28 U.S.C. § 1441(a)

Definition

28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) is a federal statute that outlines the conditions under which a defendant may remove a civil action from state court to federal court. This statute specifies that a civil action can be removed if it could have originally been brought in federal court, meaning it involves federal questions or parties from different states with an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) allows for removal based on either federal question jurisdiction or diversity jurisdiction.
2. The statute requires that the case could have been filed in federal court originally for removal to be proper.
3. If any defendant is a citizen of the state where the action was filed, removal on the basis of diversity jurisdiction is not allowed.
4. Removal must be sought within 30 days after the defendant receives the initial complaint or summons.
5. Once a case is removed to federal court, the plaintiff can file a motion to remand if they believe removal was improper.

Review Questions

• What are the key criteria outlined in 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) for a case to be eligible for removal from state court to federal court?
  • The key criteria outlined in 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) include that the civil action must be one that could have originally been brought in federal court. This means it must either involve a federal question or meet the requirements for diversity jurisdiction, including that no defendant can be a citizen of the state where the action was filed and that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
• Discuss how 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) interacts with the concepts of federal question and diversity jurisdiction when determining if a case can be removed.
  • 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) directly ties into both federal question and diversity jurisdiction by stipulating that either basis can justify removal from state to federal court. If a case presents a substantial federal issue or arises under federal law, it qualifies for federal question jurisdiction. Alternatively, if the parties are from different states and meet the monetary threshold, it qualifies for diversity jurisdiction. The statute ensures that only cases fitting these specific criteria can be removed, preserving appropriate boundaries between state and federal court systems.
• Evaluate the implications of 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) on litigants' strategy when considering where to file their lawsuits, particularly regarding potential removal.
  • 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) significantly influences litigants' strategies as they decide where to file lawsuits. Understanding the possibility of removal can lead plaintiffs to consider whether filing in state or federal court might advantage their case's outcome. For example, if plaintiffs anticipate that defendants may seek removal due to diversity jurisdiction, they might choose to file in state court if it offers advantages like local jury pools or more favorable laws. Conversely, defendants will strategize around this statute to ensure they remove cases that could be more favorable in federal court while adhering to procedural timelines and requirements for a successful removal.

Related terms

Federal Question Jurisdiction:

A type of jurisdiction that allows federal courts to hear cases that arise under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.

Diversity Jurisdiction:

A form of subject matter jurisdiction that permits federal courts to hear cases where the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.

Remand: The act of sending a case back to the original state court from which it was removed, often ordered by a federal court if it determines that removal was not appropriate.