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Civil Procedure Keyed to Yeazell
Steffan v. Cheney
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- Topic: Identifies the topic of law and where this case fits within your course outline.
- Parties: Identifies the cast of characters involved in the case.
- Procedural Posture & History: Shares the case history with how lower courts have ruled on the matter.
- Case Key Terms, Acts, Doctrines, etc.: A case specific Legal Term Dictionary.
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- Brief Facts: A Synopsis of the Facts of the case.
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- Facts: What are the factual circumstances that gave rise to the civil or criminal case? What is the relationship of the Parties that are involved in the case. Review the Facts of this case here:
Plaintiff resigned from the Naval Academy in 1987 after an administrative board recommended he be discharged. The board’s recommendation was based solely upon Plaintiff’s statements declaring himself a homosexual. In 1988 Plaintiff filed this action, claiming he was constructively discharged and challenged the constitutionality of the regulations providing for the discharge of admitted homosexuals. The district court dismissed Plaintiff’s case because, claiming his Fifth Amendment constitutional privilege against self-incrimination, he refused to answer questions regarding whether he had engaged in homosexual conduct during or after his tenure as a midshipman. He also objected on grounds that the questions were not relevant to the legality of this separation. Thus, the district court dismissed Plaintiff’s action for failure to comply with its discovery under FRCP Rule 37(b)(2).
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