Civil Procedure: Jurisdiction and Venue Flashcards
What are the types of subject-matter jurisdiction?
- Federal Question Jurisdiction
- Diversity Jurisdiction
- **Supplemental **Jurisdiction
Define:federal question jurisdiction
Jurisdiction for any claims “arising under” the Constitution, federal law, or United States treaties
Elements of federal question jurisdiction
- There is a federal question in dispute; and
- Question is on the face of a well-pleaded complaint
More info: Federal Question Jurisdiction
What is the well-pleaded complaint rule?
(also known as the Mottley Rule)
P must state that D has already violated a federal law on the face of the complaint to qualify as federal question jurisdiction.
Federal question cannot be asserted as a defense (by P or D) - the issue must be asserted by P on the face of the complaint
⚠️ Note: P can’t anticipate that D will violate a federal question in the future; the violation must have already occurred to satisfy the well-pleaded complaint rule.
What is diversity jurisdiction and when does it exist?
Jurisdiction based on the citizenship of the plaintiff and defendant.
Exists when:1. There is complete diversity between parties (no party is a citizen of the same state as the other party); and
2. Amount in controversy is greater than $75,000
How is citizenship for diversity jurisdiction determined for: 1. Persons? 2. Corporations?
- Persons: citizen of the state in which they are domiciled (i.e. where they currently reside and intend to remain indefinitely). *Only one domicile allowed.
- Corporations: citizen of the state where the company is incorporated and/or maintains its principal place of business. Can be domiciled in more than one state.
Where is a corporation’s principal place of business?
The place where the corporation’s high-level officers direct, control, and coordinate the corporation’s activities, i.e. “the brain/nerve center.” Typically the corporate headquarters.
True or False: In a suit between a party and a corporation, the party must be diverse from both the corporation’s place of incorporation and principal place of business to satisfy the requirements for diversity jurisdiction.
True. Complete diversity between the place of incorporation and principal place of business must exist to satisfy diversity.
An unincorporated association is a citizen of which state?
28 U.S.C. § 1332(c). The Supreme Court holds that an unincorporated legal entity is a citizen of every State in which any of its members are citizens
When is complete diversity not required for diversity jurisdiction?
In class actions when:
1. There are more than 100 members in P’s class;
2. The amount in controversy is greater than $5 million; and
3. Any individual member of the class is diverse from any individual D
Do damages of $75,000 satisfy the amount in controversy?
No, must be greater than $75,000.
Can a plaintiff aggregate claims to satisfy the amount in controversy when there is:
* One plaintiff, one defendant
* Multiple plaintiffs, one defendant
* Multiple defendants, one plaintiff
- One plaintiff, one defendant: Yes
- Multiple plaintiffs, one defendant: Yes, if common or undivided interest
- Multiple defendants, one plaintiff: No
Is diversity reevaluated when a complaint is amended?
Yes, reevaluated at the time of the amendment.
How is diversity jurisdiction satisfied if the suit involves the death of 75 or more people?
Diversity is satisfied as long as one P is diverse from one D.
Define: supplemental jurisdiction
Power for courts to hear a claim that does not have SMJ as long as the claim is substantially related to one for which SMJ does exist.
If the court has federal question jurisdiction, how do you determine whether supplemental jurisdiction exists?
Ask: Do the claims arise from the same transaction or occurrence? (i.e. share a “common nucleus of operative fact”?)If yes, supplemental jurisdiction likely exists
If the anchor claim is based on diversity, how do you determine whether supplemental jurisdiction exists?
Ask:
1. Do the claims arise out of the same transaction or occurrence?
If yes, proceed to question two:
2. Is P bringing the claim in order to bring in a new party pursuant to FRCP 14 (third-party plaintiff), 19 (mandatory joinder), 20 (permissive joinder), or 24 (intervention)?If yes, proceed to question three:
3. Will the new party’s presence in the lawsuit maintain diversity jurisdiction? (i.e. not destroy diversity jurisdiction)If yes, then supplemental jurisdiction exists.
Remember this exception only applies when P brings a claim that would add the new party to the suit. The rule exists to prevent P’s from skirting the requirements of diversity jurisdiction by joining parties
In what circumstances may a court decide not to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, even if the requirements are otherwise met?
When:
1. Claim raises a novel or complex issue of state law;
2. State law claim substantially predominates;
3. District court has dismissed all other claims over which it has original jurisdiction; or
4. In exceptional circumstances, if there are other compelling reasons for declining jurisdiction
Define: removal jurisdiction
Allows federal courts to hear cases that are removed from state court to federal court in the same district where the suit is pending.
When can a case be removed? (generally)
When P could have filed original complaint in federal court.
⚠️ Federal court must have federal question, diversity, or supplemental jurisdiction over all claims
Hypo: P files complaint based on state law. D files answer asserting federal question and seeks to remove to federal court. Should removal be allowed?
No, because of the well-pleaded complaint rule. Federal question jurisdiction cannot be based on the answer - must be asserted on the face of the complaint.
Which parties can seek to remove a case?
Defendants only. P’s can never seek to remove, even if the D’s filed a counterclaim.
When is removal based on diversity jurisidiction allowed?
- D is not a citizen of the state in which the action was filed;
- It is less than a year after filing; and
- Diversity existed at the time of filing and when the notice for removal was filed (unless P dismissed the party who would have destroyed diversity jurisdiction)
- Amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 (you may remove for injunction relief in some cases)
What are the special requirements for removal based on federal question?
The well-pleaded complaint rule must be satisfied (i.e. the federal question must be presented on the face of the original complaint).
What is the rule for removal when there are multiple D’s?
All D’s must agree to removal, or else case must remain in state court.
How does a D seek to remove and within what time frame?
File a notice to remove with federal court within 30 days after grounds for removal became apparent (i.e. when D was served with process)