Preparing or opposing a summary judgment motion requires organizing factual support and citing the record. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 sets the governing standard and procedures. Legal1Up supports the tasks below, with the record, deliverables, checks, and deadline agreed before work begins. Counsel sets strategy and reviews the work.
This article addresses federal procedure. Legal1Up also supports state and local courts and administrative proceedings, using the rules and requirements applicable to each matter.
Our Eight Core Services
1. Document Inventory
We catalog the record included in scope, such as transcripts, production documents, discovery responses, and filings. We agree on the inventory and searchable-file requirements before starting.
2. Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (SUMF)
We draft proposed undisputed facts with pinpoint record citations. Each fact is tied to specific deposition testimony, document evidence, or discovery responses. We organize facts by element of the claims or defenses at issue.
3. Response to Opposing SUMF
When responding to the opposing party’s statement of facts, we identify genuine disputes, marshal contradicting evidence, and draft responses that clearly articulate why each fact is disputed with specific record citations.
4. Statement of Disputed Facts
For the opposing party, we draft additional material facts with pinpoint record citations. Counsel decides which facts to present under the applicable rules and orders.
5. Response to Statement of Disputed Facts
We draft targeted responses that demonstrate either the absence of genuine dispute or the immateriality of the asserted facts.
6. Affidavits and Declarations
We prepare draft declarations and affidavits for attorney review and witness approval. Rule 56(c)(4) requires personal knowledge, admissible facts, and competence to testify. Counsel and the witness review the draft against those requirements.
7. Deposition Excerpting
We identify and excerpt relevant deposition testimony for inclusion in the summary judgment record. Each excerpt is tied to a specific fact or legal argument, with full transcript references.
8. Exhibit List Preparation
We compile, organize, and index the exhibits included in the agreed scope for counsel’s review. This includes Bates-stamped documents, deposition excerpts, discovery responses, and any other record evidence. Each exhibit is cross-referenced to the brief and statement of facts.
How It Works
Schedule a 30-minute consultation to discuss the claims, available record, and deadlines. We confirm the scope, quote, and delivery date before work begins. Rush is available; its fee and date are quoted with the scope.
Our system does the first pass and our team checks the agreed work product for attorney review. Counsel decides what to change, serve, or file.
For more detail, see 15 Rule 56 support tasks, from record review to filing-package preparation. Schedule a consultation to discuss your upcoming Rule 56 motion.