Under the Erie doctrine, which law governs procedural questions such as pleading standards and service of process in a diversity action?

• A. State procedural law
• B. Federal procedural law
• C. Federal substantive law
• D. State substantive law

Answer: (C)

Procedural questions in a diversity action are governed by federal procedural law. Under Erie, federal courts sitting in diversity apply state substantive law to determine the rights and obligations of the parties, but they apply federal procedural rules to guide how the case moves forward, including pleading standards and service of process. This distinction keeps the federal system consistent in procedure while respecting state differences in substantive rights. So pleading standards and service of process follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, not state procedural rules or state substantive law.