According to Supreme Court rulings, when is an action commenced in diversity cases?

In diversity cases, an action is considered commenced at the time the plaintiff files the complaint with the court. This principle is grounded in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 3, which states that a civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court. The timing of the filing is crucial for various legal implications, including the application of statutes of limitations, which determine how long a party has to initiate legal action.

The selection of the filing date as the point of commencement emphasizes the plaintiff’s initiative to bring the case to court. This is particularly relevant in diversity jurisdiction cases, where the parties are from different states and the federal courts' jurisdiction is being invoked based on this difference. The date of filing establishes the legal basis for the case and is critical for any procedural movements that follow, such as motions, dismissals, or other responses.

Considering this, the other options do not align with the legal standard. The statute of limitations applicable to federal questions has no bearing on the commencement of the case—it relates instead to how long a plaintiff has to file and can vary depending on the nature of the federal question. Notification of the defendant is important for due process and determines when a defendant must respond, but it does not define when the action