In this course we will examine issues that arise at various pretrial stages of different types of complex federal litigation, including patent, antitrust, and civil rights cases. We will explore techniques courts have devised for handling these issues and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. The course materials consist largely of briefs and other litigation documents filed in real cases that were presided over by the professor, Judge Stark, allowing us to see how actual disputes have played out in actual proceedings. The class relies heavily on student participation and all students will deliver an oral argument. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, oral argument, final written assignment.
2 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
In this course we will examine issues that arise at various pretrial stages of different types of complex federal litigation, including patent, antitrust, and civil rights cases. We will explore techniques courts have devised for handling these issues and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. The course materials consist largely of briefs and other litigation documents filed in real cases that were presided over by the professor, Judge Stark, allowing us to see how actual disputes have played out in actual proceedings. The class relies heavily on student participation and all students will deliver an oral argument. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, oral argument, final written assignment.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.