Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$environment is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 21

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$wp_customize is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 99

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$caching is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 100

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$wpseo is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 101

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$options is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 22

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$base is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 895

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$strings is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 23

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$form is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 24

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$schema is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 25

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$colors is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 30

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$fonts is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 31

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_typography::$phi is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/typography.php on line 13

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$typography is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 32

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$css is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 33

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$api is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 75

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$wp is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 76

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$skins is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 82

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$skin is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 87

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$home_seo is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 47

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_wp::$terms is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/wp.php on line 117

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_favicon::$tooltip is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 543

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_edit::$edit is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1335

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$custom is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1354

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1355

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_excerpt::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1411

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$singular is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1505

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$plural is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1506

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_image::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1659

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_thumbnail::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1791

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$_wp_featured_image_rss is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 323

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_edit::$edit is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1335

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$custom is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1354

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1355

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_excerpt::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1411

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$singular is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1505

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$plural is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1506

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_image::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1659

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_thumbnail::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1791

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_wp_nav_menu::$control is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 71

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_intro::$singular is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 370

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_intro::$plural is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 371

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_permalink::$link is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 605

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_reply::$text is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 677

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_permalink::$link is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 605

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_reply::$text is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 677

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_permalink::$link is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 605

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_reply::$text is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 677

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$previous is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 703

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$next is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 704

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$previous is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 703

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$next is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 704

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_title::$leave is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 814

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_cancel::$cancel is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1007

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_title::$leave is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 814

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_cancel::$cancel is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1007

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_previous_posts_link::$previous is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1154

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_next_posts_link::$next is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1196

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_classic_r::$grt is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin.php on line 156

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_fonts::$list is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/fonts.php on line 17

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_fonts::$select is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/fonts.php on line 100

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_skin_fonts::$list is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/api/fonts.php on line 18

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_skin_fonts::$select is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/api/fonts.php on line 129

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_css_api::$strings is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/css.php on line 17

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_css_api::$properties is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/css.php on line 18

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_css_api::$options is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/css.php on line 19
Is Pleading Style Really a Matter of Taste? — Legal Writing Editor
≡ Menu

Is Pleading Style Really a Matter of Taste?

tasting-2The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are “part of the supreme law of the land.” 1Laker Airways Ltd. v. Pan Am. World Airways, 103 F.R.D. 42, 49 (D. D.C. 1984).  Thus, federal law—not plain-language advocates or well-meaning academics or a faction of forward-thinking lawyers, but federal law—dictates that a complaint “must” contain a “short and plain statement of the claim.” Rule 8’s mandatory must is conspicuously not a discretionary may. No wonder federal courts hang the “requirement” tag on Rule 8’s call for plain language. 2See, e.g., Ong v. Park Manor (Middletown Park) Rehab. & Healthcare Ctr., ___ F. Supp. 3d ___, 2014 WL 5011047 at *20 (S.D. N.Y. Sept. 29, 2014).

Every state court rule I’ve checked sings the same tune. Alabama, for instance, mandates that pleadings “shall” be “plain.” New Jersey requires “simple, concise and direct” allegations. Michigan says that allegations “must be clear, concise, and direct.” And the beat goes on . . .

So I’m always perplexed when I hear a lawyer announce, “I prefer the traditional style for my pleadings.” Of course, “traditional” style is the common euphemism for turgid and painfully unplain lawyerspeak.

A choice? A matter of personal taste?

Let’s push the rewind button: the law requires a plain, direct writing style for pleadings. Where does personal preference enter this “must” picture?

Do the lawyers who hold fast to their stilted style also make the style choice to omit Rule 8’s mandatory statement of jurisdiction? Is it their style to file the complaint two days after the statute of limitations has expired? Do we lawyers get to pick and choose which laws we follow? Do we get to skip the rules we don’t like?

True, I’m comparing some black-and-white concepts—such as a filing deadline—with the more fluid concept of linguistic plainness. And skeptics may scoff given the admittedly remote prospect of having their overblown pleadings tossed for prose style alone.

Yet the truth is still plain: lawyers who inflate their diction—who consciously refuse to draft pleadings in a plainer style—are doing it wrong. I don’t say so. The law says so. And can any lawyer claim excellence while flouting the law?

Mark Cooney teaches legal writing at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. His articles have appeared in The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, Student Lawyer, the Michigan Bar Journal, and Trial magazine. He is the author of Sketches on Legal Style, a collection of short humor pieces and essays on legal writing, many of which originally appeared in the Michigan Bar Journal’s Plain Language column. He is editor in chief of the Scribes Journal and has served as a plain-language consultant on the Michigan Bar’s and Michigan Supreme Court’s committees on standard criminal jury instructions. He has also chaired the Michigan Bar’s Appellate Practice Section. Before teaching, he was a civil litigator for ten years.

(Photo by Amanda Tipton / CC BY 4.0)

References

References
1 Laker Airways Ltd. v. Pan Am. World Airways, 103 F.R.D. 42, 49 (D. D.C. 1984).
2 See, e.g., Ong v. Park Manor (Middletown Park) Rehab. & Healthcare Ctr., ___ F. Supp. 3d ___, 2014 WL 5011047 at *20 (S.D. N.Y. Sept. 29, 2014).

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$tab_depth is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 455

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Deprecated: Automatic conversion of false to array is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 172