C.D. v. Alabama CVS Pharmacy, L.L.C. et al

Filing 11

OPINION AND ORDER directing that the removing defendant has until 11/7/2014 to amend the notice of removal to allege jurisdiction sufficiently, as further set out in order. Signed by Honorable Judge Myron H. Thompson on 10/27/14. (djy, )

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION C.D., a Minor, By and Through Her Mother and Next Friend, Cynthia Davenport, ) ) ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) COCA-COLA REFRESHMENTS ) USA, INC., and ALABAMA CVS ) PHARMACY LLC, ) ) Defendants. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:14cv952-MHT (WO) OPINION AND ORDER The allegations insufficient to jurisdiction under of the notice invoke 28 this U.S.C. §§ citizenship) and 1441 (removal). of removal court's 1332 are removal (diversity of To invoke removal jurisdiction based on diversity, the notice of removal must distinctly and affirmatively allege each party's citizenship. See McGovern v. American Airlines, Inc., 511 F. 2d 653, 654 (5th Cir. 1975) (per curiam). allegations must show that the citizenship of The each plaintiff is different from that of each defendant. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332; see also 2 James Wm. Moore, et al., Moore's Federal Practice § 8.03[5][b] at 8-16 (3d ed. 2006). The notice of removal fails to meet this standard as to the plaintiff. First, plaintiff C.D., a minor, has brought this lawsuit through her mother. "[T]he legal representative of an infant or incompetent shall be deemed to be a citizen only of the same State as the infant or incompetent." 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(2). Because the removal notice attempts to set forth the citizenship of only the personal representative (C.D.’s mother) and not that of the infant or incompetent (C.D. herself), the notice does not adequately establish grounds for this court to assume removal jurisdiction of this matter. the "residence" party. Second, the notice purports to give rather than the "citizenship" of a An allegation that a party is a "resident" of a State is not sufficient to establish that a party is a "citizen" of that State. Delome v. Union Barge Line 2 Co., 444 F.2d 225, 233 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 995 (1971). The removal notice is also insufficient because it does not properly indicate the citizenship of a party that is a corporation: defendant Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. The notice must allege both the State of incorporation principal and where place of the corporation business. See has 28 its U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1); American Motorists Ins. Co. v. American Employers' Ins. Co., 600 F.2d 15, 16 and n.1 (5th Cir. 1979) (per curiam). The removal notice is also insufficient because it does not indicate the citizenship of a party that is a ‘limited liability Pharmacy, L.L.C.. company’: defendant Alabama CVS “[L]ike a limited partnership, a limited liability company is a citizen of any state of which a member of the company is a citizen.” Rolling Greens MHP, L.P. v. Comcast SCH Holdings L.L.C., 374 F.3d 1020, 1022 (11th Cir. 2004). The notice must therefore allege “the citizenships of all the members 3 of the limited liability company.” is another entity, the complaint Id. If the member must reflect the citizenship of that entity based on the nature of that entity. The allegation of citizenship as to Alabama CVS Pharmacy, L.L.C.’s sole member, CVS Pharmacy, Inc., a corporation, is not sufficient for the reason given above. *** It is therefore the ORDER, JUDGMENT, and DECREE of the court that the removing defendant has until November 7, 2014, to amend the notice of removal to allege jurisdiction sufficiently, see 28 U.S.C. § 1653; otherwise this lawsuit shall be remanded to court. DONE, this the 27th day of October, 2014. /s/ Myron H. Thompson____ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE state

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