Opinion
Case No. ED CV 11-1665 PA (AGRx)
10-25-2011
Skyline Vista Equities, LLC v. Albert C. Henderson, et al.
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Present: The Honorable PERCY ANDERSON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Paul Songco
Deputy Clerk
Not Reported
Court Reporter
N/A
Tape No.
Attorneys Present for Plaintiff: None
Attorneys Present for Defendants: None
Proceedings: IN CHAMBERS - COURT ORDER
The Court is in receipt of a Notice of Removal filed by Albert C. Henderson ("Defendant") on October 18, 2011 (Docket No. 1). In its Complaint, plaintiff Skyline Vista Equities, LLC ("Plaintiff"), alleges a single state law claim for unlawful detainer. Defendant, who is appearing pro se, asserts that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction on the basis of both federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, and diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Defendant also asserts that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction on the basis of 28 U.S.C. § 1443, which creates federal removal jurisdiction for actions brought against people who cannot enforce in state court "any law providing for the equal rights of citizens of the Untied States." 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1).
I. Analysis
Federal courts are of limited jurisdiction, having subject matter jurisdiction only over matters authorized by the Constitution and Congress. See, e.g., Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 377, 114 S. Ct. 1673, 1675, 128 L. Ed. 2d 391 (1994). A "strong presumption" against removal jurisdiction exists. Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 567 (9th Cir. 1992). In seeking removal, the defendant bears the burden of proving that jurisdiction exists. Scott v. Breeland, 792 F.2d 925, 927 (9th Cir. 1986).
A. Federal Question Jurisdiction
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, this Court has original jurisdiction over civil actions "arising under" federal law. Removal based on § 1331 is governed by the "well-pleaded complaint" rule. Caterpillar, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392, 107 S. Ct. 2425, 2429, 96 L. Ed. 2d 318 (1987). Under the rule, "federal jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of plaintiff's properly pleaded complaint." Id. at 392, 107 S. Ct. at 2429. If the complaint does not specify whether a claim is based on federal or state law, it is a claim "arising under" federal law only if it is "clear" that it raises a federal question. Duncan v. Stuetzle, 76 F.3d 1480, 1485 (9th Cir. 1996). Thus, plaintiff is generally the "master of the claim." Caterpillar, 482 U.S. at 392, 107 S. Ct. at 2429. "A case may not be removed to federal court on the basis of a federal defense, including the defense of pre-emption." Id. at 393, 107 S. Ct. at 2430 (emphasis in original). The only exception to this rule is where plaintiff's federal claim has been disguised by "artful pleading," such as where the only claim is a federal one or is a state claim preempted by federal law. Sullivan v. First Affiliated Sec., Inc., 813 F.2d 1368, 1372 (9th Cir. 1987).
Here, the Complaint contains a single cause of action for unlawful detainer. No federal claim is alleged. Defendant alleges that federal question jurisdiction exists because "Defendant alleges violations of California Penal Code, Constitutional Violations, FDCPA and RESPA, all of which constitute federal questions." (Notice of Removal at 4.) Defendant also "alleges violation of Due process of law." (Id. at 5.) Defendant seems to be asserting that federal question jurisdiction exists because Plaintiff allegedly violated his constitutional rights, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. However, Defendant does not contend that the unlawful detainer claim is a federal claim in disguise or is somehow preempted by federal law. Rather, Defendant seems to be citing to federal law in support of potential counterclaims. These allegations do not constitute a basis for removal. Just as a federal defense does not form a basis for removal, neither does an actual or anticipated federal counterclaim form a basis for removal. Vaden v. Discover Bank, __ U.S. _, 129 S. Ct. 1262, 1272, 173 L. Ed. 2d 206 (2009). Therefore, Defendant has failed to show that federal question jurisdiction exists.
B. Diversity Jurisdiction
Defendant has also failed to show that diversity jurisdiction exists over this action. Subject matter jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship requires all plaintiffs to have different citizenship from all defendants and that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332; Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 373, 98 S. Ct. 2396, 2402, 57 L. Ed. 2d 274 (1978). To establish citizenship for diversity purposes, a natural person must be a citizen of the United States and be domiciled in a particular state. Kantor v. Wellesley Galleries, Ltd., 704 F.2d 1088, 1090 (9th Cir. 1983). Persons are domiciled in the places they reside with the intent to remain or to which they intend to return. See Kanter v. Warner-Lambert Co., 265 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001). For the purposes of diversity jurisdiction, a corporation is a citizen of any state where it is incorporated and of the state where it has its principal place of business. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c); see also Indus. Tectonics, Inc. v. Aero Alloy, 912 F.2d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir. 1990).
In the Notice of Removal, Defendant does not properly allege Plaintiff's citizenship or his own citizenship. He only alleges that he is "a resident of California," and states, "To the best of my knowledge, Plaintiff is not a corporation licensed to do business in the state of California." (Notice of Removal at 3.) "Absent unusual circumstances, a party seeking to invoke diversity jurisdiction should be able to allege affirmatively the actual citizenship of the relevant parties." Kanter v. Warner-Lambert Co., 265 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001); Bradford v. Mitchell Bros. Truck Lines, 217 F. Supp. 525, 527 (N.D. Cal. 1963) ("A petition [for removal] alleging diversity of citizenship upon information and belief is insufficient."). "[N]otice of removability under § 1446(b) is determined through examination of the four corners of the applicable pleadings, not through subjective knowledge or a duty to make further inquiry." Harris v. Bankers Life & Cas. Co., 425 F.3d 689, 694 (2005). Because the Notice of Removal merely alleges Defendant's residence, and alleges only that Plaintiff is not a corporation licensed to do business in the state of California, Defendant's allegations concerning the citizenship of the parties are insufficient to invoke this Court's diversity jurisdiction.
Defendant is also unable to meet § 1332's amount in controversy requirement. Defendant alleges that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 because the value of the property exceeds $75,000. (Notice of Removal at 4.) However, the Complaint's caption clearly states that the "amount demanded does not exceed $10,000." In unlawful detainer actions, the title to the property is not involved—only the right to possession. Evans v. Superior Court, 67 Cal. App. 3d 162, 170 (1977). As such, the amount in controversy is determined by the amount of damages sought in the Complaint, rather than the value of the subject real property. Id. Here, Plaintiff alleges in the prayer of the Complaint that it is only seeking restitution, possession of the premises, costs of suit, and $50 per day until it obtains a judgment or recovery of possession of the premises. Thus, given that the value of the property is not the amount in controversy, Defendant failed to show that this action meets the minimum jurisdictional requirement.
Because neither the "four corners " of the complaint nor the Notice of Removal contains sufficient allegations concerning the citizenship of the parties or the amount in controversy, Defendant has not met his burden to establish diversity jurisdiction. See Harris, 425 F.3d at 694.
C. Removal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1443
A defendant "who is denied or cannot enforce" his or her civil rights in state court may remove a civil action or criminal prosecution to federal court. 28 U.S.C. § 1443. Section 1443(1) was enacted "to remove from state courts groundless charges not supported by sufficient evidence when these charges are based on race and deny one his federally protected equal rights as guaranteed by Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act." Walker v. Georgia, 417 F.2d 5, 9 (5th Cir. 1969). Section 1443 provides, in pertinent part, "Any of the following civil actions or criminal prosecutions, commenced in a State court may be removed by the defendant to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending: (1) Against any person who is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of such State a right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States, or of all persons within the jurisdiction thereof . . . ." 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1).
A petition for removal under § 1443(1) must satisfy the two-part test articulated by the Supreme Court in Georgia v. Rachel, 384 U.S. 780, 788-92, 794-804, 86 S. Ct. 1783, 16 L. Ed. 2d 925 (1966) and City of Greenwood, Miss. v. Peacock, 384 U.S. 808, 824-28, 86 S. Ct. 1800, 16 L. Ed. 2d 944 (1966). "First, the petitioners must assert, as a defense to the prosecution, rights that are given to them by explicit statutory enactment protecting equalPatel v. Del Taco, Inc., 446 F.3d 996, 998-99 (9th Cir. 2006). Defendant does not allege any facts that would support removal under § 1443 and therefore Defendant meets neither part of the Supreme Court's test in Georgia v. Rachel. The Notice of Removal merely asserts,
racial civil rights." California v. Sandoval, 434 F.2d 635, 636 (9th Cir. 1970) "Second, petitioners must assert that the state courts will not enforce that right, and that allegation must be supported by reference to a state statute or a constitutional provision that purports to command the state courts to ignore the federal rights." Id.
Under civil rights removal, as a practical matter, the question can only be raised in the pleadings, by way of a defense asserted in an answer or raised in the petition for removal. The reason is simple: where Plaintiffs seek to maintain their advantage in state court which arises on account of inherent inequities or injustices in State Law or in the customs, practices, and procedures utilized in the state Court, the Plaintiffs would be the last ones to admit it.(Notice of Removal at 5.) Such claims in the Notice of Removal are inadequate to establish a basis for removal under § 1443. There is no allegation or any other indication that Defendant has properly sought to invoke a law that provides "for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States," or that he is unable to pursue such a claim or that the state court is unable or unwilling to enforce such a claim. Therefore, the Notice of Removal's allegations are insufficient to establish the Court's jurisdiction under § 1443.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant has failed to meet his burden of showing that this Court can exercise jurisdiction over this action. Because the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, this action is hereby remanded to the Riverside County Superior Court, Case No. HEC1103414. See 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c).
IT IS SO ORDERED.