← Legal Glossary
Erie Doctrine
Definition
The principle from Erie Railroad v. Tompkins that federal courts hearing state-law claims must apply state substantive law but use federal procedural law. When no federal rule directly applies, courts use a balancing test considering whether failing to apply state law would lead to forum shopping or inequitable outcomes.
Examples
- •Respondents argued that if the Court finds no direct conflict with a federal rule, the Erie analysis would require applying Delaware's AOM requirement as substantive state law.