SPSSM Investments VIII LP v. Marilou Tumaliuan

Filing 7

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Jesus G. Bernal REMANDING Action to California Superior Court for the County of Riverside: (see document image for specifics). IT IS SO ORDERED. Case Terminated. Made JS-6 (ad)

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JS-6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL Case No. Title Date EDCV 13-0488 JGB (SPx) April 17, 2013 SPSSM Investments VIII, LP v. Marilou Tumaliuan Present: The Honorable JESUS G. BERNAL, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE MAYNOR GALVEZ Not Reported Deputy Clerk Court Reporter Attorney(s) Present for Plaintiff(s): Attorney(s) Present for Defendant(s): Not Present Not Present Proceedings: Minute Order REMANDING Action to California Superior Court for the County of Riverside (IN CHAMBERS) On December 7, 2012, Plaintiff SPSSM Investments VIII, LP filed a complaint for unlawful detainer ("Complaint") against Defendant Marilou Tumaliuan in the California Superior Court for the County of Riverside. (Not. of Removal, Exh. A., Doc. No. 1.) On March 15, 2013, Defendant removed the action on the basis of this Court's diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 and supplemental jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. § 1367. (Not. of Removal.) Removal jurisdiction is governed by statute. See 28 U.S.C. §1441. The Ninth Circuit applies a strong presumption against removal jurisdiction, ensuring "the defendant always has the burden of establishing that removal is proper." Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992) (citing Nishimoto v. Federman-Bachrach & Assocs., 903 F.2d 709, 712 n.3 (9th Cir. 1990)); see also In re Ford Motor Co./Citibank, 264 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 2001) ("The party asserting federal jurisdiction bears the burden of proving the case is properly in federal court."). "If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded." 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c); FW/PBS, Inc. v. Dallas, 493 U.S. 215, 231 (1990) ("federal courts are under an independent obligation to examine their own jurisdiction"); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) ("If the court determines at any time that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action."). Defendant appears to allege that the basis for removal is diversity jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Diversity jurisdiction requires that the amount in controversy exceed $75,000 and that the action be between citizens of different states. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). Defendant does not allege the citizenship of the parties. Jurisdiction, including the amount in controversy, is determined at the moment of removal. See Strotek Corp. v. Air Transp. Ass'n. of Am., 300 F.3d 1129, 1131 (9th Cir. 2002). The amount in controversy is determined from the Complaint itself, unless it appears to a legal certainty that the claim is worth an amount other than that pled in the Complaint. Horton v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 367 U.S. 348, 354 (1961); Lowdermilk v. United States Bank Nat'l Ass’n, 479 F.3d 994, 999 (9th Cir. 2007). In its Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that its damages do not exceed $10,000, and it filed the action as a limited civil case. (Id. at 1.) See CAL. CODE CIV. PROC. § 86 (classifying cases where the prayer is less than $ 25,000 as limited civil cases). Consequently, it is clear that the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000,1 and the Court lacks diversity jurisdiction to hear the action. Since the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over the action, the Court may not exercise supplemental jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over any of Plaintiff's claims. See Gibson v. Chrysler Corp., 261 F.3d 927, 935 (9th Cir. 2001) ("If there is no 'original jurisdiction,' there can be no supplemental jurisdiction either, for there is no jurisdiction to which supplemental jurisdiction can attach."). "If it clearly appears on the face of the [Notice of Removal] and any exhibits annexed thereto that removal should not be permitted, the court shall make an order for summary remand." 28 U.S.C. § 1446(c)(4). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(c)(4), the Court has examined the Notice of Removal and concludes that Defendant has not met her burden of establishing that this case is properly in federal court. See In re Ford Motor Co./Citibank (South Dakota), N.A., 264 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 2001) ("The party asserting federal jurisdiction bears the burden of proving the case is properly in federal court."). Accordingly, the Court REMANDS this action to the Superior Court of California, Riverside County. IT IS SO ORDERED. 1 In an unlawful detainer action, the appropriate measure of damages is the amount sought in the complaint, not the value of the property. Federal Nat. Mortg. Ass’n v. Lemon, No. CV 11–03948 DDP (FFMx), 2011 WL 3204344, *2 (C.D. Cal. July 26, 2011) (“[T]he appropriate damages in unlawful detainer actions remains the amount sought in the complaint, not the value of the property itself”).

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