Civil Procedure: Diversity Jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1332) (Pt 1: Complete Diversity Requirement)

Law school and bar exam prep trusted by 100,000+ students: https://www.studicata.com 00:00 Introduction to Diversity Jurisdiction The video kicks off with a refresher on subject matter jurisdiction and introduces the focus on diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. 01:18 Two Key Requirements Outlines the two major components for diversity jurisdiction: complete diversity and the amount in controversy exceeding $75,000. 04:12 Understanding Complete Diversity Explains how complete diversity depends on whether any plaintiff shares citizenship with any defendant. 08:20 Diagramming Diversity on Exams Introduces a foolproof arrow-diagramming method for law school and bar exam fact patterns. 10:29 Practice Problem 1 – Classic Diversity Example Applies the diagramming method to a simple case involving one plaintiff and one defendant from different states. 11:44 Practice Problem 2 – Diversity Destroyed Adds a second plaintiff who shares citizenship with the defendant, demonstrating how one overlap ruins complete diversity. 13:52 Introducing 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a) Subsections Breaks down the four subsections of § 1332(a), especially for cases involving foreign parties. 16:14 Timing of Citizenship – Filing Date Matters Explains that citizenship is assessed at the time the complaint is filed, not when the underlying events occurred. 19:07 Section 1332(a)(1) – Citizens of Different States Gives examples of how diversity is preserved or destroyed when all parties are U.S. citizens. 22:16 Section 1332(a)(2) – U.S. and Foreign Citizens Explains diversity when one party is a citizen of a foreign state, including the lawful permanent resident exception. 27:52 Applying the Permanent Resident Exception Shows how shared domicile between a U.S. citizen and a permanent resident destroys diversity. 29:38 Section 1332(a)(3) – Foreign Party as Additional Party Clarifies that the permanent resident exception does not apply if the foreign party is an additional (not primary) party. 33:53 A2 vs. A3 – When the Exception Applies Summarizes how to tell whether the permanent resident exception matters based on whether the foreign party is “main” or “additional.” 35:55 Section 1332(a)(4) – Foreign Government as Plaintiff Covers rare situations where a foreign state sues U.S. citizens, and diversity still exists. 37:19 Determining Citizenship by Party Type Outlines how to determine citizenship for individuals, corporations, unincorporated associations, and class actions. 38:18 Citizenship of Individuals and Corporations Details how individuals are citizens of their domicile and corporations have dual citizenship based on incorporation and principal place of business. 42:17 Nerve Center Test for Corporations Explains the Supreme Court’s “nerve center” test from Hertz Corp. v. Friend for determining a corporation’s principal place of business. 50:49 Practice Problem – Corporate Dual Citizenship Applies the nerve center and incorporation rules to a multi-part problem about a corporation and individual plaintiff. 53:06 Citizenship of LLCs and Class Actions Explains how LLCs take on the citizenship of each member and how class actions look only to representative parties. 56:57 Practice Problem – Class Action vs. LLC Demonstrates how a single overlapping citizenship between a representative plaintiff and LLC member destroys complete diversity. 60:13 Step-by-Step Diversity Analysis Recap Summarizes the complete approach: determine the party type, identify citizenship at filing, diagram it, and match for overlaps. 62:42 Preview of Part 2 – Amount in Controversy Wraps up the complete diversity analysis and introduces the next lesson on the amount in controversy requirement. Thinking about using Studicata? You’re in good company. ✅ Trusted by 100,000+ law students and bar takers ✅ Featured and recommended by top law schools ✅ Named the 81st fastest-growing education company in the U.S. by Inc. See why so many future lawyers choose us to study smarter—not harder: 👉 https://www.studicata.com