Vanlear v. Tonawanda Coke Corporation et al, No. 1:2010cv00872 - Document 27 (W.D.N.Y. 2011)

Court Description: DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING Plaintiffs' 9 Motion to Remand; DENYING Plaintiffs' 11 request for attorneys fees; DIRECTING the Clerk of the Court to transfer this case to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie; DIRECTING the Cle rk of the Court to close this case upon transfer to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie; DENYING without prejudice Defendants Crane and Kamholz's 3 Motion to Dismiss; DENYING without prejudice Defendant Tonawanda Coke's 4 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by William M. Skretny, Chief Judge U.S.D.C. on 8/25/2011. (MEAL) (Attachments: # 1 DeLuca Decision and Order)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK TIM A. VANLEAR, Plaintiff, v. DECISION AND ORDER 10-CV-872S TONAWANDA COKE CORPORATION; JAMES DONALD CRANE; MARK KAMHOLZ; ABC CORPORATIONS 1 through 20 (Fictitious Defendants); DEF CORPORATIONS 1 through 20 (Fictitious Defendants); JOHN DOES 1 through 20 (Fictitious Defendants), Defendants. Plaintiff Tim A. Vanlear is a resident of Tonawanda, New York. (Notice of Removal (Docket No. 1), Ex. F (Complaint) ¶ 1.) The named Defendants are Tonawanda Coke Corporation ( Tonawanda Coke ), James Donald Crane, and Mark Kamholz. (Compl. ¶¶ 2-5.) This case originally was filed in the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie, but was removed by Defendants to this Court. (Notice of Removal at 1.) Pending before this Court is Plaintiff s Motion to Remand this action back to the state court, along with a request for attorneys fees.1 (Docket No. 9.) Also pending is Defendant Tonawanda Coke s motion to dismiss several counts of the Complaint and to strike several allegations within the Complaint (Docket No. 4),2 and a motion by Defendants 1 In support of his m otion, Plaintiff has filed the following: the affidavit of Charles H. Cobb, Esq. with attachm ents (Docket No. 11); a m em orandum of law (Docket No. 12); and a reply m em orandum (Docket No. 25). Defendants have filed a m em orandum in opposition to Plaintiffs m otion. (Docket No. 22.) 2 In support of its m otion, Defendant Tonawanda Coke has subm itted a m em orandum of law (Docket No. 4); the declaration of Rick Kennedy (Docket No. 5); and a reply m em orandum (Docket No. 23). Plaintiff has filed a m em orandum in opposition to Tonawanda Coke s m otion (Docket No. 18) and an affidavit in opposition to the m otion with an exhibit (Docket No. 16). 1 Crane and Kamholz to dismiss the Complaint for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).3 (Docket No. 3.) The Complaint states the following causes of action: (1) negligence; (2) gross negligence; (3) negligence per se; (4) strict liability; (5) absolute liability; (6) battery; (7) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (8) negligent infliction of emotional distress; (9) trespass; (10) nuisance; (11) unjust enrichment; (12) and punitive damages. (Compl. ¶¶ 56-109.) Plaintiff seeks compensatory, exemplary, and punitive damages. (Compl. at pp. 22-24.) In the related case of DeLuca, et al. v. Tonawanda Coke Corporation, et al., 1:10CV-859, this Court found it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the action and remanded that case back to the New York state court. (Decision and Order, Case No. 1:10-CV-859, Docket No. 23. ) This Court has reviewed the Complaint and the parties motions in this case. For the reasons stated in the Decision and Order in DeLuca, this Court will grant Plaintiff s motion to remand. In short, Plaintiff s Complaint does not assert any causes of action arising under federal law. Accordingly, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this action, and it must be remanded to the state court. Additionally, because this Court does not possess jurisdiction over this case, Defendants motions to dismiss will be denied without prejudice. This Court will deny Plaintiff s demand for attorneys fees for the reasons stated in the Decision and Order in DeLuca. 3 In support of their m otion, Defendants Crane and Kam holz have subm itted a m em orandum of law (Docket No. 3); the declaration of Rick Kennedy (Docket No. 5); and a reply m em orandum (Docket No. 24). Plaintiff has filed a m em orandum in opposition to Crane and Kam holz s m otion (Docket No. 20) and an affidavit in opposition to the m otion with an exhibit (Docket No. 16). 2 ORDERS IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that Plaintiff s Motion to Remand (Docket No. 9) is GRANTED. FURTHER, that Plaintiff s request for attorneys fees (Docket No. 11 (Cobb Aff. ¶ 13)) is DENIED. FURTHER, that the Clerk of the Court is directed to transfer Case No. 1:10-CV-872 to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie. FURTHER, that the Clerk of the Court is directed to close the above-referenced case upon transfer to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie. FURTHER, that Defendants Crane and Kamholz s Motion to Dismiss (Docket No. 3) is DENIED without prejudice. FURTHER, that Defendant Tonawanda Coke s Motion to Dismiss (Docket No. 4) is DENIED without prejudice. SO ORDERED. Dated: August 25, 2011 Buffalo, New York /s/William M. Skretny WILLIAM M. SKRETNY Chief Judge United States District Court 3

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