What type of jurisdiction is present when multiple courts have the authority to hear a case?

When multiple courts have the authority to hear a case, the situation is described as concurrent jurisdiction. This means that two or more different courts can claim jurisdiction over the same case or legal issue, allowing the plaintiff to choose in which court to file their case. This often occurs in cases involving both state and federal law, where parties may have the option of bringing their case in either court system based on various factors, such as the nature of the claims or the parties' residency.

In contrast, diversity jurisdiction specifically refers to a situation where federal courts have the authority to hear a case due to the parties being from different states and the amount in controversy exceeding a statutory threshold. Exclusive jurisdiction applies when a case can only be heard in one specific court, such as federal courts handling certain federal matters. Appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority of a higher court to review the decision of a lower court. Thus, concurrent jurisdiction is accurately identified as the correct answer in this context.