1. SHORT PLAIN STATEMENT
  2. DEFENDANT #1
    1. DETRIMENTAL ACTION; NON-ACTION
      1. CORE LEGAL THEORY; PARAGRAPH
        1. Finally, draft a paragraph that will serve as the core theory of the case -- the central defining idea that drives your lawsuit.  It should summarize, in a brief and persuasive way, the nature of the wrong committed and relief sought to remedy it.  Written in lay, rather than legal terms, this fundamental message may be repeated in the opening paragraph of the complaint, in a press release, or at the beginning of an oral argument.  This clearly defined motivating concept behind the lawsuit should remain the touchstone that guides the litigation.
      2. LEGAL CLAIMS; CAUSES OF ACTION
        1. DESCRIPTION OF DETRIMENTAL ACTION
          1. ELEMENTS; WHAT MUST BE PROVEN
          2. 1.
          3. 2.
          4. 3.
          5. 4.
          6. 5.
          7. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS; TIME
          8. S.O.L.
          9. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS EVIDENCE/EXHIBITS
          10. DATE
          11. DOCUMENTS
          12. PROOF OF SERVICE
          13. DATE
          14. DOCUMENTS
          15. PROOF OF SERVICE
          16. DATE
          17. DOCUMENTS
          18. PROOF OF SERVICE
          19. DATE
          20. DOCUMENTS
          21. PROOF OF SERVICE
          22. STRENGTH OF CLAIM
          23. SURVIVE A RULE 12(b)(6) DISMISSAL ATTEMPT!
          24. CONS
          25. PROS
          26. FACTUAL BASIS FOR CLAIM
          27. LEGAL BASIS FOR CLAIM
          28. RELATED POTENTIAL CLAIMS; CAUSATION "BUT FOR" TEST
          29. STATUTORY & REGULATORY PROVISIONS IMPLICATED
          30. STRICT LIABILITY?
          31. PROTECTED CLASS?
          32. FEDERAL
          33. C.F.R.
          34. U.S.C.
          35. CASE LAW
          36. CONSTITUTION
          37. STATE
          38. ELEMENTS
          39. CASE LAW
          40. STATUTE
          41. CONSTITUTION
          42. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
          43. RULE
          44. FEDERAL RULES CIVIL PROCEDURE
          45. MINNESOTA RULES CIVIL PROCEDURE
          46. MINNESOTA RULES GENERAL PRACTICE
          47. MINNESOTA APPELLATE RULES
          48. MINNESOTA RULES EVIDENCE
          49. FEDERAL RULES EVIDENCE
          50. FACTUAL INVESTIGATION PURSUANT TO RCP RULE 11; ACKNOWLEDGMENT
          51. CIVIL INVESTIGATION; RULES OF EVIDENCE; DISCOVERY
          52. ASK:
          53. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? WHO IS BENEFITTING? BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
          54. ASK:
          55. IS "EMERGENCY RELIEF" NECESSARY?
          56. CEASE & DESIST INJUNCTION; TRO; EX PARTE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE; HABEAS CORPUS
          57. 1. ASK:
          58. Is the defendant engaging in action that violates the federal or state Administrative Procedure Act?
          59. 2. ASK:
          60. Is there a federal, state or local common law right or norm that a defendant is violating?
          61. 3. ASK:
          62. Is there a federally approved state/county plan that a defendant is violating?
          63. 4. ASK:
          64. Is there a state or local statutory right or regulation that a defendant is violating?
          65. 5. ASK:
          66. Is there a federal statute or regulation that a defendant is violating?
          67. 6. ASK:
          68. Is there a federal constitutional right or protection that a defendant is violating?
          69. 7. ASK:
          70. Is there a state constitutional right or protection that a defendant is violating?
          71. 8. JOINDER?
          72. DEFENDANT IS A CLIENT?
          73. WHO IS BUYING?
          74. PUBLIC v. PRIVATE
          75. SETTLEMENT EFFORTS; DOCUMENT! CEASE & DESIST, NOTICE & DEMAND, DRAFT COMPLAINT, DRAFT ORDER, CONSENT DECREE; THROW DOWN; OFFER
          76. DATE
          77. DOCUMENTS
          78. PROOF OF SERVICE
          79. DATE
          80. DOCUMENTS
          81. PROOF OF SERVICE
          82. DATE
          83. DOCUMENTS
          84. PROOF OF SERVICE
          85. DATE
          86. DOCUMENTS
          87. PROOF OF SERVICE
    2. CONTRACT/AGENCY
      1. COUNTY
        1. AGENCY
        2. CAPACITY
          1. PRIMARY ENTITY
          2. SUBSIDIARY ENTITY
        3. FUNDING SOURCE
      2. STATE
        1. AGENCY
        2. CAPACITY
          1. PRIMARY ENTITY
          2. SUBSIDIARY ENTITY
        3. FUNDING SOURCE
      3. FEDERAL
        1. AGENCY
        2. CAPACITY
          1. PRIMARY ENTITY
          2. SUBSIDIARY ENTITY
        3. FUNDING SOURCE
      4. PRIVATE TRUST
        1. AGENCY
        2. CAPACITY
          1. PRIMARY ENTITY
          2. SUBSIDIARY ENTITY
        3. FUNDING SOURCE
    3. CIVIL INVESTIGATION; RULES OF EVIDENCE; DISCOVERY
      1. FACTUAL INVESTIGATION PURSUANT TO RCP RULE 11; ACKNOWLEDGMENT
        1. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 552 et seq. Data Practices Act Notice & Demand Offer & Acceptance Discovery Rules of Civil Procedure
          1. WHO
          2. WHAT
          3. WHEN
          4. WHERE
          5. WHY
          6. HOW
          7. MEANS
          8. MOTIVE
          9. METHOD
          10. OPPORTUNITY
          11. INTENT
    4. MOVING FORWARD NOTICE & DEMAND PROCESS
      1. DISCOVERY SERIES
        1. DATE
          1. FIRST REQUEST
          2. SECOND REQUEST
          3. THIRD REQUEST
          4. FIRST RESPONSE
          5. SECOND RESPONSE
        2. DOCUMENTS
          1. FIRST REQUEST
          2. SECOND REQUEST
          3. THIRD REQUEST
          4. FIRST RESPONSE
          5. SECOND RESPONSE
    5. QUESTIONS REMAINING; OUTSTANDING DISCOVERY:
      1. QUESTION
      2. QUESTION
    6. STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
      1. NEXT ACTION #1
        1. ACTION
      2. NEXT ACTION #2
        1. ACTION
      3. NEXT ACTION #3
        1. ACTION
    7. STAY ORGANIZED!
      1. DEVELOP FILING SYSTEM
        1. FLEXIBLE; ACCOMODATE GROWTH
          1. Actual Files
          2. COMPUTER FILES
          3. Scanned Documents
          4. WORKING DOCUMENTS; DRAFTS
        2. CASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
          1. TOOLS
          2. SOFTWARE
          3. OPEN OFFICE
          4. CUTE PDF MAKER
          5. XMIND MIND MAPPING
          6. GOOGLE DRIVE
          7. GREEN SHOT; SCREEN SHOT
          8. HARDWARE
          9. HARD DRIVE; BACK-UP
          10. DATA KEY; MOBILITY
          11. SCANNER; PRINTER; FAXER
          12. LAPTOP OR PC
          13. CAMERA; VOICE RECORDER
          14. WHAT IF SOMEONE HAD TO TAKE OVER? COULD THEY DEAL WITH YOUR FILES?
        3. TYPES OF DOCUMENTS:
          1. Pleadings
          2. Correspondence (including e-mail messages)
          3. Other court filings, such as motions
          4. Records of telephone calls
          5. Interview notes and other informal investigation
          6. Discovery, including demands, responses, and the documents produced
          7. Documents that your client supplies or you locate during investigation
          8. Legal research
          9. Other research
          10. Time records
          11. Create subdivisions with file folders for each motion, factual topic, or witness. 
          12. Correspondence and phone logs should be secured into a file to ensure that the chronology of the case development is preserved.  Use scanning technology to store facts in your computer.
          13. LINK TO CASE PROGRESSION CALENDAR
    8. TRACK SERVICE OF PROCESS; DATE
      1. COMPLETED ACTIONS; DOCUMENTS SERVED
        1. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        2. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        3. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        4. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        5. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        6. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        7. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
        8. DATE
          1. DOCUMENTS
          2. PROOF OF SERVICE
    9. MUST EXHAUST ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES
      1. WHO IS? ADMINISTRATION
      2. WHO IS? ADVERSARY? CAPACITY?
      3. WHERE IS? VENUE
      4. WHAT IS? JURISDICTION
  3. This Helpful Mind Map was created March 18, 2013 by Lisa Stinocher O'Hanlon using XMind Free Software. To see more Helpful Mind Maps: http://www.xmind.net/share/hennalady/ http://angryjeweler.wix.com/write http://www.scribd.com/AngryJeweler