Civil Procedure Multistate Bar Practice Exam

When aggregating claims, what can a single plaintiff do?

1. Aggregate claims against multiple defendants

2. Only aggregate monetary claims

3. Aggregate all claims against a single defendant

4. Aggregate claims only if over $100,000

The correct answer is: Aggregate all claims against a single defendant

A single plaintiff can aggregate all claims against a single defendant, which means that for purposes of establishing jurisdiction or satisfying the amount in controversy requirement, the plaintiff may add together the value of all claims against that one defendant. This allows the plaintiff to meet the monetary threshold necessary for bringing a case to federal court, which often requires a minimum amount in controversy. This aggregation is permitted regardless of whether the claims arise out of the same transaction or occurrence or are completely unrelated. This principle provides greater flexibility for plaintiffs by allowing them to combine multiple claims into a single lawsuit, which can be more efficient than filing multiple separate suits. Other options discuss either limitations on aggregation based on the number of defendants, types of claims permitted (such as only financial claims), or specific monetary thresholds that do not apply universally. Thus, option C encompasses the broader rule regarding claim aggregation against a single defendant, making it the correct choice.