Summary
holding that a lack of personal jurisdiction does not establish fraudulent joinder because it does not go to the question of whether "there is colorable basis in law or fact to support [p]laintiff's claims," which is the "proper standard for a fraudulent joinder analysis"
Summary of this case from Triplett v. Janssen Pharms., Inc.Opinion
Civil Action No. 09-2107 (JAG).
January 27, 2010
ORDER CLOSED
On May 26, 2009, Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo filed a Report and Recommendation ("R R") (Docket Entry No. 16), pursuant to FED. R. Civ. P. 72(b) and L. Civ. R. 72.1(a)(2), wherein she recommended that (1) the motion for remand (Docket Entry No. 2), filed by plaintiff, YA Global Investments, L.P. ("Plaintiff"), be granted and (2) Plaintiff's request for attorney's fees (Docket Entry No. 2) be denied. Defendants MTI Energy Management/Lighting Specialists, Inc. ("MTI") and Signature Stock Transfer, Inc. ("SST") (collectively, "Moving Defendants") objected to Judge Arleo's recommendation to remand the case, renewing their argument that SST was fraudulently joined and should be dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. Plaintiff objected to Judge Arleo's denial of attorney's fees, arguing that there was no "objectively reasonable basis" for the opposition to the motion to remand.
A magistrate judge's recommended disposition of a dispositive matter is subject to de novo review. In re U.S. Healthcare, 159 F.3d 142, 145-46 (3d Cir. 1998); Temptations, Inc. v. Wager, 26 F. Supp. 2d 740, 743 (D.N.J. 1998); see also FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b). This Court has reviewed the parties' submissions and the R R under the appropriate de novo standard, and agrees with Magistrate Judge Arleo's analysis and conclusion. Therefore,
IT IS, on this 27th day of january, 2010,
ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Arleo's R R (Docket Entry No. 16) is adopted as the opinion of the Court; and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion to remand (Docket Entry No. 2) is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiff's request for attorney's fees (Docket Entry No. 2) is DENIED; and it is further
ORDERED that a copy of this Order be served on all parties within seven (7) days of the date of entry of this Order.