Under removal rules, which scenario would prevent removal under diversity?

• A. None of the defendants is a citizen of the forum state
• B. Any defendant is a citizen of the forum state
• C. The plaintiff files a notice of removal
• D. The case involves a federal question only

Answer: (B)

Removal based on diversity requires complete diversity and no defendant from the forum state. If any defendant is a citizen of the state where the case was filed (the forum state), diversity is not satisfied, so removal cannot be based on diversity. That’s why the scenario where any defendant is a citizen of the forum state prevents removal under diversity.

The other situations don’t block diversity removal: none of the defendants being from the forum state would preserve complete diversity (and removal could proceed if other requirements are met), the plaintiff’s filing of a notice of removal isn’t the correct procedural trigger (removal is pursued by defendants), and a federal-question case can be removed on that basis regardless of diversity.