Federal Civil Procedure

To be heard in federal court, a case must meet three requirements:

[1] The federal court must have Subject Matter Jurisdiction over the issues in the case.

[2] The federal court must have Personal Jurisdiction over the defendant.

[3] The case must be brought in the proper Venue.

“There is no federal general common law.”

Rule: Federal courts must apply the law of the state in diversity jurisdiction cases, except when dealing with issues governed by the Constitution or acts of Congress.

Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938)

Cases

  • Strawbridge v. Curtiss

    7 U.S. 267 (1806)

  • Gordon v. Steele

    W.D. Pa. (1974)

  • Mas v. Perry

    5th Cir. (1974)

  • Hertz Corp. v. Friend

    559 U.S. 77 (2010)

  • Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. v. Mottley

    211 U.S. 149 (1908)

  • Grable & Sons Metal Products, Inc. v. Darue Engineering & Manufacturing

    545 U.S. 308 (2005)

  • American Well Works Co. v. Layne

    241 U.S. 257 (1916)

  • United Mine Workers v. Gibbs

    383 U.S. 715 (1966)

  • Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger

    604 U.S. _ (2025)

  • Pennoyer v. Neff

    95 U.S. 714 (1878)

  • International Shoe v. Washington

    326 U.S. 310 (1945)

  • Daimler AG v. Bauman

    571 U.S. 117 (2014)

  • World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson

    444 U.S. 286 (1980)

  • Ford Motor Co. v. Montana’s Eighth Judicial District Court, et al.

    592 U.S. 351 (2021)

  • Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co.

    339 U.S. 306 (1950)