Eze v. Yellow Cab Co. of Alexandria, Virginia, Inc.
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
782 F.2d 1064 (1986)
Eze and other Nigerian citizens (plaintiffs) were injured while riding in a cab owned by Yellow Cab Co. of Alexandria, Virginia (defendant) and driven by Godwin Sam Akakpo (defendant). The plaintiffs sued in federal court based on diversity jurisdiction but did not specify Akakpo's citizenship in the complaint; Yellow Cab moved to dismiss, the plaintiffs did not respond, and the district court dismissed the case. On appeal, the plaintiffs acknowledged for the first time that Akakpo was a citizen of Ghana.
Whether a federal court has subject matter jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship if the plaintiffs are aliens and the defendants include an alien and a U.S. citizen.