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Missouri Rules

Supreme Court Rules

Rules of Civil Procedure

Part II. Rules Relating to All Appellate Courts

Rule 84. Procedure In All Appellate Courts

84.04. Briefs--Contents

(a) Contents.  The brief for appellant shall contain:

(1) A detailed table of contents, with page references, and a table of cases  (alphabetically arranged), statutes, and other authorities cited, with reference to the pages of the brief where they are cited;

(2) A concise statement of the grounds on which jurisdiction of the review court is invoked;

(3) A statement of facts;

(4) The points relied on;

(5) An argument, which shall substantially follow the order of the points relied on;  and

(6) A short conclusion stating the precise relief sought.

(b) Jurisdictional Statement.  Bare recitals that jurisdiction is invoked "on the ground that the construction of the Constitution of the United States or of this state is involved" or similar statements or conclusions are insufficient as jurisdictional statements.  The jurisdictional statement shall set forth sufficient factual data to demonstrate the applicability of the particular provision or provisions of Article V, section 3, of the Constitution whereon jurisdiction is sought to be predicated.  For example:  "The action is one involving the question of whether the respondent's machinery and equipment used in its operations in removing rock from the ground are exempt from the state sales tax law as being machinery and equipment falling within the exemption provided by Section 144.030.3(4), and hence involves the construction of a revenue law of this state."

(c) Statement of Facts.  The statement of facts shall be a fair and concise statement of the facts relevant to the questions presented for determination without argument.  Such statement of facts may be followed by a resume of the testimony of each witness relevant to the points presented.

(d) Points Relied On.

(1) Where the appellate court reviews the decision of a trial court, each point shall:

(A) identify the trial court ruling or action that the appellant challenges;

(B) state concisely the legal reasons for the appellant's claim of reversible error;  and

(C) explain in summary fashion why, in the context of the case, those legal reasons support the claim of reversible error.

The point shall be in substantially the following form:  "The trial court erred in [identify the challenged ruling or action ], because [state the legal reasons for the claim of reversible error ], in that [explain why the legal reasons, in the context of the case, support the claim of reversible error ]."

(2) Where the appellate court reviews the decision of an administrative agency, rather than a trial court, each point shall:

(A) identify the administrative ruling or action the appellant challenges;

(B) state concisely the legal reasons for the appellant's claim of reversible error;  and

(C) explain in summary fashion why, in the context of the case, those legal reasons support the claim of reversible error.

The point shall be in substantially the following form:  "The [name of agency ] erred in [identify the challenged ruling or action ], because [state the legal reasons for the claim of reversible error, including the reference to the applicable statute authorizing review ], in that [explain why, in the context of the case, the legal reasons support the claim of reversible error ]."

(3) In an original writ proceeding, each point shall:

(A) state what relief the petitioner or relator seeks from the appellate court;

(B) identify the action that the petitioner or relator challenges;

(C) state concisely the legal reasons for the challenge to respondent's action;  and

(D) explain in summary fashion why, in the context of the case, those legal reasons support the challenge.

For an action in prohibition, the point shall be in substantially the following form:  "Relator is entitled to an order prohibiting Respondent from [describe challenged action ], because [state the legal reasons for the challenge ], in that [explain why, in the context of the case, the legal reasons support the challenge ]."  For other remedial writs, the introductory language should be altered appropriately.

(4) Abstract statements of law, standing alone, do not comply with this rule.  Any reference to the record shall be limited to the ultimate facts necessary to inform the appellate court and the other parties of the issues.  Detailed evidentiary facts shall not be included.

(5) Immediately following each "Point Relied On," the appellant, relator, or petitioner shall include a list of cases, not to exceed four, and the constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions or other authority upon which that party principally relies.

(6) If a party asserts error relating to damages, the party may assert its material effect on the judgment, including that the judgment is inadequate or excessive, in the same "Point Relied On."

(e) Argument.  The argument shall substantially follow the order of "Points Relied On."  The point relied on shall be restated at the beginning of the section of the argument discussing that point.  The argument shall be limited to those errors included in the "Points Relied On."  The argument shall also include a concise statement of the applicable standard of review for each claim of error.  If a point relates to the giving, refusal or modification of an instruction, such instruction shall be set forth in full in the argument portion of the brief.  Long quotations from cases and long lists of citations should not be included.

(f) Respondent's Brief.  The respondent's brief shall include a detailed table of contents and table of authorities as provided by Rule 84.04(a)(1) and an argument in conformity with Rule 84.04(e). If the respondent is dissatisfied with the accuracy or completeness of the jurisdictional statement or statement of facts in the appellant's brief, the respondent's brief may include a jurisdictional statement or statement of facts.

The argument portion of the respondent's brief shall contain headings identifying the points relied on contained in the appellant's brief to which each such argument responds. The respondent's brief may also include additional arguments in support of the judgment that are not raised by the points relied on in the appellant's brief.

(g) Reply Briefs.  The appellant may file a reply brief but shall not reargue points covered in the appellant's initial brief.

(h) Appendix.  A party's brief shall contain or be accompanied by an appendix containing the following materials, unless the material has been included in a previously filed appendix:

(1) The judgment, order, or decision in question, including the relevant findings of fact and conclusions of law filed in a judge-tried case or by an administrative agency;

(2) The complete text of all statutes, ordinances, rules of court, or agency rules claimed to be controlling as to a point on appeal;  and

(3) The complete text of any instruction to which a point relied on relates.

An appendix also may set forth matters pertinent to the issues discussed in the brief such as copies of exhibits, excerpts from the written record, and copies of new cases or other pertinent authorities.

The appendix shall have a separate table of contents.  If the appendix contains fewer than 30 pages, it shall be bound into the back of the party's brief.  If the appendix is 30 pages or more, it shall be separately bound.

The pages in the appendix shall be numbered consecutively beginning with page A1. The pages in the appendix shall not be counted as a part of the brief.  An appendix shall not be subject to rule 84.05(g) relating to disks.

The inclusion of any matter in an appendix does not satisfy any requirement to set out such matter in a particular section of the brief, except that instructions set out in the appendix need not be included in the brief.

(i) Page References in Briefs.  All statements of fact and argument shall have specific page references to the legal file or the transcript.

(j) Cross Appeals. If a cross appeal is filed, the plaintiff in the court below shall be deemed the appellant for purposes of this Rule 84.04, unless the parties otherwise agree or the court otherwise orders. The appellant's initial brief shall be filed as otherwise provided in this Rule 84.04 and Rule 84.05. The respondent's initial brief shall contain the issues and argument involved in the respondent's appeal and the response to the brief of the appellant. The appellant may file a second brief in response to the respondent's brief setting forth respondent's appeal and in reply to the respondent's brief opposing appellant's appeal. The respondent may file a reply brief in reply to appellant's response to the issues presented by respondent's appeal. The briefs otherwise shall comply with Rule 84.06. No further briefs shall be filed without leave of the court.

Missouri Rules

Supreme Court Rules

Rules of Civil Procedure

Part II. Rules Relating to All Appellate Courts

Rule 84. Procedure In All Appellate Courts

84.13. Allegations of Error Considered--Reversible Error--Review in Cases Tried Without a Jury or With an Advisory Jury

(a) Preservation of Error in Civil Cases.  Apart from questions of jurisdiction of the trial court over the subject matter and questions as to the sufficiency of pleadings to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or a legal defense to a claim, allegations of error not briefed or not properly briefed shall not be considered in any civil appeal and allegations of error not presented to or expressly decided by the trial court shall not be considered in any civil appeal from a jury tried case.

(b) Materiality of Error.  No appellate court shall reverse any judgment unless it finds that error was committed by the trial court against the appellant materially affecting the merits of the action.

(c) Plain Error may be Considered.  Plain errors affecting substantial rights may be considered on appeal, in the discretion of the court, though not raised or preserved, when the court finds that manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice has resulted therefrom.

(d) Appellate review in cases tried without a jury or with an advisory jury.

(1) The court shall review the case upon both the law and the evidence as in suits of an equitable nature;

(2) The court shall give due regard to the opportunity of the trial court to have judged the credibility of witnesses;

(3) The court shall consider admissible evidence that was rejected by the trial court and preserved.  The court may order that proffered evidence that was rejected by the trial court and not preserved be taken by the deposition or by reference to a master under Rule 68.03 and returned to the appellate court.