Diversity Jurisdiction

Online
Essay
John Doe Defendants: Portents of Mystery, but Perhaps Not Diversity Jurisdiction
Tyler Mikulis
Tyler Mikulis is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Chicago Law School, Class of 2024.

He thanks Malcolm Yeary, Maggie Wells, Savannah Kostrzewa, and the University of Chicago Law Review Online team.

The Florida defendant files a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1)—asserting that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Should the court grant it? More specifically, does having an anonymous John Doe as a defendant categorically preclude diversity jurisdiction?