artful pleading

noun

The filing under state law of a claim naturally arising under federal law.

“Suing his employer for negligence rather than for violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act was an artful pleading, and the defendant properly removed the proceedings to federal district court.”

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Meanings

nounartful pleading (countable and uncountable, plural artful pleadings)

plural artful pleadings

  1. UScountableuncountablelawThe filing under state law of a claim naturally arising under federal law.

    Suing his employer for negligence rather than for violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act was an artful pleading, and the defendant properly removed the proceedings to federal district court.

Cite this entry
APA

artful pleading. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/artful%20pleading

MLA

“artful pleading.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/artful%20pleading. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “artful pleading,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/artful%20pleading.

Source: artful pleading on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.