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Simple English definitions for legal terms

first-to-file rule

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A quick definition of first-to-file rule:

The first-to-file rule is a legal principle that says when two parties bring the same case to two different courts, the court that receives the case first gets to keep it. The second court usually stops its proceedings. However, if the first case was filed only to prevent the other party from filing, it is not allowed. This is called anticipatory filing. It is used to determine things like where the case will be heard.

A more thorough explanation:

The first-to-file rule is a principle in civil procedure that states that when two parties file lawsuits regarding the same issues in two courts with proper jurisdiction, the court that first acquires jurisdiction usually retains the case, excluding the other court. The court with the second-filed lawsuit typically stays proceedings or abstains.

However, there is an exception to this rule if the first-filed lawsuit is brought in anticipation of the true plaintiff's lawsuit and is an improper attempt at forum-shopping. This is known as anticipatory filing.

For example, if Company A and Company B both file lawsuits against each other in different courts regarding a patent infringement issue, the court that first acquires jurisdiction will usually retain the case. If Company A filed their lawsuit first, the court where they filed will handle the case, and the court where Company B filed will stay proceedings or abstain.

However, if Company A filed their lawsuit merely in anticipation of Company B's lawsuit, and it is an improper attempt at forum-shopping, the court may not follow the first-to-file rule and may instead dismiss Company A's lawsuit.

first taker | first-to-file system

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got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
[] baddestbunny
4:29
let’s get after it boys and girls
Dkk
5:21
I gtg to bed soon.
Dkk
5:22
Big day today. Gunna be a crazy one. I will sleep through the first half.
good morning lsd it is 5 am EST
also jazzy my ndls address went long ages ago i sadly do not think it means anything
my stanford address also went long LOL i think at most it's an indicator it's under review
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
7:44
My berkeley paragraph finally disappeared. I definitely think it is just an indicator that they are actively reviewing files, and does not mean anything about A, WL, or Rs
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
7:46
Also has anyone's date disappeared for W&L? Mine did last night
7:55
@WorthlessAttractiveZombie: mine did yesterday morning
7:56
Oops sorry I meant Vilanova. Mine disappeared last week
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