Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Company N.A. v. Martinez et al

Filing 5

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge John F. Moulds on 11/29/10 ORDERING dfts' motions to proceed in forma pauperis 2 3 are DENIED AS MOOT; FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending that this case be remanded to Calavaras County Superior.(Carlos, K)

(PS) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Company N.A. v. Martinez et al

Doc. 5

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 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORP. CO. N.A., Plaintiff, vs. DANIEL MARTINEZ, et al., Defendants. / Plaintiff Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Company, N.A., commenced this unlawful detainer action in Calaveras County Superior Court on June 7, 2010. (Not. of Removal, Compl.) Defendants Daniel and Vicki Martinez subsequently removed this action on October 19, 2010, purportedly on the basis of diversity jurisdiction, along with separate requests to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP). Courts "strictly construe the removal statute against removal jurisdiction," and "the defendant always has the burden of establishing that removal is proper." Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). Furthermore, "jurisdiction must be rejected if there is any doubt as to the right of removal in the first instance." Id. Removal is proper only if the court could have exercised jurisdiction over the action had it originally been filed in federal court. Caterpillar, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987). The "presence or absence of 1
Dockets.Justia.com

No. CIV 2:10cv2823-MCE-JFM

ORDER AND FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

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federal-question jurisdiction is governed by the `well-pleaded complaint rule,' which provides that federal jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of the plaintiff's properly pleaded complaint." Id. Plaintiff seeks to evict defendants from a property that it alleges it purchased at a foreclosure sale. (Compl.¶¶ 7-13.) In their Notice of Removal, defendants contend that jurisdiction is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1). Defendants present no other basis upon which jurisdiction is proper. Jurisdiction founded on diversity "requires that the parties be in complete diversity and the amount in controversy exceed $75,000." See Matheson v. Progressive Specialty Ins. Co., 319 F.3d 1089, 1090 (9th Cir. 2003); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1332. "Complete diversity" means that all plaintiffs must have citizenship different than all defendants. See Strawbridge v. Curtiss, 7 U.S. (3 Cranch) 267, 2 L. Ed. 435 (1806). Despite defendants' statement that this court has diversity jurisdiction, the Court disagrees. the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000. In the complaint, plaintiff seeks $30 for each day defendants have unlawfully remained on the property, an amount not currently exceeding $10,000. See Compl. ¶ 10. Although defendants may assert that the amount in controversy is actually the value of the property, the court notes that plaintiff owns the property as a result of a foreclosure sale. (Compl. ¶¶ 7-8.) Thus, plaintiff is not seeking ownership of the home, but only the eviction of defendants. As a result, defendants have not carried the burden of establishing subject matter jurisdiction based on diversity. See Gaus, 980 F.2d at 566. Moreover, defendants cannot establish federal question jurisdiction. See Takeda v. Nw. Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 765 F.2d 815, 822 (9th Cir. 1985) (holding that a defendant's counterclaim presenting a federal question does not make a case removable). Plaintiff's complaint for unlawful detainer under California law states no federal causes of action. Because there is no federal question presented on the face of plaintiff's complaint, the court lacks federal question jurisdiction over this case. 2

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For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendants' motions to proceed in forma pauperis are denied as moot, and IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this case be remanded to Calaveras County Superior Court for lack of jurisdiction. These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, defendants may file written objections with the court. The document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any response to the objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. Defendants are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. DATED: November 29, 2010.

/014;fede2823.remand

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