Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Hertz Corp. v. Friend Case Brief

Supreme Court of the United States2010Docket #27801
175 L. Ed. 2d 1029 130 S. Ct. 1181 559 U.S. 77 2010 U.S. LEXIS 1897 Civil Procedure Federal Courts Corporations

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: The Supreme Court established the “nerve center” test to determine a corporation’s principal place of business for federal diversity jurisdiction, defining it as where high-level officers direct, control, and coordinate activities.

Legal Significance: This case resolved a circuit split, adopting the “nerve center” test for determining a corporation’s principal place of business under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1), prioritizing administrative simplicity and predictability in diversity jurisdiction.

Hertz Corp. v. Friend Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Respondents, California citizens, sued Hertz Corporation in California state court. Hertz sought removal to federal court, claiming diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1), asserting its principal place of business was in New Jersey, where its corporate headquarters and leadership were located. Respondents argued Hertz was a California citizen because its California business activities (rental locations, employees, revenue, transactions) were substantial. The District Court, applying Ninth Circuit precedent, found California was Hertz’s principal place of business because its business activity there was “significantly larger” than in any other state, thus defeating diversity. The Ninth Circuit affirmed. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to resolve conflicting interpretations among the Circuits regarding the meaning of “principal place of business.” Hertz’s declaration indicated its core executive and administrative functions were carried out at its New Jersey headquarters, with some operations in Oklahoma, while California accounted for a plurality of its business metrics but not a majority.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: How should a corporation’s “principal place of business” be determined for purposes of federal diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1)?

The Court held that a corporation’s “principal place of business” is its Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit e

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Legal Issue

How should a corporation’s “principal place of business” be determined for purposes of federal diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1)?

Conclusion

This decision established a uniform and relatively simple "nerve center" test for Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitat

Legal Rule

For purposes of federal diversity jurisdiction, a corporation's "principal place of business" Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute

Legal Analysis

The Court adopted the "nerve center" test, emphasizing three main considerations (Opinion, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem

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Flash Summary

  • A corporation’s “principal place of business” for diversity jurisdiction is its
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint oc

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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

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