Wells Fargo v. Bonaby et al

Filing 16

ORDER REMANDING CASE TO STATE COURT. Closing Case. Signed by Judge Darrin P. Gayles on 2/14/2017. (zvr) NOTICE: If there are sealed documents in this case, they may be unsealed after 1 year or as directed by Court Order, unless they have been designated to be permanently sealed. See Local Rule 5.4 and Administrative Order 2014-69.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 17-cv-20266-GAYLES
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
Plaintiff,
v.
JOHN F. BONABY and BONABY
MANAGEMENT, INC.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER REMANDING CASE
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court sua sponte. The Court has reviewed the record in
this case and is otherwise fully advised in the premises.
In its Order dated January 25, 2017, after concluding that Defendant Bonaby Management,
Inc.’s (“Bonaby Management”) allegations pertaining to citizenship were “fatally defective” to
establish diversity jurisdiction in this case, [ECF No. 6 at 3] (quoting Travaglio v. Am. Express
Co., 735 F.3d 1266, 1269 (11th Cir. 2013), this Court ordered Bonaby Management to “file an
Amended Notice of Removal that includes sufficient allegations to unequivocally establish diversity
of citizenship of the parties in this case,” [Id.]. The Court warned that “[f]ailure to comply with th[e]
Order will result in remand without further notice for want of federal jurisdiction.” [Id.]
Bonaby Management filed its Amended Notice of Removal on February 10, 2017 [ECF
No. 13]. In it, Bonaby Management alleges that “Plaintiff, Wells Fargo, by its signature on its
complaint reflecting its residence as well as by its articles of incorporation clearly indicate that it
is a citizen of the State of North Carolina.” [Id. ¶ 4(a)] (emphasis added). The Court made clear
that a national banking association, like Wells Fargo, is a citizen of “the State designated in its
articles of association as its main office.” [ECF No. 6 at 2] (emphasis added) (quoting Wachovia
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Bank v. Schmidt, 546 U.S. 303, 318 (2006)). In other words, Bonaby Management has relied upon
the wrong document and has not properly established Wells Fargo’s citizenship.
As to its own citizenship, Bonaby Management asserts that “Defendant Bonaby Management, Inc. is a citizen of the State of Florida with a last known address on Miami Beach.” [ECF
No. 13 ¶ 4(b)]. The Court also made clear that Bonaby Management, as a corporation, is deemed
“for jurisdictional purposes . . . to be a citizen of the state of its incorporation and the state of its
principal place of business.” [ECF No. 6 at 2] (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1)). Bonaby Management has failed to allege either its state of incorporation or the state of its principal place of business, relying instead on its “last known address” and a conclusory statement that it is a citizen of
Florida. This is not sufficient to establish its citizenship.
Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Bonaby Management has failed to “‘unequivocally’ establish diversity of citizenship.” Corporate Mgmt. Advisors, Inc. v. Artjen Complexus, Inc.,
561 F.3d 1294, 1297-98 (11th Cir. 2009) (quoting Armada Coal Exp., Inc. v. Interbulk, Ltd., 726
F.2d 1566, 1569 (11th Cir. 1984)). As a result, the Court cannot properly exercise diversity jurisdiction over this case, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, and remand is warranted. It is therefore
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that this action is REMANDED in its entirety to the
Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida.
This action is CLOSED.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 14th day of February, 2017.

________________________________
DARRIN P. GAYLES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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