Legal Research and Writing

Finishing Your Brief Examples

By Celia C. Elwell, RP

November/December 2003 Table of Contents

The full-text article accompanying this examples is also available online.

Here is an example of a generic cover page:

Case No. ____________

FULL NAME OF THE COURT

NAME(S) OF PLAINTIFF(S),

Plaintiff(s),

vs.

NAME(S) OF DEFENDANT(S)

DEFENDANT JOHN HENRY’S MOTION FOR

SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND BRIEF IN SUPPORT

Attorney’s Name, Bar Number

Firm’s Full Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Telephone Number

Fax Number

Attorneys for Defendant John Henry

Here is an example of how a typical Table of Contents might look.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES……………………………………………………………………………………. ii

INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ………………………………………………………………………………… 2

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES……………………………………………………………………………. 4

I.          EVIDENCE OF THE DEAD MAN’S HISTORY OF CRIMINAL ACTS SHOWS A
            PATTERN OF VIOLENCE …………………………………………………………………. 4

II.         EVIDENCE ON THE ISSUE OF WHO WAS THE AGGRESSOR SHOULD BE
            ADMISSIBLE AT TRIAL ………………………………………………………………….. 7

CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

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Here is an example of a Table of Contents and Authorities.

TABLE OF CONTENTS AND AUTHORITIES

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE …………………………………………………………………………………..2

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT……………………………………………………………………………….4

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES………………………………………………………………………………5

I.          APPELLEE MOTOR CORPORATION VIOLATED THE ECOA…………………………………….5

  A.         The Trial Court’s Ruling…………………………………………………………………..5

Statute:

12 C.F.R. § 202a.2(e)…………………………………………………………………………………………..5

  B.         The ECOA In Force and Effect at the Time of the Transactions…………………..6

Cases:

American Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. United States,

   299 U.S. 232, 57 S. Ct. 170, 81 L. Ed. 142 (1936) …………………………………………………….8

Brothers v. First Leasing,

   724 F.2d 789 (9^th Cir. 1984), cert. denied,

   469 U.S. 832, 105 S. Ct. 121, 83 L. Ed. 2d 63 (1984)……………………………………………….6, 7

Ford Motor Co. v. Milhollin,

   422 U.S. 940, 99 S. Ct. 288, 61 L.Ed. 2d 309 (1979),

   rev’d on other grounds, 444 U.S. 555, 100 S. Ct. 790,

   63 L. Ed. 2d 22 (1980)………………………………………………………………………………………..7

Statutes:

15 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1639r………………………………………………………………………………………..6

15 U.S.C. § 1691a(1)…………………………………………………………………………………………….8

Federal Rules and Regulations:

42 Fed. Reg. 1251 (1977) ………………………………………………………………………………………7

Other Authorities:

1976 U.S. Code Cong. & Ad. News 403………………………………………………………………………9

E. Malty and F. Miller, The Equal Credit Opportunity Act
    and Regulation B, 31 Okla. L. Rev. 1 (1978)……………………………………………………………..9

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………………………..11

Here is an example of a Table of Authorities.

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Cases:

Anderson v. United Finance Co.,

   666 F.2d 1274 (9^th Cir. 1982) …………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Kirk  v. Ford Motor Co.,

   383 N.W.2d 193 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985)…………………………………………………………………… 4

Larsen v. General Motors Corp.,

   391 F. 2d 495 (8^th Cir. 1968)……………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Federal Statute:

15 U.S.C. § 1691……………………………………………………………………………………………3, 4, 6

State Statute:

21 Okla. Stat. 386 (Supp. 2002)……………………………………………………………………………… 5

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