-CMK (PS) Gummert v. Pringle, No. 2:2011cv00450 - Document 3 (E.D. Cal. 2011)

Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Craig M. Kellison on 2/25/11 Recommending that this action be summarily remanded to the Siskiyou County Superior Court. These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. Within 14 days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, any party may file written objections with the Court. (Mena-Sanchez, L)

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-CMK (PS) Gummert v. Pringle 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 A. GUMMERT, 12 13 14 15 16 17 No. CIV S-11-0450-GEB-CMK Plaintiff, vs. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS EUGENE DAYTON PRINGLE, JR., Defendant. / Defendant Pringle filed a notice of removal from Siskiyou County Superior Court 18 on February 14, 2011. Defendant noted the basis for the removal action as 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 19 1332 and 1441(b), referring to diversity and federal question jurisdiction. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 20 § 1446(c)(4), this court is required to examine the notice of removal and determine whether the 21 removal should be permitted or be summarily remanded. 22 This court has jurisdiction over actions properly removed from State court 23 pursuant to either 28 U.S.C. § 1331 or § 1332. Section 1331 provides this court with original 24 jurisdiction over civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United 25 States. Section 1332 provides this court with diversity jurisdiction over civil actions where the 26 amount in controversy exceeds $75,0000, and is between citizens of different States. Section 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 1441 provides that civil actions brought in a State court for which this court would have either 2 original or diversity jurisdiction are removable. 3 Here, defendant’s notice of removal notes that the original action was commenced 4 in the Superior Court of Siskiyou County based on a California Vehicle Code and California 5 Penal Code citations. He claims, rather inapposite, that “[t]his civil action arises under the First, 6 Second, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments . . . .” He further alleges that “[t]his 7 suit arises under an act of congress regulating ‘commercial motor vehicle’ and their ‘drivers’ 8 called ‘chauffeurs’ and ‘operators’ and the corresponding State motor vehicle code regulating the 9 same subject matter . . . .” 10 It is clear to the undersigned that this court has no jurisdiction to hear this case 11 and this action should be remanded to the State court. Defendant was cited by the California 12 Highway Patrol for violation of the California Vehicle Code and Penal Code. Such action is not 13 a “civil action” arising under the Constitution, as defendant seems to imply. Therefore, this court 14 does not have original jurisdiction to hear this case pursuant to § 1331. Similarly, this is not a 15 “civil action” where this court has diversity jurisdiction based on defendant’s residence in 16 Oregon, and the violation occurring in California. In fact this is not a “civil action” at all, and 17 therefore does not fall within this court’s removal jurisdiction. 18 19 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that this action be summarily remanded to the Siskiyou County Superior Court. 20 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 21 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 14 days 22 after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 2 1 objections with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of 2 objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. 3 See Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 4 5 6 7 DATED: February 25, 2011 ______________________________________ CRAIG M. KELLISON UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 3

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