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Running head: STATE OF CONFUSION
State of Confusion
Edward Charfauros
Business Law BUS/415
December 13, 2011
Moani Ruth Colón
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State of Confusion
This paper discuss the Tanya Trucker versus Confusion civil suit about the conflicting
use of the B-type truck hitch. Discussion on which court will hear Tanya’s case and determine
whether the statute is constitutional or not, which provisions of the United States Constitution
apply, and describe the stages of the civil suit in detail. Additionally this paper will discuss the
case details, and the fundamentals associated with business law.
According to superior court of California, county of San Bernardino civil information
website (2011). A civil matter involves a lawsuit in which one party sues another to recover
money, real property or personal property, to enforce a contract or an obligation, to collect
damages for injury (tort), or to protect some civil right. In a complaint, the filing party is called
the plaintiff and the accused party is called the defendant (General Information section, p. 1,
para. 1).
According to Cheeseman’s The Legal Environment of Business and Online Commerce,
6th Edition (2010), the defendant must file an answer to the plaintiff ’s complaint. The
defendant’s answer is filed with the court and served on the plaintiff. In the answer, the
defendant admits or denies the allegations contained in the plaintiff ’s complaint (Answer
section, p. 51, para. 1).
The federal government is not currently regulating the truck hitch situation for highway
use. Tanya Trucker’s trucking company headquarters is within the state of Denial and Tanya is
upset concerning the additional expenses accrued. Tanya Trucker intends to overturn the statute
set in place by filing a lawsuit within the state of Confusion.
Court Jurisdiction Over The Tanya Versus Confusion Case

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Small claims court through the state court system will settle Tanya’s lawsuit because both
the plaintiff Tanya Trucker and the defendant the State of Confusion are parties dealing with a
small dollar amount. Small claims court will hear the dispute between the State of Confusion
and Tanya to determine if compensation should be awarded to the victim. The plaintiff, Tanya
Trucker charges the State of Confusion in civil litigation in small claims court for reimbursement
from losses endured by the defendant’s behavior coercing Tanya Trucker to use the B-type truck
hitch. The burden of proof within the Trucker versus Confusion civil case will determine the
weight of the evidence presented by the plaintiff as the defendant refutes the evidence.
According to the North Carolina court system website about small claims court (2011), it
handles civil cases, which a plaintiff requests assignment to a magistrate and the amount in
controversy is $5,000 or less. The principal relief sought in small claims court is money, the
recovery of specific personal property, or summary ejectment (eviction) (About Small Claims
Court section, p. 1, para. 1).
Discussion With Legal Reasoning Behind Confusion’s Statute
The federal government is not regulating the use of truck and trailer hitches for road use
within the United States. If the federal government is not regulating the use of hitches it is
illegal for a state to regulate the use of hitches within that state and use the regulation to
encompass the country. The state of Confusion has placed a monopoly in its state by
manufacturing the B-type hitches only within Confusion and purchasing the hitches only within
the stat of Confusion. If this statute is approved by federal government this will allow the
monopoly to continue.
Constitutional Provisions Applied After Court’s Determination Of Validity
A court will examine if Confusion’s regulation imposes a substantial burden on interstate

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commerce law according to article one, section eight, and clause three of the Constitution
(commerce clause). Congress is empowered to regulate commerce through commerce clause
(article one section eight clause three of the United States Constitution) with states, foreign
nations, and Indian tribal nations. Commerce power is an enumerated power delegated to
Congress by the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court interprets commerce power as
express authority granted to Congress and affirmatively limits the state’s rights to regulate
commerce within its own state borders.
Possible Results of Tanya’s Lawsuit
Chances for Tanya prevailing with her claim seems high because of the opposing party’s
unconstitutional statute and federal government not regulating truck hitches for highway use. A
statute specifically requiring trucks and vehicles towing trailers to only use the B-type truck
hitch, which the state of Confusion is the only manufacturer. Resulting from this statute is for
any trucker driving through the state of Confusion require to stop for B-type truck hitch
installation, or proceed to drive around the state. According to commerce clauses and supremacy
no federal law supports Confusion’s statute.
The Stages Of A Civil Suit
The pleadings stage is the first step to file a complaint involving one party. A complaint
by the plaintiff brings the lawsuit with facts supporting claims and stating the causes of action.
After the pleadings stage the civil suit flows into the discovery stage entailing depositions,
interrogatories, document demands, and subpoenas. Stage three is the motion stage involving
requests and applications for court ruling. Motions such as to dismiss the case, summary
judgment for a court decision, to compel, to strike when there is order violation, and re-argue or
renew a previous motion. Stage four is preparation for trial (pre-trial preparation) after the

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motion stage. This is the timeframe for involving parties to develop its case and defense. Stage
five is the trial (a jury trial or nonjury trial) base on specific facts supporting equitable relief
claim or money damage. Last stage is post-trial, for bench trials a judge hears the case and may
request a brief or post-trial memorandum submission from the parties involved. These
documents provide a review for the judge on each party’s position prior to his or her decision.
After reaching a decision by judge or jury, appealing or vacating the decision can be attempted
by the losing party.
Conclusion
Many statutes exist from state to state regulating the variety of departments from parks
to roadways to buildings. A statute has been enacted by the state of Confusion requiring trucks
and trailers to use the B-type truck hitch manufactured and sold in Confusion. A federal court
will develop the final decision whether or not Confusion’s statute will remain in effect. Tanya
Trucker filed a lawsuit with federal courts against the state of Confusion to overturn Confusion’s
statute concerning the use of the B-type hitch. Tanya Trucker strongly believes Confusion’s
statute to be unconstitutional with hope other courts will rule against the statute. Tanya’s lawsuit
has to go through the stages of a civil suit prior, during, and after the federal court trial regardless
if the statue is constitutional or unconstitutional.

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References
North Carolina Court System. (2011). North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts 901
Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, (919) 890-1000. Retrieved from
http://www.nccourts.org/Default.asp
H. Cheeseman (2010). The Legal Environment of Business and Online Commerce, 6th Edition.
ISBN: 9780136085683. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Superior Court of California. (2011). Glossary of civil terms, General civil section, Civil
information website. County of San Bernardino. Retrieved from
http://www.sbcounty.gov/courts/HTML/civil_general.asp

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References
North Carolina Court System. (2011). North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts 901
Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, (919) 890-1000. Retrieved from
http://www.nccourts.org/Default.asp
H. Cheeseman (2010). The Legal Environment of Business and Online Commerce, 6th Edition.
ISBN: 9780136085683. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Superior Court of California. (2011). Glossary of civil terms, General civil section, Civil
information website. County of San Bernardino. Retrieved from
http://www.sbcounty.gov/courts/HTML/civil_general.asp