What does the Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002 specify about diversity jurisdiction in civil actions?

The Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002 clarifies the application of diversity jurisdiction in civil actions by requiring that at least one plaintiff must have diverse citizenship from at least one defendant. This provision is designed to facilitate the handling of cases involving significant parties from different states, promoting efficiency and fairness in the judicial process.

This approach prevents the complications that could arise if all plaintiffs had to be from different states, which could hinder valid claims where some parties may share a state of citizenship. Furthermore, this law does not pertain to claims involving a minimum number of persons, nor is it limited to criminal cases—as the title and provisions are clearly oriented towards civil litigation. These features ensure that the different jurisdictions can address legal disputes effectively without unnecessary restrictions on who may bring a case.