Wedgewood Investment Pool LLC v. Ricardo Vasquez et al

Filing 12

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Dale S. Fischer:, ORDER by Judge Dale S. Fischer remanding case to Superior Court for the State of California, Southeast District, Downey, Case number 10CO4562. The Court agrees with Plaintiffs counsel that attorneys fees are appropriate for the reasons stated in the Ex Parte Application. Both the amount of time spent and the hourly rate sought are reasonable. The Court awards fees of $2370. The Court imposes sanctions of $500, payable to the clerk of the court. Both the attorneys fees and sanctions are ordered to be paid no later than May 11, 2011. Case Terminated. Made JS-6 (Attachments: # 1 Transmittal Letter) (shb)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
JS 6
Case No.
Title

Date

CV 11-03218 DSF (VBKx)

5/3/11

Wedgewood Investment Pool, LLC v. Ricardo Vasquez, et al.

Present: The
Honorable

DALE S. FISCHER, United States District Judge

Debra Plato
Deputy Clerk

Not Present
Court Reporter

Attorneys Present for Plaintiffs:

Attorneys Present for Defendants:

Not Present

Not Present

Proceedings:

(In Chambers) Order REMANDING Case to Superior Court of
California, County of Los Angeles and Awarding Attorney’s Fees

This matter was originally removed from state court on March 3, 2011, and
assigned case number CV 11-1836 DSF (VBKx). The notice of removal alleged federal
question jurisdiction. On March 8, 2011, the Court remanded the action because the
complaint is a state law unlawful detainer complaint and does not state a federal cause of
action. The Order remanding the action made clear that a potential federal defense or
counterclaim to the complaint under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009,
as amended in 2010, did not provide grounds for removal because federal jurisdiction is
based on the plaintiff’s complaint and not on any counterclaims or defenses that a
defendant might assert. See Holmes Group, Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Sys., Inc.,
535 U.S. 826, 830-32 (2002).
On April 15, 2011, Defendants again removed the action. It was assigned case
number CV 11-3218 DMG (PLAx). Plaintiffs have been represented in both cases by
counsel Douglas Klein. Because counsel did not indicate in his filing that this case was
related to case number CV 11-1836 DSF (VBKx) - in violation of General Order 08-05
and Local Rule 83-1.3.1, it was not originally assigned to this Court. By order of the
chair of the Court’s Case Management and Assignment Committee, this matter was
transferred to this Court on April 26, 2011.
The Notice of Removal in the instant case acknowledges that a prior application
for the same relief had been filed, but apparently contends that it was not made on the
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same basis as the instant Notice. This statement is demonstrably false. Paragraphs 1
through 12 of the instant Notice are identical to paragraphs 1 though 11 of the Notice of
Removal in case number CV 11-1836 DSF (VBKx). Both provide that Plaintiff’s claims
are subject to the artful pleading doctrine, and subject to the doctrine of complete
preemption.
In the instant Notice, Defendants now also assert a theory of “protective
jurisdiction.” This theory is similarly lacking in merit. (See Order to Show Cause Why
This Action Should Not be Remanded to State Court, Docket # 4.) Moreover, the
removal was untimely, id., and Plaintiff has objected to the removal. (See Ex Parte
Application to Remand Removed Action and Request for Attorney’s Fees and Costs,
Docket # 5.)
Though given until April 27 to do so, Defendants failed to respond to the Court’s
Order to Show Cause.
The Court agrees with Plaintiff’s counsel that attorney’s fees are appropriate for
the reasons stated in the Ex Parte Application. Both the amount of time spent and the
hourly rate sought are reasonable. The Court awards fees of $2370.
Even if counsel believed this Court’s previous order was in error, no reasonable
attorney could have thought that a second removal of the same action was proper.
Moreover, as Plaintiff’s counsel notes, the removal period has expired. 28 U.S.C. §
1446(b). To exacerbate matters even further, counsel failed - in case number CV 111836 DSF (VBKx) - to comply with Local Rule 3-2, which requires counsel to email
within 24 hours after filing, a file-stamped copy of the case initiating documents in PDF
format. A notice from the clerk issued March 10 advised counsel of this requirement and
requested compliance within 24 hours. Counsel failed to comply and the Chief Judge of
this Court issued an Order to Comply. Despite these warnings and his obvious
knowledge of the requirements counsel again failed to comply with Local Rule 3-2 in the
instant case. A communication from the Court was necessary to prompt compliance.
Though counsel indicated he would comply immediately, he did not do so, prompting
another order from the Chief Judge. Three judges have spent time on these matters which never should have been brought to federal court. Therefore, the Court imposes
sanctions of $500, payable to the clerk of the court.
Both the attorney’s fees and sanctions are ordered to be paid no later than May 11,
2011.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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