Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:12-cv-646
04-11-2012
TAMMY MANNING and MATTHEW MANNING, individually; BRYANNE BURTON, individually and as Parent and Natural Guardian of MB and JM; AMANDA GRONDIN, individually and as Parent and Natural Guardian of EG; Plaintiffs, v. WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA, LLC; WPX ENERGY INC.; and THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.; Defendants.
(JUDGE CAPUTO)
MEMORANDUM
Presently before the Court is a Complaint by Plaintiffs Tammy Manning and Matthew Manning, as individuals; Bryanne Burton, as an individual and as parent and natural guardian of MB and JM; as well as Amanda Grondin, as an individual and as parent and natural guardian of EG. (Doc. 1.) Because the Complaint fails to establish that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the action, it will be dismissed unless the Plaintiffs can show that diversity jurisdiction is proper.
I. Background
Plaintiffs, citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, appear to bring this action under diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. In their Complaint, Plaintiffs bring claims against three different energy entities: (1) WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC, "a Delaware corporation, with its headquarters and principal place of business located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801"; (2) WPX ENERGY INC, "a Delaware corporation, with its headquarters and principal place of business located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801"; and (3) THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES INC, "a Delaware corporation, with its headquarters and principal place of business located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801." (Compl. at ¶¶ 5, 9, 11, Doc. 1.)
Although it appears that Plaintiffs are seeking to proceed under diversity jurisdiction, they fail to allege a particular basis for the Court's jurisdiction. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure requires that a pleading contain "a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(1).
II. Analysis
Federal courts have an obligation to address issues of subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte. Meritcare Inc. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co., 166 F.3d 214, 217 (3d Cir. 1999). Section 1332(a)(1) gives district courts original jurisdiction to hear cases where the matter in controversy exceeds the value of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and is between citizens of different states. In order for such jurisdiction to exist, there must be complete diversity, meaning that each defendant must be a citizen of a different state from each plaintiff. Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 373 (1978). Of course, "[t]he person asserting jurisdiction bears the burden of showing that the case is properly before the court at all stages of the litigation." Packard v. Provident Nat'l Bank, 994 F.2d 1039, 1045 (3d Cir. 1993).
"It is . . . well established that when jurisdiction depends upon diverse citizenship the absence of sufficient averments or of facts in the record showing such required diversity of citizenship is fatal and cannot be overlooked by the court, even if the parties fail to call attention to the defect, or consent that it may be waived." Thomas v. Bd. of Trs., 195 U.S. 207, 211 (1904). Moreover, "[w]hen the foundation of federal authority is, in a particular instance, open to question, it is incumbent upon the courts to resolve such doubts, one way or the other, before proceeding to a disposition of the merits." Carlsberg Res. Corp. v. Cambria Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 554 F.2d 1254, 1256 (3d Cir. 1977); see also Fed R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
In this matter, the Plaintiffs' Complaint fails to demonstrate the requirements of federal subject matter jurisdiction because it insufficiently alleges the citizenship of the Limited Liability Company. The Complaint alleges that WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC is "a Delaware corporation, with its headquarters and principal place of business located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801." (Compl. at ¶ 5, Doc. 1.) This is the sort of pleading which would be appropriate for alleging the citizenship of a corporate defendant. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1) ("a corporation shall be deemed to be a citizen of every State . . . by which it has been incorporated and of the State . . . where it has its principal place of business."). However, LLC denotes not a corporation, but a limited liability company, and "the citizenship of an LLC is determined by the citizenship of its members." Zambelli Fireworks Mfg. Co. v. Wood, 592 F.3d 412, 420 (3d Cir. 2010); Carden v. Arkoma Assocs., 494 U.S. 185, 195 (1990) (quoting Chapman v. Barney, 129 U.S. 677, 682 (1889)) (affirming the "oft-repeated rule that diversity jurisdiction in a suit by or against [an artificial] entity depends on the citizenship of 'all the members'"); see also 1 Fed. Proc., L. Ed. § 1:176 (2011) (acknowledging that a "limited liability company is a citizen, for purposes of diversity jurisdiction, of each state where its members are citizens.").
Here, the Complaint fails to allege facts regarding the citizenship of the members of WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC. As such, the Court cannot determine that diversity jurisdiction applies to this entity.
III. Conclusion
As Plaintiffs have not shown that complete diversity of citizenship exists between the parties, the Court cannot determine that subject matter jurisdiction exists and the matter is subject to dismissal pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12(h)(3). However, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1653, Plaintiffs will be permitted the opportunity to demonstrate that diversity-of-citizenship jurisdiction exists, thereby saving their Complaint. See USX Corp. v. Adriatic Ins. Co., 345 F.3d 190, 204 (3d Cir. 2003) (noting that Section 1653 gives district courts "the power to remedy inadequate jurisdictional allegations, but not defective jurisdictional facts."). As such, the Plaintiffs will be given twenty-one (21) days in which to file an amended complaint. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of this action. An appropriate order follows.
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A. Richard Caputo
United States District Judge