify from unlimited to limited if it determines that the verdict will
necessarily be $25,000 or below.
ii) Court will reclassify from limited to unlimited if it concludes that the verdict might be
above $25,000.
What does Cali's long arm statute provide? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅CA's is broad: It
allows its courts to exercise jurisdiction on any basis that accords with the CA or the U.S.
Constitution.
What standards apply to In-Rem and Quasi In-rem jurisdiction in Cali? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅If a CA court seeks to exercise in rem, quasi in rem, or attachment
jurisdiction over property belonging to an "out-of-stater," the same due process standards
apply, such as "minimum contacts."
, May a CA court assert personal jurisdiction over a defendant in state temporarily to
participate in judicial proceeding? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Yes. CA has rejected the
traditional rule that nonresident defendants are immune from personal jurisdiction if they
enter the state temporarily to participate in a judicial proceeding.
Where is venue proper in CA state court? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅In California, venue
lies in the superior court of the appropriate county (compare federal court, where venue is in
the proper federal judicial district).
What is the venue for disputes over real property (called "local" actions)? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅In the county where the property is located.
What is the venue for "transitory" actions (which might have arisen anywhere)? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅In the county where any defendant resides at the time when the action
begins. If no defendant resides in CA then any county court
What is the venue for Contracts? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅County where the contract
was executed or performed
What is the venue for personal injury or wrongful death? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅County where the injury occurred
What is the venue for mixed (i.e., it might be brought in more than one venue) action? -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅If the action is mixed (i.e., it might be brought in more than one
venue), then the basic rule is that you sue defendants in the county where one of the
defendants resides unless there is a compelling reason to hold the trial elsewhere.
What is the venue gainst corporations, associations, and partnerships? - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Venue against corporations, associations, and partnerships lies in the county
where it executed or promised to perform a contract, where the breach occurred, or where
liability arose. Venue also lies in the county where the corporation has its principal place of
business.
When is transfer of venue permitted - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Transfer of venue is
permitted if:
