Saadeh v. Farouki

Saadeh v. Farouki, 107 F.3d 52 (D.C. Cir. 1997), was a case decided in the D.C. Circuit that espoused a narrow reading of 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a) in order to limit federal diversity jurisdiction.

Factual background
Saadeh, a Greek citizen living in Maryland, sued Farouki, a Jordanian citizen with permanent resident status in Maryland, over an unpaid debt in federal court. The district court found for Saadeh, and Farouki appealed on the merits.

Decision
The court reversed the judgment, citing that the lower federal court lacked jurisdiction because of a lack of diversity. The court reasoned that 28 U.S.C. §1332(a) was not intended to allow federal jurisdiction over a suit between two non-citizens.