-DAD (PS) Juiad, ID 14691 v. Pringle, No. 2:2011cv00563 - Document 4 (E.D. Cal. 2011)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd on 11/9/11 Recommending that this Action be summarily remanded to the Lassen County Superior Court and that the case be closed. These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Objections to F&R due within fourteen days.(Mena-Sanchez, L)
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-DAD (PS) Juiad, ID 14691 v. Pringle Doc. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 JUIAD, ID 14691, 11 12 13 14 15 16 Plaintiff, No. CIV S-11-0563 KJM DAD PS vs. JEANETTE DALE PRINGLE, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Defendant. / By Notice of Removal filed March 1, 2011, defendant Jeanette Pringle removed 17 this action from the Lassen County Superior Court. Defendant Pringle has paid the required 18 filing fee. Accordingly, the matter has been referred to the undersigned for all purposes 19 encompassed by Local Rule 302(c)(21). 20 It is well established that the statutes governing removal jurisdiction must be 21 “strictly construed against removal.” Libhart v. Santa Monica Dairy Co., 592 F.2d 1062, 1064 22 (9th Cir. 1979) (citing Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 108 (1941)). See also 23 Syngenta Crop Prot., Inc. v. Henson, 537 U.S. 28, 32 (2002); Provincial Gov’t of Martinduque v. 24 Placer Dome, Inc., 582 F.3d 1083, 1087 (9th Cir. 2009). “Federal jurisdiction must be rejected if 25 there is any doubt as to the right of removal in the first instance.” Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 26 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). See also Geographic Expeditions, Inc. v. Estate of Lhotka ex rel. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 Lhotka, 599 F.3d 1102, 1107 (9th Cir. 2010). “‘The burden of establishing federal jurisdiction 2 falls on the party invoking removal.’” Harris v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 26 F.3d 930, 3 932 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting Gould v. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 790 F.2d 769, 771 (9th Cir.1986)). 4 Moreover, “the existence of federal jurisdiction depends solely on the plaintiff’s claims for relief 5 and not on anticipated defenses to those claims.” ARCO Envtl. Remediation, LLC v. Dep’t of 6 Health & Envtl. Quality, 213 F.3d 1108, 1113 (9th Cir. 2000). Where it appears, as it does here, 7 that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a removed case, “the case shall be 8 remanded.” 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). 9 Here, the removing defendant claims that this “civil action arises under the First, 10 Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments and Title 49 U.S.C.” (Notice of Removal 11 (Doc. No. 1) at 1.) Specifically, defendant argues that this action implicates “defendant’s 12 fundamental right of travel by conveyance of the day upon the public highway.” (Id. at 2.) 13 Contrary to defendant’s assertion, however, it is evident that this action was commenced in the 14 Lassen County Superior Court alleging only a violation of California law. In this regard, the 15 removing defendant was cited by California Highway Patrol Officer Juiad for a violation of the 16 California Vehicle Code. As such, this action does not involve any “claim or right arising under 17 the Constitution, treaties or laws of the United States” that would have permitted plaintiff to file 18 this action originally in federal court.1 See 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b). 19 Indeed, the suggestion that there is federal question jurisdiction over a dispute 20 involving a traffic citation is patently frivolous and it is clear that the action cannot be properly 21 removed to this court. See Vora v. Perry, No. 2:11-cv-00278-JAW, 2011 WL 3654385, at *3, 22 n.6 (D. Me. Aug. 17, 2011) (and cases cited therein); Burditt v. City Of Austin Municipal Court, 23 1 24 25 26 In this regard, the court notes that despite defendant’s assertion to the contrary, this matter is not a civil action. Plaintiff did not initiate this action by filing a civil complaint. Instead, plaintiff issued defendant a citation for an infraction in violation of the California Vehicle Code. Under California law, “[a]n infraction is a public offense which is ‘not punishable by imprisonment.’” People v. Disandro, 186 Cal. App.4th 593, 600 n.3 (2010) (quoting Cal. Penal Code § 19.6). 2 1 No. A-10 CA-144 SS, 2010 WL 2674564, at * 1 (W.D. Tex. July 2, 2010). is federal court 2 Moreover, it is evident from defendant’s argument that any federal claims in this action arise 3 solely from defendant’s own affirmative defenses. 4 The removing defendant also asserts, in a conclusory manner, that this court has 5 diversity jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. District courts have diversity 6 jurisdiction only over “all civil actions where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value 7 of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs,” and the action is between: “(1) citizens of different 8 States; (2) citizens of a State and citizens or subjects of a foreign state; (3) citizens of different 9 States and in which citizens or subjects of a foreign state are additional parties; and (4) a foreign 10 state . . . as plaintiff and citizens of a State or of different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332. “To 11 demonstrate citizenship for diversity purposes a party must (a) be a citizen of the United States, 12 and (b) be domiciled in a state of the United States.” Lew v. Moss, 797 F.2d 747, 749 (9th Cir. 13 1986). The party asserting jurisdiction bears the burden of proof. Kanter v. Warner-Lambert 14 Co., 265 F.3d 853, 857-58 (9th Cir. 2001). 15 Here, the removing defendant alleges that she is a citizen of Missouri and that 16 plaintiff Juiad is a citizen of California. However, on the same day defendant filed her notice of 17 removal she filed a notice of change of address with the court indicating that she was residing, 18 temporarily, in California. “[T]he existence of domicile for purposes of diversity is determined 19 as of the time the lawsuit is filed.” Lew, 797 F.2d at 750. Defendant does not address when she 20 began residing in California. Moreover, while it is true that a person is “domiciled” where she 21 has established habitation and intends “to remain there permanently or indefinitely,” Lew, 797 22 F.2d at 749-50, it appears that defendant is still residing in California. Thus, the removing 23 defendant has not established that this action involves citizens of different states. Defendant has 24 ///// 25 ///// 26 ///// 3 1 failed to provide the court with any information regarding the alleged amount in controversy.2 2 3 For all the reasons stated above, the court finds that defendant has failed to meet her burden of establishing a basis for federal jurisdiction. 4 5 Accordingly, IT IS RECOMMENDED that this action be summarily remanded to the Lassen County Superior Court and that this case be closed. 6 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States 7 District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 8 fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file 9 written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. A document presenting 10 objections should be titled “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” 11 Any reply to objections shall be filed and served within seven days after service of the objections. 12 DATED: November 9, 2011. 13 14 15 16 DAD:6 Ddad1\orders.prose\juiad0563.f&r.remand. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2 26 The court however is skeptical that a complaint over a speeding ticket could implicate over $75,000. 4
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