Double Take: Dual Court System from iCivics

David Greene and his wife, Laura, wanted to renovate their kitchen, so they signed a contract with Shoddy & Sons, a local builder, and gave the company a $10,000 deposit. Shoddy and Sons failed to do any work on the project and won't respond to Mr. Greene's phone calls, and the Greenes want their money back.

Who has jurisdiction (what type of case is this?)

• Federal Court

• State Court

• Concurrent

David Greene and his wife, Laura, wanted to renovate their kitchen, so they signed a contract with Shoddy & Sons, a local builder, and gave the company a $10,000 deposit. Shoddy and Sons failed to do any work on the project and won't respond to Mr. Greene's phone calls, and the Greenes want their money back.

What supports your choice of which level of government should hear this case?

Susan Hammond looks desperate as she bursts into your office.  She tells you her husband, Tom, was making fake $100 bills in their spare bedroom.  She used a few of the bills to purchase a $350 CatMagic self-flushing litter box.  She was arrested late last night by the FBI and charged with the crime of knowingly using counterfeit bills. She needs you to represent her in her criminal case.

• Federal

• State

• Concurrent

Susan Hammond looks desperate as she bursts into your office.  She tells you her husband, Tom, was making fake $100 bills in their spare bedroom.  She used a few of the bills to purchase a $350 CatMagic self-flushing litter box.  She was arrested late last night by the FBI and charged with the crime of knowingly using counterfeit bills. She needs you to represent her in her criminal case.

What is your support for which level of government should hear her case?

Debbie and Jim Lomach were driving from their home in Chicago to Dallas for a family reunion in their brand-new Airstream motorhome when a truck full of oranges from the Florida Floranges Company plowed into their Airstream, causing over $100,000 of damages to the motorhome.  Although no one was injured physically in the crash, the Lomaches have come to you asking what they should do about the extensive damage to their Airstream (not to mention the lingering citrus smell).

• Federal

• State

• Concurrent

Debbie and Jim Lomach were driving from their home in Chicago to Dallas for a family reunion in their brand-new Airstream motorhome when a truck full of oranges from the Florida Floranges Company plowed into their Airstream, causing over $100,000 of damages to the motorhome.  Although no one was injured physically in the crash, the Lomaches have come to you asking what they should do about the extensive damage to their Airstream (not to mention the lingering citrus smell).

What supports your answer of which level of government should hear this case?

April Snow, a rising star in the pop music world, stomps into your office because a new artist, Hybiscus Slant, has come out  with a song entitled “You’re My One and Only Glove,” which sounds exactly like April’s hit from last year, “You’re My One and Only Love.”  She knows there are national copyright laws that protect songwriters against people copying their melodies and words, and she’s looking for your help.

• Federal

• State

• Concurrent

April Snow, a rising star in the pop music world, stomps into your office because a new artist, Hybiscus Slant, has come out  with a song entitled “You’re My One and Only Glove,” which sounds exactly like April’s hit from last year, “You’re My One and Only Love.”  She knows there are national copyright laws that protect songwriters against people copying their melodies and words, and she’s looking for your help.

What supports your choice for which level of government should handle this case?

Ted Abel walks into your office and tells you his sad story. He had been trying to get to the local baseball field to catch the last innings of his son’s big game when he was pulled over for speeding.  He was traveling 62 mph in a 45-mile-per-hour zone.  He also forgot to renew his license after his last birthday, so he was driving with an expired license.

• Federal

• State

• Concurrent

Ted Abel walks into your office and tells you his sad story. He had been trying to get to the local baseball field to catch the last innings of his son’s big game when he was pulled over for speeding.  He was traveling 62 mph in a 45-mile-per-hour zone.  He also forgot to renew his license after his last birthday, so he was driving with an expired license.

What supports your choice for which government should handle this case?