Deck 6: Case Law Analysis: Is a Case on Point

Question 1

In order for a case to be on point, the key and background facts of the court opinion must be sufficiently similar to the key and background facts of the client's case.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Even when the key facts of the court opinion and the key facts of the client's case are not similar, the court opinion still may be on point.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A case that is on point should be analyzed to help the attorney determine what course of action to take.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Persuasive precedent must be followed by the lower courts in the jurisdiction.

Question 5

The determination of whether a case is on point is important because of the doctrines of precedent and stare decisis.

Question 6

A key criterion for a court opinion to be on point is that the key and background facts of the opinion are sufficiently similar to the key and background facts of the client's case.

Question 7

If the law applied in the court opinion is different from that which applies to the client's case, the court opinion cannot be mandatory precedent.

Question 8

If the rule or principle applied in the court opinion is the same rule or principle that applies in the client's case, the opinion is on point.

Question 9

The doctrine of precedent is a basic principle of the common-law system that requires a court to follow a previous decision of that court or a higher court in the jurisdiction when the current decision involves issues and key facts similar to those involved in the previous decision.

Question 10

The determination of whether a case is on point must be made before the case may apply as precedent.

Question 11

In order for a case to be on point, three requirements must be met.

Question 12

Stare decisis is an earlier court decision on an issue that governs or guides a subsequent court in its determination of an identical or similar issue based on identical or similar key facts.

Question 13

A ruling of the highest court in State B may be mandatory precedent for the lower courts in State A.

Question 14

The terms precedent and on point are often used interchangeably.

Question 15

A case is precedent (on point)if there is a sufficient similarity between the key facts and rule of law or legal principle of the court opinion and the matter before the subsequent court.

Question 16

The phrase on all fours is used to describe opinions where the facts of the opinion and those of the client's case and the rule of law that applies are identical or so similar that the court opinion is clearly on point.

Question 17

Case law analysis is the process of determining if a court opinion governs or affects the outcome of a client's case.

Question 18

A court opinion interpreting a common-law rule or principle may apply as precedent for a client's case that requires the application of a different common-law rule or principle.

Question 19

When there is a major difference in the key facts of a court opinion and the key facts of the client's case, the opinion cannot be on point.

Question 20

When the key facts of the court opinion and the key facts of the client's case are not similar, if the substitution of the key facts would not result in changing the outcome of the case, the court opinion can be used as precedent.

Question 21

Precedent is:

A)an earlier court decision on an issue that governs or guides a subsequent court in its determination of an identical or similar issue based on identical or similar key facts.
B)a decision from a higher court in a jurisdiction.
C)a decision that a court may look to for guidance when reaching a decision but is not bound to follow.
D)a basic principle of the common-law system that requires a court to follow a previous decision of that court or a higher court in the jurisdiction when the current decision involves issues and key facts similar to those involved in the previous decision.
E)all of the above

Question 22

A court opinion that a court looks to for guidance when reaching a decision, but is not bound to follow, is referred to as:

A)mandatory precedent.
B)persuasive precedent.
C)stare decisis.
D)on point.
E)all of the above

Question 23

If the law applied in the court opinion is different from the law that applies to the client's case, the opinion can be:

A)persuasive precedent.
B)mandatory precedent.
C)mandatory precedent if the key facts are sufficiently similar.
D)persuasive precedent only if the statutes are part of the same legislative act.
E)all of the above

Question 24

Stare decisis is:

A)an earlier court decision on an issue that governs or guides a subsequent court in its determination of an identical or similar issue based on identical or similar key facts.
B)a decision from a higher court in a jurisdiction.
C)a decision that a court may look to for guidance when reaching a decision, but is not bound to follow.
D)a basic principle of the common-law system that requires a court to follow a previous decision of that court or a higher court in the jurisdiction when the current decision involves issues and key facts similar to those involved in the previous decision.
E)all of the above