Motion to Dismiss
Draft a Rule 12(b) motion attacking the legal sufficiency of a complaint or the court's authority, structured for filing.
Prerequisites
Collect before drafting:
- Complaint — full text, all counts identified
- Jurisdiction — federal/state, division, local rules, page/formatting limits
- Case info — court name, docket number, party names as captioned
- Grounds — which 12(b) subsection(s) apply
- Referenced documents — contracts or public records central to the complaint
Drafting Workflow
Step 1: Caption
Format per local rules. Include court (full name, division, location), parties (as captioned), docket number, and title: "Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(__)."
Step 2: Introduction
- Identify the moving party and specific 12(b) ground(s)
- State whether seeking dismissal of entire complaint or specific counts
- Provide a one-paragraph argument roadmap
12(b) grounds reference:
| Rule | Ground |
|---|---|
| 12(b)(1) | Lack of subject matter jurisdiction |
| 12(b)(2) | Lack of personal jurisdiction |
| 12(b)(3) | Improper venue |
| 12(b)(4) | Insufficient process |
| 12(b)(5) | Insufficient service of process |
| 12(b)(6) | Failure to state a claim |
| 12(b)(7) | Failure to join a required party |
Step 3: Statement of Facts
- Recite complaint facts — neutral tone, strategic emphasis
- For 12(b)(6): confine to the four corners plus documents incorporated by reference, public records, and documents central to plaintiff's claim
- Highlight gaps, conclusory allegations, and omissions
- Organize chronologically or thematically to expose deficiencies
- No argumentative characterization
Step 4: Legal Standard
Tailor to the ground(s) asserted:
- 12(b)(6): Plausibility standard under Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007) and Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009). Accept factual allegations as true; strip legal conclusions, then assess plausibility of remaining content.
- 12(b)(1): Distinguish facial vs. factual attack. Plaintiff bears the burden of establishing jurisdiction.
- 12(b)(2): Analyze under forum state long-arm statute + due process. Distinguish specific vs. general jurisdiction per Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117 (2014).
Step 5: Argument
Use Roman-numeral or lettered headings, one per ground or deficient element. For each:
- Quote the complaint's specific deficient allegations
- Identify the legal element not plausibly pled
- Cite controlling circuit/state authority with analogous dismissals
- Distinguish anticipated contrary authority
- For element-based claims: track each element systematically
Step 6: Conclusion & Prayer for Relief
Synthesize without repeating arguments. Specify relief:
| Relief | When appropriate |
|---|---|
| With prejudice | Amendment would be futile |
| Without prejudice | Curable pleading defects |
| More definite statement (12(e)) | Complaint too vague to respond to (alternative) |
Include request for costs/fees if statute authorizes, plus "any other relief the Court deems just and proper."
Step 7: Signature Block & Certificate of Service
- Signature: Attorney name, bar number, firm, address, phone, email. Pro se: name, address, "Pro Se."
- Certificate: Service method (CM/ECF, email, mail), date, all parties served. Account for FRCP 6(d) (+3 days for mail).
Pitfalls & Checks
- 12(b)(6) constraint: Never rely on facts outside complaint, incorporated documents, or public records
- Formatting: Verify local rules for font, margins, spacing, page limits before finalizing
- Citations: Bluebook format; verify every case citation is current
- Strategy: Lead with strongest ground; jurisdictional arguments precede merits
- TOC/TOA: Required by some local rules or when motion exceeds 10 pages
- E-filing: Ensure text-searchable PDF with bookmarks if court requires