Winn v. Chrysler Group LLC, et al.,

Filing 37

MEMORANDUM and ORDER signed by Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. on 12/23/09 ORDERING that Pltf's 15 Motion to Remand is GRANTED. Dft's 8 Motion to Change Venue is DENIED as moot. CASE REMANDED to Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Shasta. Copy of remand order sent. CASE CLOSED. (Engbretson, K.)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Plaintiffs, 18 v. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Defendants. 27 28 ----oo0oo---1 CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC, a Delaware corporation, successor in interest to Daimler Chrysler Corporation; MAGNA POWERTRAIN, INC.; MAGNA INTERNATIONAL OF AMERICA, INC. also known as Magna Powertain; GREAT VALLEY CHRYSLER JEEP, an unknown business entity; ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR COMPANY, a California corporation; S.J. DENHAM, INC., a California corporation, DEBORAH MATISENGLE; and DOES 1 through 100, inclusive, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DANIEL STACEY WINN, individually and assuccessor in interest to Petra Monika Winn, deceased, KORY MICHAEL WINN, individually and as successor in interest to Petra Monika Winn, deceased, BREEONNA WINN, individually and as successor in interest to Petra Monika Winn, deceased, ERIKA WINN, individually and as successor in interest to Petra Monika Winn, deceased, No. 2:09-cv-02805-MCE-GGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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Plaintiffs have moved to remand this case back to the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Shasta, where it originated, on grounds that the claims against Defendant Chrysler Group, who removed the case to this Court, do not arise under federal law. Alternatively, Plaintiffs

also argue for remand on equitable grounds and further assert that this Court should abstain from hearing the matter. As set

forth below, Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand will be granted.

BACKGROUND

This wrongful death case arises from a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Shasta County, California on August 13, 2007 as Plaintiffs' decedent, Petra Monika Winn, was driving a 2004 Chrysler Sebring automobile. result of the accident. Ms. Winn was killed as a

Through this action, Plaintiffs seeks

damages against alleged manufacturers/suppliers of the Chrysler vehicle and its component parts (Defendants Chrysler Group, LLC/Daimler AG and Defendants Magna Powertrain/Magna International, who allegedly furnished the gas tank utilized in the vehicle). Additionally, Defendants include Great Valley

Chrysler Jeep, who purportedly sold the Chrysler vehicle to Defendant Enterprise Rent-a-Car, S.J. Denham, Inc. who bought the vehicle from Great Valley and sold it to Plaintiffs' decedent, and Defendant Deborah Matisengle, who apparently drove the other vehicle involved in the accident. /// /// 2

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Defendant Chrysler Group removed the action to this Court on grounds that under the terms of its purchase of Chrysler assets from Chrysler Group's predecessor in interest, Chrysler Corp. LLC (who is not a Defendant in this lawsuit), any successor liability on Chrysler Group's part was specifically excepted. Because that

agreement was approved by the bankruptcy court overseeing Chrysler Corp.'s bankruptcy proceeding, Defendant Chrysler Group removed Plaintiff's entire case to federal court pursuant to 28 U.S.C §§ 1452(a) and 1334, which provide for federal jurisdiction on cases arising under or related to bankruptcy proceedings under Title 11. Plaintiffs argue that because the bankruptcy proceedings as to Defendant Chrysler Group's predecessor at most give rise to a defense available to Chrysler Group in this matter, it does not arise under federal law because it does not derive from the allegations of Plaintiffs' complaint itself. Plaintiffs further They point

contend that equitable grounds also mandate remand.

out that their complaint itself alleges only state law causes of action, argue that Chrysler Group's potential bankruptcy defense relates only to one of several different defendants sued in this matter, and emphasize that the bankruptcy debtor, Chrysler Corp. LLC, is not even a party to this lawsuit. Defendant Chrysler Group argues that federal jurisdiction is invoked because this matter qualifies as a "core" proceeding with regard to Chrysler Corp's bankruptcy. Chrysler Group

alternatively argues that Plaintiffs' claims against it are "related" to the bankruptcy case in that they directly challenge the bankruptcy debtor's sale of assets. 3

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Finally, Chrysler Group argues that this Court has exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy issues like those raised herein, and that in any event the equities weigh in favor of exercising jurisdiction.

STANDARD

A defendant may remove any civil action from state court to federal district court if the district court has original jurisdiction over the matter. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). Generally,

district courts have original jurisdiction over civil actions in two instances: (1) where there is complete diversity between the parties, or (2) where a federal question is presented in an action arising under the Constitution, federal law, or treaty. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1332. The removing party bears the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction. Ethridge v. Harbor House Rest., 861 F.2d 1389, Furthermore, courts construe the removal Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d If there is any

1393 (9th Cir. 1988).

statute strictly against removal.

564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992) (citations omitted).

doubt as to the right of removal in the first instance, remand must be granted. See Gaus, 980 F.2d at 566. Therefore, if it

appears before final judgment that a district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded to state court. 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). /// /// /// 4

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The district court determines whether removal is proper by first determining whether a federal question exists on the face of the plaintiff's well-pleaded complaint. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987). Caterpillar, Inc. v.

If a complaint alleges only

state-law claims and lacks a federal question on its face, then the federal court must grant the motion to remand. § 1447(c); Caterpillar, 482 U.S. at 392. See 28 U.S.C.

Nonetheless, there are

rare exceptions when a well­pleaded state-law cause of action will be deemed to arise under federal law and support removal. They are "(1) where federal law completely preempts state law, (2) where the claim is necessarily federal in character, or (3) where the right to relief depends on the resolution of a substantial, disputed federal question." ARCO Envtl. Remediation

L.L.C. v. Dep't of Health & Envtl. Quality of Mont., 213 F.3d 1108, 1114 (9th Cir. 2000) (internal citations omitted).

ANALYSIS

Defendant Chrysler Group does not dispute Plaintiffs' assertion that diversity is unavailable here as a basis for federal jurisdiction on grounds that several of the Defendants, like Plaintiffs, are California residents. Instead, Chrysler

argues that a federal question confers jurisdiction on this Court. Although the causes of action pled in the Complaint

itself are claims for negligence, products liability, and related claims arising under state law, Chrysler maintains that the bankruptcy of its predecessor in interest, Chrysler Corp. LLC, provides the requisite link to federal law. 5

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Chrysler Group makes this contention despite the fact that Chrysler Corp. LLC, the debtor in bankruptcy, is not a Defendant to this lawsuit, and despite the fact that the bankruptcy proceedings are not mentioned in Plaintiffs' Complaint. Generally, "a cause of action arises under federal law only when the plaintiff's well-pleaded complaint raises issues of federal law." 63 (1987). Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Taylor, 481 U.S. 58,

A case cannot usually be removed to federal court on See Caterpillar Inc. v.

the basis of a federal defense, alone. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 393 (1987).

An exception is recognized

if the controlling force of a federal statute is so strong that it "completely preempts" an area of state law. at 63-64. Defendant Chrysler Group argues that the sale of Chrysler Corp. LLC's assets, as approved by the bankruptcy court, is a "core" bankruptcy proceeding under 11 U.S.C. §§ 157 (b) and 363(f). According to the Chrysler Group, this case qualifies as Taylor, 481 U.S.

a core proceeding because Plaintiffs' Complaint challenges the bankruptcy court's sale order in the Chrysler Corp. LLC bankruptcy case, by allegedly contending that the elimination of successor liability to Chrysler Group was improper. Defendant

Chrysler Group argues that in core proceedings, a bankruptcy court has "comprehensive power and may enter appropriate orders and judgments." Cir. 2002). /// /// /// 6 In re Petrie Retail Inc., 304 F.3d 223, 228 (2d

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Defendant Chrysler further argues that because Plaintiffs filed a proof of claim in the Chrysler Corp. LLC bankruptcy case, they necessarily submitted to the bankruptcy court's jurisdiction, making this a core proceeding on that basis as well. Alternatively, Defendant Chrysler urges the court to assert subject matter jurisdiction on grounds that this proceeding is "related to" the bankruptcy case under 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b) since its outcome could conceivably effect the bankruptcy estate. In re Fietz, 852 F.2d 455, 457 (9th Cir. 1988). Underlying all these asserted bases for federal jurisdiction is Defendant Chrysler's contention that Plaintiffs' claims against the Chrysler Group are a "direct challenge" to the bankruptcy court's Sale Order, with Plaintiff's state common law claims essentially amounting to "disguised" bankruptcy claims. See Def.s' Opp'n, 15:13-15, 18:10. These contentions are See

specifically directed to the Plaintiffs' successor-in-interest claims against Chrysler Group. Defendant Chrysler Group's claims in this regard lack merit inasmuch as Plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed all of the successor claims against it; namely, the First through Fourth Causes of Action for Strict Liability, Negligence1 and Breach of Implied Warranty, respectively. /// /// /// /// Both Plaintiffs' Second and Third Causes of Action sound in negligence. 7
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Without those successor claims, even Defendant Chrysler's Opposition to this Motion makes it clear that any reasoned basis for federal jurisdiction is absent since it is only the successor claims that Defendant Chrysler identifies as running afoul of the bankruptcy court's Sales Order, which specifically exempted such claims in Chrysler Group's asset purchase. Plaintiffs' remaining

claims against Defendant Chrysler Group, as set forth in the Fifth and Sixth Causes of Action, are for indemnity arising from Defendant Chrysler's alleged obligations to its dealers. Nowhere

does the Chrysler Group allege that those claims are successive in nature, and nowhere does Chrysler contend that those claims are governed by the terms of Chrysler Corp. LLC's bankruptcy proceedings. The Court is consequently unpersuaded that the remaining claims against Chrysler Group are core bankruptcy claims because they are neither unique to, or uniquely affected by, Chrysler Corp. LLC's bankruptcy proceedings, and further do not directly affect core bankruptcy functions. F.3d at 230. In re Petrie Retail, Inc. 304

As set forth above, Defendant Chrysler Group

implicated only the successor claims in that regard, and those claims have been dismissed. Defendant Chrysler's contention that

Plaintiffs' claims are "related to" the bankruptcy proceeding are undercut for the same reason: no viable argument has been made that the remaining indemnity claims vis-a-vis Chrysler Group's dealers will affect the handling and administration of Chrysler Corp. LLC's bankruptcy estate. /// /// 8

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Finally, the Court rejects as wholly illogical the contention that just because Plaintiffs filed a proof of claim against a non-party to the present lawsuit (Chrysler Corp. LLC), its claims against Defendant Chrysler Group and the other Defendants automatically become core proceedings subject to the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. The Court's conclusion that no cognizable federal claim is presented, and that this matter should accordingly be remanded back to the originating state court, is further underscored by consideration of the factors governing equitable remand, which also demonstrate that this matter should go back to state court. To determine whether remand is warranted on equitable grounds, the following factors should be considered: "(1) the effect of

the action on the administration of the bankruptcy estate; (2) the extent to which the issues of state law predominate; (3) the difficulty of applicable state law: (4) comity; (5) the relatedness or remoteness of the action to the bankruptcy case: (6) the existence of a right to jury trial; and (7) prejudice to the party involuntarily removed from state court. In re Baptist

Foundation of Arizona, 2000 WL 35575676 at *7 (D. Ariz. 1996), citing Williams v. Shell Oil Co., 169 B.R. 684, 692 (S.D. Cal. 1994). /// /// /// /// /// /// 9

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Here, as already indicated, the bankruptcy debtor, Chrysler Corp. LLC, is not even a party to this lawsuit. In the absence

of the successor claims, Chrysler Group has not demonstrated how the indemnity claims will impact the handling of the bankruptcy estate. Moreover, to the extent that bankruptcy is a potential

issue, it affects only a single affirmative defense available to one defendant in a multiple-defendant case, and is consequently remote with regard to the case as a whole. Finally, to the

extent that a bankruptcy defense is appropriate as to Defendant Chrysler Group, there is no reason in any event why the defense cannot be asserted in state court. State law issues clearly

predominate, and trying this case together in state court, in a forum that can adjudicate this entire matter through a unitary jury trial, clearly favors concerns of both judicial economy and comity. Contrary to Defendant Chrysler's contention, given the

case as it now stands this is not an attempt by Plaintiffs to relitigate the issue of successor liability in another forum.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, the Court finds this this case should be remanded to the originating state court, the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Shasta, for final adjudication. /// /// /// /// 10

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Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand (Docket No. 15) is accordingly GRANTED.2 Defendant Chrysler Group's Motion to Transfer Venue

(Docket No. 8) to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, for referral to the United States Bankruptcy Court in that District is DENIED as moot. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: December 23, 2009

_____________________________ MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Because oral argument will not be of material assistance, the Court ordered this matter submitted on the briefs. E.D. Cal. Local Rule 230(g). 11

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