Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: RULE 11
Definition: Rule 11 is a rule in federal court that requires lawyers or parties who are not represented by a lawyer to sign all papers filed with the court. By signing, they are saying that the paper is filed in good faith after doing a reasonable investigation. If someone violates this rule, they can be punished by the court.
Rule 11 is a procedural rule in federal practice that requires the attorney or party filing a pleading, motion, or other paper with the court to sign it and represent that it is filed in good faith after a reasonable inquiry. If an attorney or party violates this rule, sanctions may be imposed by the court.
Example 1: A lawyer files a lawsuit against a company, claiming that their product caused harm to their client. However, the lawyer did not conduct a proper investigation into the matter and files the lawsuit without any evidence to support their claim. This violates Rule 11 as the lawyer did not file the lawsuit in good faith after a reasonable inquiry.
Example 2: A party files a motion for summary judgment, arguing that there are no genuine issues of material fact in the case. However, the party fails to disclose important evidence that contradicts their argument. This violates Rule 11 as the party did not file the motion in good faith after a reasonable inquiry.
These examples illustrate how Rule 11 requires attorneys and parties to conduct a reasonable inquiry before filing any papers with the court. This helps to ensure that the court is not burdened with frivolous or unsupported claims, and that the legal process is fair and efficient.