ANDREWS et al v. RAM MEDICAL INC et al

Filing 7

ORDER directing Plaintiffs to show evidence of amount in controversy not later than 11/17/2011. Ordered by Judge Hugh Lawson on 10/31/2011. (nbp)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION
SHAWN ANDREWS and CONSTANT
ANDREWS,

:
:
:
Plaintiffs,
:
:
v.
:
:
RAM MEDICAL, INC.; MEDILINE
:
INDUSTRIES, INC.; C.R. BARD, INC.,
:
and DAVOL, INC.
:
:
Defendants.
:
___________________________________

Civil Action No.
7:11-cv-147 (HL)

ORDER
Plaintiffs in this case filed their complaint on October 26, 2011, alleging
eleven independent claims against Defendants. Plaintiffs claim that their action
for damages stems from “Defendants’ manufacture, marketing, distribution, and
sale of polypropylene surgical mesh” which was “false, misleading, inaccurate,
deceptive and represents unconscionable commercial practice.” (Doc. 1, p. 3.)
The asserted basis for the Court’s subject matter jurisdiction is diversity
jurisdiction in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
Consistent with this Court’s responsibility to examine the subject matter
jurisdiction of the cases that come before it, the Court has reviewed the
complaint to determine whether the diversity jurisdictional requirements in this
case have been satisfied. See Morrison v. Allstate Indem. Co., 228 F.3d 1255,
1261 (11th Cir. 2000). Having concluded that the requirements for diversity

jurisdiction have not been satisfied, the Court orders Plaintiffs to come forward
with evidence demonstrating that the amount in controversy requirement is met.
I. Federal Diversity Jurisdiction
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Morrison, 228 F.3d at
1260-61. Article III of the United States Constitution sets the outer boundaries of
judicial jurisdiction, and Congress is vested with the discretion to determine the
scope of subject matter jurisdiction within that broad constitutional grant. Id. at
1261. Congress can “give, withhold, or restrict such jurisdiction at its discretion,
provided it be not extended beyond the boundaries fixed by the Constitution.”
Univ. of South Alabama v. Am. Tobacco Co., 168 F.3d 405, 409 (11th Cir. 1999)
(citations omitted).
Congress has created two primary methods for pleading original federal
subject matter jurisdiction. The first method requires the existence of a federal
question at the heart of the claim. 28 U.S.C. § 1331. The second method is
based on diversity of citizenship. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. A diversity action is
appropriate “where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of
$75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between … citizens of different
States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332 (a)(1). Thus, a diversity action has two distinct
requirements: (1) an amount greater than $75,000, and (2) complete diversity of
citizenship.

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a. Amount in Controversy Requirement
The amount in controversy must be stated with particularity and in good
faith, and dismissal is justified if it appears to a “legal certainty” that the claim is
for less than $75,000. St. Paul Mercury Indem. Co. v. Red Cab Co., 303 U.S.
283, 289, 58 S. Ct. 586, 590 (1938). However, “where jurisdiction is based on a
claim for indeterminate damages, the ‘legal certainty’ test gives way, and the
party seeking to invoke federal jurisdiction bears the burden of proving by a
preponderance of the evidence that the claim on which it is basing jurisdiction
meets the jurisdictional minimum.” Federated Mut. Ins. Co. v. McKinnon Motors,
LLC, 329 F.3d 805, 807 (11th Cir. 2003).
Specific evidence of the amount in controversy is considered along with
any “reasonable deductions, reasonable inferences, or other reasonable
extrapolations” to determine whether the requirements for federal subject matter
jurisdiction are met. Id. at 754. To clear the jurisdictional hurdle, these deductions
and inferences must plainly demonstrate that the damages sought are
“sufficiently measureable and certain to satisfy the … amount in controversy
requirement.” Morrison, 228 F.3d at 1268-69 (citing Ericsson GE Mobile
Commc’ns, Inc. v. Motorola Commc’ns & Elecs., Inc., 120 F.3d 216, 221 (11th
Cir. 1997)). In those cases where the complaint alleges indeterminate damages,
the court may rely on its judicial experience and common sense to determine if
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the claims satisfy the amount in controversy requirement. Roe v. Michelin N.
Am., Inc., 613 F.3d 1064 (11th Cir. 2010).
In this case, Plaintiffs’ complaint only includes a mere conclusory
statement about the amount in controversy. The complaint simply states that “the
amount in controversy exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00),
exclusive of interest and costs.” (Doc. 1, p. 3.) Plaintiffs also assert eleven times
that they are entitled to “actual and consequential damages” and assert eight
times that they are entitled to “punitive damages.” (Doc. 1, p. 8, 10-13, 15, 17-19,
21.) However, these cursory claims, without any evidence to support them, are
insufficient to demonstrate that the amount in controversy requirement is
satisfied.
Additionally, there is not enough information in the complaint to allow the
Court to gather any inferences about the amount of damages suffered by
Plaintiffs. While Plaintiff asserts that he “experienced a multitude of health risks
associated with the surgery, including but not limited to, poor wound healing,
persistent post-operative pain, continuous tenderness in abdomen, and drainage
from surgical incision site” (Doc. 1, p. 5), this is not enough information to
convince the Court that the amount in controversy is satisfied. To estimate the
amount of damages would be to speculate.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs are ordered to file with this Court, no later than
November 17, 2011, a brief with exhibits sufficient to show by a preponderance
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of the evidence that their claims exceed $75,000. This brief must persuade the
Court that there is sufficient evidence to meet the amount in controversy
requirement. Defendants will then have until December 8, 2011 to respond. If
Plaintiffs wish to file a reply, they must seek the Court’s permission to do so. The
Court’s Rules 16/26 Order will not issue until the court determines it has subject
matter jurisdiction over the case.
II. Conclusion
Without a properly alleged amount in controversy, a complaint is “fatally
defective, as far as diversity jurisdiction is concerned.” Road v. Anderson
Trucking Service Inc., No. 7:07-cv-185, 2007 WL 4097321, at *2 (M.D. Ga. 2007)
(citations omitted). Plaintiffs have one more chance to properly establish the
amount in controversy in this case. If they fail to meet their burden of establishing
subject matter jurisdiction, the case will be dismissed.
SO ORDERED, this the 31st day of October, 2011.

s/ Hugh Lawson
HUGH LAWSON, SENIOR JUDGE

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