Opinion
CASE NO. 12CV2081 JLS (WMc)
08-28-2012
PGI INVESTMENTS, LLC, Plaintiff, v. ERNESTO ECHAVE, Defendant.
ORDER (1) SUA SPONTE
REMANDING CASE AND
(2) DENYING PLAINTIFF'S EX
PARTE APPLICATION FOR AN
ORDER SHORTENING TIME ON
MOTION TO REMAND AND/OR
REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE
RULING AS MOOT
(ECF No. 2)
Plaintiff PGI Investments, LLC ("PGI") filed an unlawful detainer action against Defendant Ernesto Echave ("Echave") in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego on June 15, 2012. (See Notice of Removal Ex. A, ECF No. 1-2 ("UD Compl.")) On August 23, 2012, Echave, proceeding pro se, removed the case to this Court. (Notice of Removal, ECF No. 1) PGI subsequently filed an Ex Parte Application for an Order Shortening Time on Motion to Remand and/or Request for Immediate Ruling. (Ex Parte Appl., ECF No. 2) For the following reasons, the Court finds that Echave's removal of this case was improper and sua sponte remands the case to the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego.
The Court notes that as of the date of this Order, no motion to remand has been filed.
In cases "brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction," a defendant may remove the case to federal district court. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). However, courts "strictly construe the removal statute against removal jurisdiction." Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992) (citations omitted). Therefore, "[f]ederal jurisdiction must be rejected if there is any doubt as to the right of removal in the first instance." Id. (citing Libhart v. Santa Monica Dairy Co., 592 F.2d 1062, 1064 (9th Cir. 1979)). The removing party bears the burden of establishing that federal subject matter jurisdiction exists. Emrich v. Touche Ross & Co., 846 F.2d 1190, 1195 (9th Cir. 1988). The district court's subject matter jurisdiction encompasses federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction, and the Court discusses each of these in turn.
To determine whether federal question jurisdiction exists, the Court looks to the plaintiff's complaint. Holmes Grp., Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Sys., Inc., 535 U.S. 826, 830 (2002). The Court does not consider the defendant's answer, defenses, or counterclaims. Id. 831. In this case, PGI's underlying cause of action is for unlawful detainer filed under California law. (See UD Compl., ECF No. 1-2) Echave does not contest this and argues instead that removal is proper because due to PGI's insufficient notice of foreclosure she "was denied substantive due process pursuant to Fed. Code of Civ. Proc. Rule 4, and the Due Process Clause(s) of the 5th and 14th Amendments." (Notice of Removal 2, ECF No. 1) Even assuming Echave's allegations are true, any such defenses or counterclaims do not enter into the determination of whether removal is appropriate. Consequently, there is no federal question basis for removal.
There is also no basis for diversity jurisdiction in this case. Diversity jurisdiction requires that the plaintiff and defendant be of different citizenship and that the amount in controversy exceed $75,000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. The caption of PGI's complaint indicates that the amount demanded is "under $10,000." (UD Compl. 1, ECF No. 1-2) The complaint further states that the judgment sought is $600, "in addition to damages for the use and occupancy of the subject premises," at $71.66 per day. (Id. at 3) Thus, the Court can find no basis to support Echave's conclusory assertion that "the amount of damages which would be sustained by Defendant would exceed $75,000.00 exclusive of interest and costs." (Notice of Removal 2, ECF No. 1) Because at least one of the two requirements for diversity jurisdiction is not met, there is no diversity jurisdiction basis for removal.
PGI additionally points out that removal may not be timely. (Decl. of Patricia H. Tirey ISO Ex Parte Appl. ¶ 7, ECF No. 2-1) The Court makes no comment on the timeliness of Echave's removal, however, as the Court cannot consider the timeliness of removal sua sponte, Kelton Arms Condo. Owners Ass'n v. Homestead Ins. Co., 346 F.3d 1190, 1193 (9th Cir. 2003), and PGI has not filed a motion to remand.
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Echave fails to establish that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the matter. Thus, this matter is REMANDED to the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego. PGI's ex parte motion to shorten time is DENIED AS MOOT. The Clerk shall close the file.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
______________
Honorable Janis L. Sammartino
United States District Judge