28 U.S.C. 1337 gives district courts jurisdiction over qualifying civil actions arising under congressional laws regulating commerce or protecting trade against restraints and monopolies. The complaint must actually arise under the relevant federal law; ordinary involvement in business is insufficient. [1]
Rules that determine the answer
The section generally has no amount-in-controversy floor, but specified carrier claims under 49 U.S.C. 11706 or 14706 require more than $10,000, excluding interest and costs, for each receipt or bill of lading. Antitrust standing, the cause of action, personal jurisdiction, and venue remain separate requirements. [1] [2]
Federal jurisdiction is not proof of liability. A court may have power to hear a case while the plaintiff still fails to establish the statutory claim or an available remedy.
What to check before taking the next step
- Identify the federal commerce statute creating the claim and check whether the special carrier threshold applies.
- Collect the complaint, bills of lading, shipment receipts, damages records, and contractual forum provisions.
A distinction that changes the result
The carrier exception is measured by the amount for each receipt or bill of lading, exclusive of interest and costs. A general total of all claimed shipping losses may therefore obscure the specific statutory inquiry. State courts may have concurrent authority over some federal carrier disputes, while removal has its own requirements; the original-jurisdiction provision does not alone settle forum choice. In an antitrust case, alleging an unfair business practice also is insufficient without a claim arising under the relevant federal competition law and meeting its substantive requirements. [1]
Practical example
A $6,000 damaged-shipment claim under a specified carrier provision raises a different section 1337 issue from a federal antitrust claim. Adding unrelated shipping receipts may not satisfy a per-receipt threshold.
For related situations, see federal diversity jurisdiction and staying a lawsuit during an ITC investigation.
Primary sources
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.