Abitsch & Abitsch, LLC v. Wanigatunga

Filing 6

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE Show Cause Response due by 10/6/2011.. Signed by Judge Maria-Elena James on 10/4/2011. (cdnS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/4/2011)

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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 Northern District of California 6 7 ABITSCH & ABITSCH LLC, Plaintiff(s), 8 No. C 11-04833 MEJ ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE v. 9 DARUKA WANIGATUNGA, 10 Defendant(s). _____________________________________/ 12 For the Northern District of California UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 11 13 Plaintiff Abitsch & Abitsch LLC has filed an Emergency Motion to Remand this matter to 14 San Francisco County Superior Court. Dkt. No. 5. In its motion, Plaintiff argues that jurisdiction 15 does not exist in this case and that its motion requires immediate attention because the case was set 16 for trial on October 3, 2011. Id. 17 In its Notice of Removal, Defendant Daruka Wanigatunga stated that removal is proper based 18 on diversity jurisdiction. Dkt. No. 1. However, in its motion, Plaintiff argues that diversity does not 19 exist because it is a limited liability company and, although it is registered in Nevada, two of its four 20 managers/managing members, Jeffrey Abitsch and his wife, Barbara Abitsch, reside in San Bruno, 21 California; the other two managers/managing members, George Abitsch and Irene Abitsch, reside in 22 Reno, Nevada. Mot. at 2. For diversity purposes, a limited liability company is a citizen of all states 23 where any of its managers of managing members reside. Carden v. Arkoma Assoc., 494 U.S. 185, 24 195-96 (1990); Johnson v. Columbia Props. Anchorage, LP, 437 F.3d 894, 899 (9th Cir. 2006). 25 Thus, since two of Plaintiff’s managing members reside in San Bruno, California, it would appear 26 that Plaintiff is properly found to reside in California for diversity purposes. Further, a limited 27 liability company is found to exist in the state where its principal place of business is located. 28 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1); Hertz Co. v. Friend, et al., 130 S.Ct. 1181, 1192-93 (2010). Plaintiff states that 1 its sole business activity is the ownership and management of the commercial/industrial property 2 located at 698 Indiana Street, San Francisco (which is the property occupied by Defendant for which 3 possession is sought in the instant unlawful detainer action). Mot. at 3. Thus, diversity jurisdiction 4 appears to be lacking. 5 Defendant also states that jurisdiction is proper because Defendant intends to file a 6 counterclaim for violation of the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act. However, federal 7 jurisdiction “is determined (and must exist) as of the time the complaint is filed and removal is 8 effected .” Strotek Corp. v. Air Transport Ass’n. of America, 300 F.3d 1129, 1133 (9th Cir. 2002). 9 “The removal statute is strictly construed, and any doubt about the right of removal requires 10 resolution in favor of remand.” Moore–Thomas v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 553 F.3d 1241, 1244 (9th Cir. 12 federal question jurisdiction is governed by the “well-pleaded complaint rule,” which provides that For the Northern District of California UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 11 2009) (citing Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992)). The presence or absence of 13 “federal jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of the plaintiff’s 14 properly pleaded complaint.” Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987). This rule makes 15 the plaintiff the master of its complaint and permits its to avoid federal jurisdiction by relying 16 exclusively on state law. Id. Ordinarily, therefore, federal question jurisdiction is determined from 17 the face of the plaintiff’s complaint. Easton v. Crossland Mortg. Corp., 114 F.3d 979, 982 (9th Cir. 18 1997). Thus, as Plaintiff’s Complaint is one based solely on a state law unlawful detainer cause of 19 action, Defendant’s yet-to-be-filed counterclaim is irrelevant. 20 Based on this background, the Court ORDERS Defendant to show cause why this case should 21 not be remanded to San Francisco County Superior Court. Defendant shall file a declaration by 22 October 6, 2011. The October 6 hearing on Plaintiff’s motion to remand is VACATED. 23 IT IS SO ORDERED. 24 25 Dated: October 4, 2011 _______________________________ Maria-Elena James Chief United States Magistrate Judge 26 27 28 2

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