What is the essential content of the 'Statement of Jurisdiction' in a complaint?

• A. A short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction
• B. A list of all potential jurisdictions that could apply
• C. A description of the defendant's domicile
• D. A request for a jury trial

Answer: (A)

The essential content is to plead the basis for the court’s power to hear the case. In federal practice, the Statement of Jurisdiction should be a short, plain statement of the grounds for subject-matter jurisdiction, such as federal-question jurisdiction or diversity jurisdiction. For example, the complaint might say that the action arises under federal law, or that the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds the statutory minimum. This signals to the court why it has authority to adjudicate the dispute and helps establish whether the case can proceed in that forum.

Why this fits best: the jurisdictional basis is the legal authority for the court to hear the case, not details about personal domicile, not a taxonomy of every possible jurisdiction, and not a request related to trial by jury. The latter are separate issues or sections. A concise statement of jurisdiction keeps the focus on why the court may hear the matter, which is the core function of the section.