Citibank, N.A. v. Williams et al

Filing 6

ORDER remanding case to to the District Court for the County of Montrose, Colorado, by Judge Lewis T. Babcock on 6/5/15. (dkals, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Civil Action No. 15-cv-1094-GPG
CITIBANK, N.A., as Trustee for WaMu Asset-Backed Certificates, WaMu Series 2007HE3,
Plaintiff,
v.
GARY R. WILLIAMS,
PEGGY E. WILLIAMS, and
ANY AND ALL OTHER OCCUPANTS CLAIMING AN INTEREST UNDER THE
DEFENDANTS,
Defendants.

ORDER

Defendants have filed pro se “Defendant’s Notice of Removal” (ECF No. 1) and
an Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Short
Form) (ECF No. 2). The action removed to this Court is a forcible entry and unlawful
detainer action filed against them on November 24, 2014 in Montrose County District
Court, Colorado Civil Action No. 2014CO30681 (“the Detainer Action”).
The Court must construe the Notice of Removal liberally because Defendants are
not represented by an attorney. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972);
Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991). The Court, however, should not
act as an advocate for pro se litigants. See Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110.
A notice of removal must contain “a short and plain statement of the grounds for
removal, together with a copy of all process, pleadings, and orders served upon such
defendant or defendants in such action.” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a). “The removing party has
the burden to demonstrate the appropriateness of removal from state to federal court.”

Baby C v. Price, 138 F. Appx. 81, 83 (10th Cir. 2005).
As part of the Court’s review pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 8.1, the Court has
reviewed the Notice of Removal. The Notice of Removal claims that the Court has
jurisdiction because it has existing jurisdiction over the real property in question based
on another pending case in this court, 14-cv-01148-PAB. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 7). The
Notice of Removal also claims jurisdiction is proper with this court based on diversity of
citizenship pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (ECF No. 1 at 2 ¶ 8).
Although not disclosed by the Defendants, the Court notes that Defendants have
previously attempted to remove this case to federal court. In fact, the Notice of
Removal is identical – word for word -- to one filed by them in this court on December 8,
2014 in case 14-cv-3314-PAB.
In that case, Judge Brimmer sua sponte found the Notice of Removal was
inappropriate because the federal court did not have jurisdiction. See Citibank v.
Williams, 14-cv-3314-PAB, (ECF No. 13). Therefore, the case was remanded to the
District Court for the County of Montrose, Colorado. Id.
The fact that a case was previously remanded does not, by itself, automatically
preclude parties from filing a second notice of removal. See 28 U.S.C. 1446 (b).
However, a second notice of removal is only allowed if subsequent pleading or events
reveal a new and different basis for removal. See Latham v. Assurant Health, 08-cv1087, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55990 (D. Colo May 30, 2008); O’Bryan v. Chandler, 496
F.2d 403, 409 (10th Cir. 1974). Defendants have provided no reason for why they have
filed a second Notice of Removal that is identical to the first. They make no reference to
an amended pleading, motion or order that reveals a new basis for removal.
Accordingly, the court incorporates by reference Judge Brimmer’s reasoning in
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his order dated January 30, 2015 in case 14-cv-3314-PAB, where he found that the
Court lacked removal jurisdiction over the matter. See Citibank v. Williams, 14-cv-3314PAB, (ECF No. 13). Therefore, removal of this action is inappropriate and the case will
be remanded to the state court.
Additionally, the Court notes that the Notice of Removal in this case was not
timely filed under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b). Under section 1446(b), “[t]he notice of removal
of a civil action or proceeding shall be filed within 30 days after the receipt by the
defendant . . . of a copy of the initial pleading setting forth the claim for relief upon which
such action or proceeding is based . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b). Here, in the Notice of
Removal, Defendants state they: “were served notice of this suit on November 24,
2014. Defendants file this notice of removal within the 30-day time period required by
28 U.S.C. 1446(b).” (ECF No. 1 at 2 ¶ 6). However, contrary to the assertion in the
Notice of Removal, the current Notice was not filed until May 26, 2015, well after the 30day time period. Therefore, the Notice of Removal was not timely filed.
Accordingly, for the reasons discussed above, it is
ORDERED that the case is REMANDED to the District Court for the County of
Montrose, Colorado, where it was initially filed as Case No. 14CO30681.

DATED at Denver, Colorado, this 5th

day of

June

, 2015.

BY THE COURT:
s/Lewis T. Babcock
LEWIS T. BABCOCK, Senior Judge
United States District Court

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