Family Law Keyed to Weisberg
Downing v. Downing
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- The Brief Prologue provides necessary case brief introductory information and includes:
- 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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- The Case Brief is the complete case summarized and authored in the traditional Law School I.R.A.C. format. The Pro case brief includes:
- 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:
Donald and Sharon Downing were divorced in 1992. She received sole custody of the children. In 1998 she filed a motion to increase Donald’s child support obligations based upon a substantial increase in his income. The Domestic Relations Commissioner (DRC) found that his monthly income had increased by $40,000. The Commissioner recognized that this greatly exceeded the highest level set in the child support guidelines, and determined that he would increase the child support at a rate of 4% of combined income based on the approximate percentage increases at the high income end of the chart.
- Issue(s): Lists the Questions of Law that are raised by the Facts of the case.
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- Reasoning and Analysis: Identifies the chain of argument(s) which led the judges to rule as they did.
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- Policy: Identifies the Policy if any that has been established by the case.
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