A plaintiff files a lawsuit in federal court seeking monetary damages for breach of contract and also requests specific performance of the contract. The defendant demands a jury trial. Should the defendant’s demand for a jury trial be granted?
Yes, the defendant has a right to a jury trial for both the monetary damages and the request for specific performance.
No, the defendant does not have a right to a jury trial because the lawsuit involves claims for both legal and equitable relief.
Yes, the defendant has a right to a jury trial on the claim for monetary damages but not on the request for specific performance.
No, the defendant does not have a right to a jury trial because federal courts do not typically resolve breach of contract claims with a jury.
The correct answer is that the defendant has a right to a jury trial on the plaintiff's claim for monetary damages but not on the request for specific performance. Claims for monetary damages are considered legal in nature, and the Seventh Amendment preserves the right to a jury trial for such legal claims. On the other hand, specific performance is an equitable remedy, and there is no constitutional right to a jury trial for equitable claims. Federal courts distinguish between legal claims, which permit a jury trial, and equitable claims, which are decided by the judge. The other answers are incorrect because either they overgeneralize the right to a jury trial or fail to properly distinguish between legal and equitable relief.
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