Courtney Richmond v. Nolan Wiese, et al.

Applying well-established federal jurisdictional principles under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338, this Court has consistently held that federal courts are required to adjudicate claims arising under federal law—including those sounding in tort and copyright. See Grable & Sons Metal Prods., Inc. v. Darue Eng’g & Mfg., 545 U.S. 308 (2005); Reed Elsevier, Inc. v. Muchnick, 559 U.S. 154 (2010). This Court has further emphasized that the federal forum is particularly essential for the enforcement of rights arising under the Copyright Act, and for ensuring uniform application of federal product liability and intellectual property principles. Nevertheless, the District Court below dismissed Petitioner’s federal action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, despite the presence of properly pleaded federal questions involving personal injury–product liability and copyright infringement. The Eighth Circuit affirmed without addressing whether the lower courts were required to hear these claims under the Supremacy Clause and federal jurisdictional statutes. The questions presented are: 1. Whether federal courts may decline to adjudicate federal tort and product liability claims properly raised for the first time in federal court, where such claims implicate federally recognized duties and injuries.