motion-to-dismiss

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:

1. Complaint — full text, all counts identified
2. Jurisdiction — federal/state, division, local rules, page/formatting limits
3. Case info — court name, docket number, party names as captioned
4. Grounds — which 12(b) subsection(s) apply
5. 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.