The Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002 (MMTJA)

Definition

An Act that gives federal courts broader jurisdiction to hear cases that stem from a large accident that kills over 75 people. Instead of the normal requirement of complete diversity to file in federal court, victims of the accident can file in federal court if there is minimal diversity and one of three factors is met. The factors are (1) a defendant lives in a state other than where a substantial part of the accident occurred, (2) two of the defendants reside in different states, or (3) substantial parts of the accident occurred in different states.