Opinion
CIVIL ACTION No. 09-3978.
October 29, 2009
MEMORANDUM
This is a personal injury action arising from an assault and battery on May 26, 2008. Complaint, ¶¶ 9-10. On June 15, 2009, plaintiff filed a complaint against defendants in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Exhibit "A" to defendant's motion. On June 16, 2009, plaintiff served a copy of plaintiff's complaint on defendant Marina District Development Co., LLC, d/b/a Borgata. Exhibit "B" to defendant's motion. On August 19, 2009, plaintiff filed a praecipe to correct the address of defendant Strike Force Protective Services, Inc. Exhibit "C" to defendant's motion. On September 9, 2009, defendant Borgata removed the action on the ground of diversity jurisdiction. Notice of Removal, docket no. 1. Plaintiff moves to remand, asserting that the notice of removal was not timely filed. The motion must be denied.
According to the complaint originally filed, plaintiff and defendant Strike Force were residents of Pennsylvania, and Borgata was a resident of New Jersey. Complaint, Exhibit "A" to Notice of Removal. Therefore, at the time of filing, and at the time Borgata was served, diversity jurisdiction did not exist. However, once plaintiff filed a praecipe correcting the address of defendant Strike Force to a New Jersey address, complete diversity did exist. The praecipe was filed on August 19, 2009, and Borgata removed this action on September 9, 2009.
There is no dispute that the amount in controversy satisfies the jurisdictional requirement.
28 U.S.C. § 1446(b) states: "If the case stated by the initial pleading is not removable, a notice of removal may be filed within thirty days after receipt by the defendant, through service or otherwise, of a copy of an amended pleading, motion, order or other paper from which it may first be ascertained that the case is one which is or has become removable." The praecipe filed by plaintiff is an "other paper" under the statute. Efford v. Milam, 368 F. Supp.2d 380, 385 (E.D. Pa. 2005) (citations omitted) ("other paper" includes a document that is the result of "a voluntary act of the plaintiff," which makes it "unequivocally clear and certain" that jurisdiction exists).
Because Borgata removed this action within 30 days of the filing of the praecipe changing the address of Strike Force, the removal was timely and plaintiff's motion must be denied.