Opinion
2:24-cv-49-SPC-KCD
01-17-2024
RICHARD JANIS, Plaintiff, v. UNITED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY and FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, Defendants.
ORDER
SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
Before the Court is Plaintiff Richard Janis's Complaint. (Doc. 1). This is a breach of contract action involving property damage that occurred because of Hurricane Ian.
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and have “an independent obligation to determine whether subject-matter jurisdiction exists, even in the absence of a challenge from any party.” Arbaugh v. Y.H. Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 514 (2006) (citing Ruhrgas AG v. Marathon Oil Co., 526 U.S. 574, 583 (1999)).
Plaintiff does not state the basis for the Court's jurisdiction. In fact, the Complaint reads as though Plaintiff intended to file it in state court since the Complaint alleges “more than $50,000” in controversy. (Doc. 1 at 1). If Plaintiff intended to invoke this Court's jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 4072, Plaintiff has not properly done so because he has not pled the facts to support such jurisdiction.
The Court presumes this was Plaintiff's intent due to the Complaint's reference to “loss caused by flood” and because Plaintiff has not pled any of the conditions for diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. The Complaint states that the amount in controversy is “more than $50,000” and does not properly allege the citizenship of Plaintiff nor Defendants. (Doc. 1).
The Court finds that Plaintiff has not met his burden of establishing this Court's subject matter jurisdiction over this action.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
1. Plaintiff Janis's Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
2. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint on or before February 5, 2024. Failure to do so will cause the Court to close this case without further notice.
DONE and ORDERED.