Opinion
CASE NO. 10cv1776-LAB (WMC).
October 28, 2010
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S EX PARTE MOTION FOR REMAND
Shad Martin removed this unlawful detainer action to this Court on August 25, 2010 and shortly thereafter filed a motion to dismiss. LaSalle Bank filed a motion to remand, ex parte, on October 15, 2010. The motion to remand, because it questions the Court's jurisdiction to even hear this case, has to be decided first. Indeed, "[t]he federal courts are under an independent obligation to examine their jurisdiction." FW/PBS, Inc. v. City of Dallas, 493 U.S. 215, 230-31 (1990).
Martin explains in his motion to dismiss that he removed this case from state court "by supplemental jurisdiction to be heard with related case #10 CV 1775 BTM (BGS), Martin v. LaSalle." (Doc. No. 5, p. 2.) But under the federal removal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a), "[o]nly state-court actions that originally could have been filed in federal court may be removed to federal court by the defendant." Caterpillar, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987) (emphasis added). The fact that this case is related to another one before the Court does not give rise to original jurisdiction, and cannot be the basis of removal. See U.S. Bank Nat. Ass'n v. Lasoff, No. CO 10-235, 2010 WL 669239 at *1 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 23, 2010).
Martin does raise a federal law — the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 — as a defense to LaSalle's action, but under the well-pleaded complaint rule, federal jurisdiction cannot be predicated on defenses or counterclaims. Vaden v. Discover Bank, 129 S.Ct. 1262, 1272-73 (2009). The additional arguments that Mr. Martin raises in his opposition to the motion to remand are not persuasive.
The Court has no jurisdiction over this case. LaSalle's motion to remand is therefore GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: October 20, 2010