Erie Doctrine

Erie Doctrine in Maritime Law

Note: There is more information on maritime/admiralty law here.

The following is a definition of Erie Doctrine, produced by Tetley, in the context of admiralty law: The American rule that a U.S. federal district court exercising “diversity jurisdiction” (i.e. jurisdiction in a case in which the parties are from different U.S. states or where a foreigner sues an American citizen), must apply the law of the U.S. state in which it is sitting. See Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins 304 U.S. 64 (1938); Klaxon v. Stentor Electric 313 U.S. 487 (1941). See also Tetley, Int’l C. of L., 1994 at pp. 608-609.

Erie Doctrine in Admiralty Law

For information on erie doctrine in this context, see the entry on erie doctrine in the maritime law encyclopedia.