Lieberman & Associates v. GVSW Surprise Plaza, LLC, et al

Filing 20

ORDER - that this case is dismissed, without prejudice, for lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction. Signed by Judge James A Teilborg on 5/22/09. (KMG)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 WO IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) GVSW Surprise Plaza LLC; GVSW) Surprise Plaza 15, LLC; Glimcher Co., ) ) ) Defendants. ) ) Lieberman & Associates, No. CV 09-705-PHX-JAT ORDER On May 7, 2009, the Court ordered the following: "Inquiring whether the court has jurisdiction is a federal judge's first duty in every case." Belleville Catering Co. v. Champaign Market Place, L.L.C., 350 F.3d 691, 693 (7th Cir. 2003). Additionally, federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). The party asserting jurisdiction bears the burden of proving a jurisdictional basis exists. Id. In this case, the Complaint fails to sufficiently plead jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332; Johnson v. Columbia Properties Anchorage, 437 F.3d 894, 899 (9th Cir. 2006); Industrial Tectonics v. Aero Alloy, 912 F.2d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir. 1990). First, the Complaint fails to allege the citizenship of every member of each limited liability company. Second, the Complaint fails to allege the state of incorporation and the principal place of business for the corporate Plaintiff. Finally, the Complaint fails to allege any form of citizenship for Defendant Glimcher. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that by May 22, 2009, Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint properly alleging federal subject matter jurisdiction, or this case will be dismissed without prejudice for lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amended complaint shall not include fictitiously-named defendants unless Plaintiff shows cause to allow them. See Craig v. U.S., 413 F.2d 854, 856 (9th Cir. 1969). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Doc. #17. Plaintiff timely filed an amended complaint, and alleged as follows: "Upon information and belief...Design ...believes...that each and every member of GVSW Surprise [LLC] is a resident of the state of Arizona" and "Upon information and belief...Design...believes...that each and every member of GVSW 15 [LLC] is a resident of the state of Arizona." Doc. #18 at 2. Further, the amended complaint states, "Upon information and belief, Glimcher Co. is a business entity, form unknown, ....Design is informed, believes and based thereon alleges that each and every member/shareholder/owner of Glimcher is a resident of the State of Arizona." Doc. #18 at 2. As discussed in the May 7, 2009 order, federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction; the result of which is that the party asserting jurisdiction must prove to the Court that it has jurisdiction. Accordingly, jurisdiction may not be plead on information and belief. Lyerla v. Amco Insurance Co., 462 F.Supp.2d 931, 931 (S.D. Ill. 2006) ("Allegations of federal subject matter jurisdiction may not be made on the basis of information and belief, only personal knowledge.") Thus, Plaintiff's jurisdictional allegations for the two LLC defendants is insufficient. Further, in the event Glimcher Co. is a corporation, Plaintiff has not pleaded based on information and belief or personal knowledge, the state of incorporation of Glimcher Co. Based on all of the foregoing, Plaintiff has failed to prove that federal subject matter jurisdiction exists. See Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994); see also Valdez v. Allstate, 372 F.3d 1115, 1116-17 (9th Cir. 2004). Therefore, IT IS ORDERED that this case is dismissed, without prejudice, for lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction. DATED this 22nd day of May, 2009. -2-

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