This should be an easy four-question assignment intended to ease you into the appropriate method for answering legal questions.For each fact-pattern I want you to tell me whether jurisdiction would be appropriate in state of federal court. That's ALMOST it.But,see below before starting.

It is tempting for new students to answer a question regarding jurisdiction with something as simple as, "State has jurisdiction." But I want you to do little more than that. I want you to demonstrate to me that you understand the rules that determine jurisdiction. So, if a certain kind of contacts with a state are needed, state that. If a dollar amount in dispute is required, explain what that amount is and why this case must therefore be heard in state/federal court. And so on. At this stage you are only responsible for the few jurisdictional rules that we have discussed so don't lose a lot of sleep. But since there are not that many rules on your plate, I will only give credit if you actually state the rule.

A. Pat wants to sue his next-door neighbor, Dorothy, claiming that Dorothy promised to sell him the house next door.

B. Paula, who lives in New York City, wants to sue Dizzy Movie Theatres, whose principal place of business is Dallas. She claims that while she was in Texas on holiday, she was injured by their negligent maintenance of a stairway. She claims damages of $30,000.

C. Phil lives in Tennessee. He wants to sue Dick, who lives in Ohio. Phil claims that Dick agreed to sell him 3,000 acres of farmland in Ohio, worth more than $2 million.

D. Pete, incarcerated in a federal prison in Kansas, wants to sue the United States government. He claims that his treatment by prison authorities violates three federal statutes.