Question

Paul Mitchell, a student at Texas A&M University, learned that he received a D in his anatomy class which meant that he will have to attend Summer School and would not be able to attend the orientation for a medical school that had accepted him, pending he passes all of his classes. Paul was upset and he went to speak to his professor, Mr. Whitaker, (a visiting professor from Arkansas), to see if he would understand the predicament this grade has got him in. Mr. Whitaker told him that the grade stands and that he will just have to attend summer school to repeat the course. Mr. Whittaker left and went back to Arkansas and was enjoying his summer. Paul who has left the campus and had return to New York was not enjoying his summer and decided to make a Facebook post stating that Mr. Whittaker should be shot and that he was a pedophile who gave him a bad grade because he found out about his past. When Mr. Whittaker heard about the post and read it, he decided to file a lawsuit against Paul for defamation Base on the notes that covered jurisdiction, which state's forum has jurisdiction to hear this matter. New York/Arkansas/ or Texas? Explain your reasons for your decision.

Answer 1

In this case, Arkansas has Jurisdiction to hear this matter due to following reasons:

• Mr. Whittaker belongs to this state.
• The rule of original jurisdiction will apply as plaintiff belongs to this location.
• In common law legal systems original jurisdiction of a court is the power to hear a case for the first time