Question 1

A trial court's capacity to directly observe witnesses' gestures, demeanor, and other nonverbal behavior supports the decision of an appellate court to

Accepted Answer

Appellate courts typically defer to trial courts on questions of fact because trial courts have the direct opportunity to observe witness behavior and assess credibility, which cannot be fully appreciated through a written record.

Question 2

Franco files a suit in a federal district court against Greta. Franco loses the suit, appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and loses again. Franco asks the United States Supreme Court to hear the case. The Court is

Accepted Answer

The United States Supreme Court has discretionary jurisdiction, meaning it can choose which cases it wants to hear. It is not required to hear every case appealed to it.

Question 3

State trial courts that are called county, district, superior, or circuit courts are most likely to have

Accepted Answer

State trial courts named county, district, superior, or circuit courts typically have general jurisdiction, meaning they can hear a wide range of cases, unlike courts with limited or specialized jurisdiction.

Question 4

Cattle House Steaks, a Colorado company, enters into a contract over the phone with Beef Packing Inc., an out-of-state corporation. If a dispute arises, a Colorado court can exercise jurisdiction over Beef Packing

Accepted Answer

The minimum-contacts test allows a court to exercise jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant if the defendant has sufficient connections or activities within the state. In this case, by entering into a contract with a Colorado company, Beef Packing Inc. has established such contacts, allowing a Colorado court to potentially exercise jurisdiction.

Question 5

Ty, a citizen of Utah, files a suit in a Utah state court against Vancouver Sales Corporation, a Washington state company that does business in Utah. The court has original jurisdiction, which means that

Accepted Answer

Original jurisdiction refers to the court's authority to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, where a higher court reviews the decision of a lower court.

Question 6

The jurisdiction of the federal courts is limited because

Accepted Answer

The federal government has limited powers, and the federal courts can only exercise jurisdiction over cases that arise under those powers.

Question 7

A dispute between two cheese makers-Cheddar Creamery Company and Deli Dairy Inc.-falls under a state statute on unfair trade practices. The application of this law to these parties must be determined by

Accepted Answer

A judge is responsible for interpreting and applying the law to the facts of a case, including determining the application of a state statute on unfair trade practices.

Question 8

Steel Mill Inc. makes steel forms of substandard quality. Tower Building Company has never bought or used a Steel Mill form, but files a suit against the firm, alleging that its products are defective. The defendant's best ground for dismissal of the suit is that the plaintiff does not have

Accepted Answer

Tower Building Company does not have standing to sue because it has not suffered any injury or damage from using Steel Mill Inc.'s products, as it has never bought or used them.

Question 9

Heyli is not a resident of Iowa although her website can be accessed by residents of that state. Jen files a suit against Heyli in an Iowa state court. The court is most likely to have jurisdiction over Heyli if Jen's claim arises from

Accepted Answer

The court is most likely to have jurisdiction over Heyli if Jen's claim arises from substantial business between Jen and Heyli through Heyli's website, as this establishes a significant connection or minimum contacts with the state, making it reasonable for the court to assert jurisdiction.

Question 10

A decision on a question of state law is final when

Accepted Answer

A decision on a question of state law is considered final when it is made by the state's highest court. This is because the state's highest court is the ultimate authority on the interpretation and application of that state's laws.

Question 11

Lazlo, a citizen of Minnesota, wants to file a suit against Nadji, a citizen of Ohio. The diversity of citizenship may be a basis for

Accepted Answer

Diversity of citizenship, where parties are from different states, is a basis for federal courts to exercise jurisdiction. This allows for a neutral venue in cases where parties are from different states.

Question 12

Ginny and Haruto present their case to an Idaho state court for resolution. The court defers to a different Idaho court's findings of fact in the case, and focuses on the application and interpretation of the law to the dispute. The court currently deciding Ginny and Haruto's dispute is

Accepted Answer

This court is acting as an appellate court because it is focusing on the application and interpretation of the law rather than determining the facts of the case, which is typical of appellate courts' roles. They often rely on the factual findings of lower (trial) courts.

Question 13

State trial courts that are called special inferior trial courts or minor judiciary courts are most likely to have

Accepted Answer

Special inferior trial courts or minor judiciary courts typically have limited jurisdiction, meaning they are authorized to hear only specific types of cases, such as traffic violations, small claims, or misdemeanors.

Question 14

The concept of venue reflects the policy that a court trying a case should

Accepted Answer

The concept of venue is about ensuring that a court trying a case is located in a geographic area that is relevant to the incident or the parties involved in the dispute, facilitating access and relevance to the case.

Question 15

Maris files a suit against Ngu in a state court over an employment contract. The case proceeds to trial, after which the court renders a verdict. The case is appealed to the state's highest court. After that court's review of Maris v. Ngu , a party can appeal the decision to the United States Supreme Court if

Accepted Answer

The United States Supreme Court can review cases from state courts only if a federal question is involved, meaning the case must raise an issue under the U.S. Constitution, federal law, or treaties.

Question 16

Hobbes, a resident of Illinois, owns a warehouse in Indiana. A dispute arises over the ownership of the warehouse with Jules, a resident of Kentucky. Jules files a suit against Hobbes in Indiana. Regarding this suit, Indiana has

Accepted Answer

Indiana has in rem jurisdiction because the dispute is over the ownership of property (the warehouse) located within Indiana. In rem jurisdiction allows a court to exercise authority over property within its territory.

Question 17

The availability of different remedies is a factor that can affect

Accepted Answer

The availability of different remedies can influence a party's decision to litigate in a certain court because parties often seek the most favorable outcome for their case, and different courts may offer different remedies based on their jurisdiction and the applicable law.

Question 18

In a case based on diversity of citizenship, a court will apply

Accepted Answer

In a diversity of citizenship case, a federal court applies the relevant state law. This is in accordance with the Erie Doctrine, which mandates that a federal court sitting in diversity must apply state substantive law.

Question 19

Kari and Lillian, who are citizens of Mississippi, are involved in a case related to the adoption of their child. Over this case, Mississippi state courts have

Accepted Answer

State courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction over family law matters, including adoption. Federal courts typically do not handle such cases unless there is a federal question or diversity of citizenship that justifies their involvement, which is not indicated in this scenario.

Question 20

A court's subject-matter jurisdiction may be limited by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Subject-matter jurisdiction is determined by the type of case, the amount in controversy, and the nature of the proceeding, not by the court's prior experience with similar cases.

Quiz 4: Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution