Craftline Graphics, Inc et al v. Total Press Sales & Service LLC

Filing 4

OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiffs are ORDERED to supplement the record by filing an amended complaint that properly alleges the citizenship of each of the parties on or before November 22, 2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Susan L Collins on 11/8/17. (kjp)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
FORT WAYNE DIVISION
CRAFTLINE GRAPHICS, INC., et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
TOTAL PRESS SALES & SERVICE,
LLC,
Defendant.

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CASE NO: 1:17-cv-00462-TLS-SLC

OPINION AND ORDER
On November 6, 2017, Plaintiffs Craftline Graphics, Inc., and Kappa Graphics, L.P., filed
a complaint against Defendant Total Press Sales & Service, LLC, alleging that this Court has
diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (DE 1). The complaint recites that Craftline
Graphics, Inc., is an Indiana corporation with its principal place of business in Indiana. (DE 1 ¶
1). Similarly, with respect to each Kappa Graphics, L.P., and Total Press Sales & Service, LLC,
the complaint alleges the state in which it was organized and the location of its principal place of
business. (DE 1 ¶¶ 2, 3).
Plaintiffs’ allegations concerning Kappa Graphics, L.P., and Total Press Sales & Service,
LLC, however, are irrelevant for purposes of establishing diversity jurisdiction. “[I]n the case of
a firm that is not a corporation, its citizenship is the citizenship of its owners, partners, or other
principals.” Meyerson v. Harrah’s East Chi. Casino, 299 F.3d 616, 617 (7th Cir. 2002).
Therefore, “citizenship of unincorporated associations must be traced through however many
layers of partners or members there may be.” Id. (citations omitted). Accordingly, the Court
must be informed of the identity and citizenship of all of the partners of Kappa Graphics, L.P.,
and all of the members of Total Press Sales & Service, LLC, tracing such citizenship through all

applicable layers of ownership.
As the parties seeking to invoke federal diversity jurisdiction, Plaintiffs bear the burden
of demonstrating that the requirement of complete diversity has been met. Chase v. Shop‘N Save
Warehouse Foods, Inc., 110 F.3d 424, 427 (7th Cir. 1997). Therefore, Plaintiffs are ORDERED
to supplement the record by filing an amended complaint that properly alleges the citizenship of
each of the parties on or before November 22, 2017.
SO ORDERED.
Entered this 8th day of November 2017.
/s/ Susan Collins
Susan Collins
United States Magistrate Judge

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