閱讀英文判決書(二) 常見之民事訴訟程序專有名詞

"英美判決書中所敘述之案件訴訟過程(Procedure History,又稱為Procedure Posture,指前審法院就系爭案件之裁判結果以及訴訟過程中發生之重要程序事件),經常陷初習者於五里霧中。以 D & G Stout, Inc. v. Bacardi Imports, Inc., 923 F.2d 566 (1991) 一案之訴訟過程為例:The district court entered a summary judgment for the defendant. The court of Appeals disagreed, and so it remanded for trial.另以Dougherty v. Salt, 227 N.Y. 200, 125 N.E. 94 (1919) 一案之訴訟過程為例:The trial judge set aside the verdict in favor of the plaintiff, and dismissed the complaint. The appellate Division, by a divided court, reversed the judgment of dismissal, and reinstated the verdict.倘若讀者對於英美之法院體系、法院之裁判種類以及訴訟程序無認識,則不易瞭解前述二案之訴訟過程。故本文首先就美國之法院體系作一簡介。"