Can someone explain the Exxon v. Allapattah exception to me? Forum

[dannynoonan87]

I know I'm going to get an exam question about it because prof stressed that this is an instance where if you just follow the rules you WON'T arrive at the correct answer.

So there's multiple P's in a diversity case. Even though they were joined by rule 20, 1367(b) doesn't block their claim so long as complete diversity is met, and one of the original claims meets the amount in controversy?

[MarcusAurelius]

the rule is simply that all plaintiffs must be completely diverse from all defendants. you can't use supplemental jurisdiction to get subject matter jurisdiction over a non-diverse party, but you can use it to get jurisdiction when the amount in controversy isn't met.

If supplemental jurisdiction were allowed over non-diverse parties then it would overrule Strawbridge

[dannynoonan87]

So P1 is from NY suing D from CA for $100k. P2 is from CA and tries to sue D for $100k. Supplemental J ISN'T o.k. because there's no complete diversity (Strawbridge)

But if P1 is from NY and sues D from CA for $100k, and P2 is from AK and sues D (CA) for $50k, this is o.k. It meets complete diversity even though the amount in controversy isn't met, so we use 1367 Supplemental.

Would it matter if both P's were citizens of the same state? e.g. P1 and P2 are NY, D is from CA, P1 sues for $100k, but P2 sues for only $50k? Is supplemental granted?

[MarcusAurelius]

So P1 is from NY suing D from CA for $100k. P2 is from CA and tries to sue D for $100k. Supplemental J ISN'T o.k. because there's no complete diversity (Strawbridge)

But if P1 is from NY and sues D from CA for $100k, and P2 is from AK and sues D (CA) for $50k, this is o.k. It meets complete diversity even though the amount in controversy isn't met, so we use 1367 Supplemental.

Would it matter if both P's were citizens of the same state? e.g. P1 and P2 are NY, D is from CA, P1 sues for $100k, but P2 sues for only $50k? Is supplemental granted?

It doesn't matter if there are co-plaintiffs from the same state. Plaintiffs must be diverse from all defendants. Supplemental jurisdiction would be granted in that scenario.

[dannynoonan87]

thanks braj!