What are the parties fighting about and what are they asking the court to decide?

The IRAC Method of Briefing a Legal Case

Johnson Bank v. George Korbaken Company, LLP

Write a brief summary of the facts as the court determined. Eliminate facts that are not relevant to the
court’s analysis. For example, a business’s street address is probably not relevant to the court’s decision of the issue of whether the business that sold a defective product is liable for the resulting injuries to the plaintiff. However, suppose a customer who was assaulted as she left a store is suing the business. The customer claims that her injuries were the reasonably foreseeable result of the business’s failure to provide security patrols. If the business is located in an upscale neighborhood, then perhaps it could argue that its failure to provide security patrols is reasonable. If the business is located in a crime ridden area, then perhaps the customer is right. Instead of including the street address in the case brief, you may want to simply describe the type of neighborhood in which it is located. (Note: The time of day would be another relevant factor, among others, in this case).

What is the question presented to the court? Usually, only one issue will be discussed, but sometimes
there will be more. What are the parties fighting about and what are they asking the court to decide? For example, in the case of the assaulted customer, the issue for a trial court to decide might be whether the business had a duty to the customer to provide security patrols.

The answer to the question will ultimately determine whether the business is liable for negligently failing to provide security patrols. Whether the defendant owed plaintiff a duty of care, and what that duty of care is, are key issues in negligence claims.