Opinion
23-cv-01144-KAW
03-24-2023
PARK REGENCY, LLC, Plaintiff, v. LEANDER PITTS, Defendant.
ORDER REASSIGNING CASE TO A DISTRICT JUDGE; REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION TO REMAND TO STATE COURT; ORDER GRANTING IN FORMA PAUPERIS APPLICATION
RE: DKT. NOS. 1, 2
KANDIS A. WESTMORE, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
On March 14, 2023, Defendant LeAnder Pitts removed this unlawful detainer action from Contra Costa County Superior Court and applied to proceed in forma pauperis. (Not. of Removal, Dkt. No. 1; IFP Appl., Dkt. No. 2.)
As removal is clearly improper, and the parties have not consented to the undersigned, for the reasons set forth below, the Court reassigns this case to a district judge and recommends that the case be remanded to state court. Additionally, the Court grants Defendant's application to proceed in forma pauperis.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Park Regency, LLC commenced this unlawful detainer action against Defendant in Contra Costa County Superior Court on or around December 16, 2022. (Not. of Removal at 9.) The complaint contains a single cause of action for unlawful detainer. (Id.) The case is a “limited civil case,” in which Plaintiff seeks immediate possession of a certain property located in Walnut Creek, California, which Defendant occupies.
On December 13, 2022, Plaintiff allegedly served a written notice on Defendant to quit within three days. (Not. of Removal at 11-12.) Plaintiff then filed the instant unlawful detainer suit in state court, and summons was issued. (Id. at 8-10.) On January 4, 2023, Defendant filed an answer. (Id. at 31-35.) On March 14, 2023, Defendant removed the action to federal court, asserting jurisdiction based on federal question, diversity, and admiralty law. (Id. at 2.)
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Federal courts exercise limited jurisdiction. A “federal court is presumed to lack jurisdiction in a particular case unless the contrary affirmatively appears.” Stock W., Inc. v. Confederated Tribes, 873 F.2d 1221, 1225 (9th Cir. 1989) (citation omitted). A defendant may remove a civil action from state court to federal court if original jurisdiction would have existed at the time the complaint was filed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). “[R]emoval statutes are strictly construed against removal.” Luther v. Countrywide Homes Loans Servicing, LP, 533 F.3d 1031, 1034 (9th Cir. 2008). “Federal jurisdiction must be rejected if there is any doubt as to the right of removal in the first instance,” such that courts must resolve all doubts as to removability in favor of remand. Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). The burden of establishing that federal jurisdiction exists is on the party seeking removal. See id. at 566-67.
Federal district courts have original jurisdiction over actions that present a federal question or those based on diversity jurisdiction. See Wayne v. DHL Worldwide Express, 294 F.3d 1179, 1183 & n.2 (9th Cir. 2002). Federal district courts have federal question jurisdiction over "all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Federal question jurisdiction is governed by the well-pleaded complaint rule, which provides that the basis for federal jurisdiction must appear on the face of the properly pleaded complaint, either because the complaint directly raises an issue of federal law or because the plaintiff's "right to relief under state law requires resolution of a substantial question of federal law in dispute between the parties." Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Constr. Laborers Vacation Trust for S. Cal., 463 U.S. 1, 13 (1983). "[A] case may not be removed to federal court on the basis of a federal defense . . ., even if the defense is anticipated in the plaintiff's complaint ...." Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 393 (1987) (citation omitted).
III. DISCUSSION
Defendant removed this unlawful detainer action from state court on the grounds that the district court has jurisdiction because the case presents a federal question, there is diversity jurisdiction, and/or the case is an admiralty or maritime and prize case.
A. Federal Question Jurisdiction
Defendant claims that a federal question exists because the case involves violations of various federal laws, including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Internal Revenue Code, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and RICO. (Not. of Removal at 2.) Defendant's rights in an unlawful detainer action, however, depend on the interpretation of state law. Further, Defendant has not shown why the resolution of Plaintiff's unlawful detainer claim will turn on a substantial question of federal law. The complaint, therefore, fails to present a federal question or a substantial question of federal law.
Moreover, the well-pleaded complaint rule prevents the Court from considering any additional claims, such that a defendant cannot create federal question jurisdiction by adding claims or defenses to a notice of removal. See Provincial Gov't of Marinduque v. Placer Dome, Inc., 582 F.3d 1083, 1086 (9th Cir. 2009); see also McAtee v. Capital One, F.S.B., 479 F.3d 1143, 1145 (9th Cir. 2007) (even previously asserted counterclaims raising federal issue will not permit removal). Accordingly, Defendant's claim that Plaintiff has violated various federal laws does not establish federal question jurisdiction in this matter. Thus, Defendant's contention that there are federal questions at issue in this litigation is misplaced.
Lastly, the limited scope of unlawful detainer proceedings precludes cross-complaints or counterclaims. See Knowles v. Robinson, 60 Cal. 2d 620, 626-27 (1963). Thus, to the extent that Defendants' assertions could be contained in any such filing, they would, nonetheless, fail to introduce a basis for federal question jurisdiction.
B. Diversity Jurisdiction
District courts also have original jurisdiction over all civil actions “where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interests and costs, and is between . . . citizens of different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). When federal subject-matter jurisdiction is predicated on diversity of citizenship, complete diversity must exist between the opposing parties. Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 373-74 (1978). Under the forum defendant rule, “a civil action otherwise removable solely on the basis of [diversity jurisdiction] may not be removed if any of the parties in interest properly joined and served as defendants is a citizen of the State in which such action is brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b). Here, Plaintiff's citizenship is unknown, and Defendant is a citizen of California. Thus, the forum defendant rule applies, and the action is not removable based on diversity jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b).
C. Admiralty Law
To the extent Defendant asserts jurisdiction based on the case being an admiralty or maritime and prize case, Defendant fails to explain how this case concerns admiralty or maritime law. Rather, the case concerns a residence in Walnut Creek, California.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court REASSIGNS this action to a district judge with the recommendation that the action be REMANDED to state court for further proceedings. The Court GRANTS Defendant's request to proceed in forma pauperis.
Any party may file objections to this report and recommendation with the district judge within 14 days of being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b); N.D. Civil L.R. 72-3. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the district court's order. IBEW Local 595 Trust Funds v. ACS Controls Corp., No. C-10-5568, 2011 WL 1496056, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 20, 2011).
IT IS SO RECOMMENDED.