| name | motion-to-dismiss |
| title | Motion to Dismiss |
| description | Drafts FRCP 12(b) motions to dismiss for commercial litigation. Triggers on requests to draft motions to dismiss, 12(b)(6) motions, jurisdictional challenges, venue motions, or pre-answer dispositive motions during the pleadings phase. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/motion-to-dismiss |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | litigation |
| language | en |
| tags | ["drafting","motion"] |
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.
