One of the more unexpected honors of my legal career came when my first federal jury trial became the basis for a casebook on civil procedure and litigation.
A Civil Matter: A Guide to Civil Procedure and Litigation, written by George W. Kuney and Donna C. Looper, follows the federal civil case through the litigation process and uses the actual case to help explain how civil procedure works in practice. The book gives readers a practical look at litigation from the early stages of a lawsuit through discovery, motion practice, and trial.
The recognition is especially meaningful to me because I tried the case alongside my friend and fellow attorney Robert J. English, whom we knew as Bob. Bob has since passed away, and the book has become more than a reminder of that first federal jury trial. Every time I see it, I think about Bob’s role in the case, what I learned from working with him, and the importance of passing that knowledge and experience on to others.
For law students and practicing attorneys, A Civil Matter connects procedural rules with the decisions, documents, and challenges that arise during an actual federal civil case. I am grateful to George W. Kuney and Donna C. Looper for using the case as a teaching tool and for giving me an opportunity to be part of a resource that can help others better understand the federal civil litigation process.
I recommend the book to attorneys looking for a refresher on civil procedure as well as to law students and lawyers who want a practical introduction to federal civil litigation.