Opinion
Case No. 19-936 JPG/MAB
09-04-2019
MOLLY C. TAYLOR, Plaintiff, v. JACOB Q. TOONE and HAWX SERVICES, LLC, a limited liability company registered in the State of Utah, Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
In light of Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals admonitions, see Foster v. Hill, 497 F.3d 695, 696-97 (7th Cir. 2007), the Court has undertaken a rigorous initial review of pleadings to ensure that jurisdiction has been properly pled. See Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 559 U.S. 77, 94 (2010) (noting courts' "independent obligation to determine whether subject-matter jurisdiction exists, even when no party challenges it"). The Court has noted the following defects in the jurisdictional allegations of the Complaint (Doc. 1) filed by plaintiff Molly C. Taylor:
Failure to allege the citizenship of each member of an unincorporated association. To determine if complete diversity exists, the Court must examine the citizenship of each member of a limited liability company. See Carden v. Arkoma Assocs., 494 U.S. 185, 195-96 (1990); Belleville Catering Co. v. Champaign Market Place, LLC, 350 F.3d 691, 692 (7th Cir. 2003) (partnerships and limited liability companies are citizens of every state of which any member is a citizen); Indiana Gas Co. v. Home Ins. Co., 141 F.3d 314, 316 (7th Cir. 1998). The relevant pleading must affirmatively allege the specific states of citizenship of each member of the limited liability company.
Plaintiff states Hawx Services was a limited liability company and was registered in the State of Utah but this is not enough. Plaintiffs must allege each member of the LLC and their citizenship.
Failure to allege the citizenship of an individual. A complaint asserting diversity jurisdiction must allege the citizenship of an individual defendant, not merely residence. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1); Meyerson v. Harrah's East Chicago Casino, 299 F.3d 616, 617 (7th Cir. 2002); Held v. Held, 137 F.3d 998, 1000 (7th Cir. 1998). Allegations of "residence" are jurisdictionally insufficient. Steigleder v. McQuesten, 198 U.S. 141 (1905). Dismissal is appropriate where parties allege residence but not citizenship. Held, 137 F.3d at 1000.The Court hereby ORDERS plaintiff Molly C. Taylor shall have up to and including September 18, 2019 to amend the faulty pleading to correct the jurisdictional defects. See 28 U.S.C. § 1653. Failure to cure the noted defects will result in dismissal of this case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Amendment of the faulty pleading to reflect an adequate basis for subject matter jurisdiction will satisfy this order. Plaintiffs are directed to consult Local Rule 15.1 regarding amended pleadings and need not seek leave of Court to file such amended pleading. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Complaint does not state the citizenship of plaintiff Molly C. Taylor.
DATED: September 4, 2019
s/J . Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
DISTRICT JUDGE