(PS) Fullerton Henderson Spencer Stuart Romanov v. Chevron, No. 2:2009cv02231 - Document 3 (E.D. Cal. 2009)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd on 8/21/09 recommending that plaintiff's 2 August 12, 2009 motion to proceed in forma pauperis be denied. Plaintiff's action be remanded to the Sacramento County Superior Court. This case be closed. Objections to F&R due within ten days. (Kaminski, H)
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(PS) Fullerton Henderson Spencer Stuart Romanov v. Chevron Doc. 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MARGARET FULLERTON HENDERSON SPENCER ROMANOV, 12 13 14 15 16 No. CIV S-09-2231 GEB DAD PS Plaintiff, vs. CHEVRON, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Defendant. / 17 Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, has filed a document titled “Notice to Adverse Parties 18 of Filing of Notice of Removal.” Plaintiff’s Notice was accompanied by an application for leave 19 to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The proceeding has been referred to 20 the undersigned in accordance with Local Rule 72-302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 21 Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis application is incomplete. Plaintiff indicates that she 22 is not employed but fails to include information about her last employment, as required by the 23 form. Plaintiff also indicates that she has received disability or workers compensation payments 24 in the past 12 months but fails to state the source of such payments, the amount received during 25 the past 12 months, and the amount she expects to continue to receive. Plaintiff’s incomplete 26 application should be denied for failure to make the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 Even if plaintiff were to make the required showing of indigency, the mere 2 determination that a party is unable to pay the filing fee does not complete the inquiry required 3 by the in forma pauperis statute. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), a case must be dismissed if the 4 action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks 5 monetary relief against an immune party. Upon consideration of plaintiff’s notice of removal and 6 attached complaint, the undersigned finds that the action must be remanded because the 7 attempted removal is improper and the district court lacks jurisdiction over the action. 8 9 The removing party bears the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction. Abrego Abrego v. Dow Chemical Co., 443 F.3d 676, 682-83 (9th Cir. 2006) (“In cases removed from 10 state court, the removing defendant has ‘always’ borne the burden of establishing federal 11 jurisdiction. . . .”); Westinghouse Elec. Corp. v. Newman & Holtzinger, 992 F.2d 932, 934 (9th 12 Cir. 1993) (“The party seeking removal has the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction . . . .”). 13 Courts strictly construe the removal statutes against removal jurisdiction, and any doubt as to the 14 right of removal must be resolved in favor of remand. Duncan v. Stuetzle, 76 F.3d 1480, 1485 15 (9th Cir. 1996); Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). Conclusory allegations 16 of jurisdictional facts will not suffice, and a removed case should be remanded by the district 17 court if the removing party fails to establish the necessary jurisdictional facts by a preponderance 18 of evidence. Gaus, 980 F.2d at 567; Beaver v. NPC Int’l, 451 F. Supp. 2d 1196, 1198 (D. Or. 19 2006); Bosinger v. Phillips Plastics Corp., 57 F. Supp. 2d 986, 988-89 (S.D. Cal. 1999). 20 Here, plaintiff contends that removal has been accomplished “under the 21 provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1446(d).” She also asserts that “[u]nder 28 USC §§ 1441, 1446, and 22 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 81(c), this action now will be placed on the docket of this 23 District Court.” The federal statute that authorizes the removal of civil actions from state courts 24 to federal district courts explicitly permits removal only “by the defendant or defendants.” 28 25 U.S.C. § 1441(a). This requirement is reiterated in the procedural statute relied upon by plaintiff: 26 “A defendant or defendants desiring to remove any civil action or criminal prosecution from a 2 1 State court shall file in the district court of the United States for the district and division within 2 which such action is pending a notice of removal . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a) (emphasis added). 3 Indeed, the specific subsection cited by plaintiff provides that “[p]romptly after the filing of such 4 notice of removal of a civil action the defendant or defendants shall give written notice thereof 5 to all adverse parties and shall file a copy of the notice with the clerk of such State court, which 6 shall effect the removal.” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(d) (emphasis added). Plaintiff’s filing of a notice of 7 removal in this court and any subsequent filing of a copy of that notice in the Sacramento County 8 Superior Court cannot effect removal to the district court. Accordingly, the undersigned will 9 recommend that plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis be denied and that plaintiff’s 10 action be remanded to the state court. 11 For the reasons set forth above, IT IS RECOMMENDED that: 12 1. Plaintiff’s August 12, 2009 motion to proceed in forma pauperis be denied; 13 2. Plaintiff’s action be remanded to the Sacramento County Superior Court; and 14 3. This case be closed. 15 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 16 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within ten days 17 after being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written objections 18 with the court. A document containing objections should be titled “Objections to Magistrate 19 Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections 20 within the specified time may, under certain circumstances, waive the right to appeal the District 21 Court’s order. See Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 22 DATED: August 21, 2009. 23 24 25 DAD:kw Ddad1\orders.prose\romanov2231.f&r.ifpden 26 3
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