MAWD Pathology Group, PA et al v. CIGNA Healthcare of St. Louis, Inc. et al

Filing 6

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE regarding diversity jurisdiction. Show Cause Response due by 9/2/2022. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kenneth G. Gale on 8/2/22. (df)

Case 2:22-cv-02272-EFM-KGG Document 6 Filed 08/02/22 Page 1 of 4

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
MAWD PATHOLOGY GROUP, PA )
et al,
)
)
Plaintiffs, )
)
v.
)
)
CIGNA HEALTHCARE OF
)
ST. LOUIS, INC. et al.,
)
)
Defendants. )
_______________________________)

Case No.: 22-2272-EFM-KGG

SHOW CAUSE ORDER
Plaintiffs filed this federal court breach of contract action against
Defendants. (Doc. 1.) Although the Complaint alleges diversity jurisdiction
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 (id., at 3), the Complaint alleges contradictory facts
that make it impossible for the Court to confirm whether diversity of citizenship
exists.
It is the independent obligation of the court to determine that subject matter
jurisdiction is proper and that the court “do[es] not exceed the scope of [its]
jurisdiction … .” Henderson ex rel. Henderson v. Shinseki, 562 U.S. 428, 434,
131 S.Ct. 1197, 179 L.Ed.2d 159 (2011). As such, this Court “must raise and
decide jurisdictional questions that the parties either overlook or elect not to press.”

1 

Case 2:22-cv-02272-EFM-KGG Document 6 Filed 08/02/22 Page 2 of 4

Id. (citation omitted). If it becomes apparent that jurisdiction does not exist, the
court, on its own, “must dismiss the cause at any stage of the proceedings … .”
Penteco Corp. Ltd. P’ship v. Union Gas Sys., Inc., 929 F.2d 1519, 1521 (10th Cir.
1991); Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. §1332(a), federal courts have original jurisdiction
over civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 and is
between:
(1) citizens of different States;
(2) citizens of a State and citizens or subjects of a foreign
state, except that the district courts shall not have original
jurisdiction under this subsection of an action between
citizens of a State and citizens or subjects of a foreign
state who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence
in the United States and are domiciled in the same State;
(3) citizens of different States and in which citizens or
subjects of a foreign state are additional parties; and
(4) a foreign state, defined in section 1603(a) of this title,
as plaintiff and citizens of a State or of different States.
“Diversity jurisdiction requires complete diversity – no plaintiff may be a
citizen of the same state as any defendant.” Grynberg v. Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P., 805 F.3d 901, 905 (10th Cir. 2015). Simply stated, diversity is
absent when citizens of the same state are on both sides of the case.
To establish diversity jurisdiction, the organizational structure determines
the citizenship of a business entity. For instance, the citizenship of a corporation is
2 

Case 2:22-cv-02272-EFM-KGG Document 6 Filed 08/02/22 Page 3 of 4

both the state or foreign state of incorporation and the state or foreign state where
its principal place of business is located. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1); Newsome v.
Gallacher, 722 F.3d 1257, 1267 (10th Cir. 2013). On the other hand, citizenship
for unincorporated associations (such as a limited liability company, general
partnership, or limited partnership) is determined by the citizenship of each of its
members. Siloam Springs Hotel, LLC v. Century Sur. Co., 781 F.3d 1233, 1234
(10th Cir. 2015).
The Complaint sufficiently alleges that the corporate Defendants are not
citizens of Kansas. (Doc. 1, at 4.) The allegations regarding the citizenship of
Plaintiffs are, however, complicated.
The caption of the Complaint and introduction indicate that each of the three
individual Plaintiffs is a Kansas professional association with a principal place of
business in Lenexa, Kansas. (Id., at 1.) As stated above, citizenship for an
unincorporated association is determined by the citizenship of each of its members.
Siloam Springs Hotel, LLC, 781 F.3d at 1234. The Complaint does not make any
reference to the members of the association(s). (See generally Doc. 1.)
That stated, the Complaint continues that each of the Plaintiffs is a “P.C.” or
professional corporation. (Id., at 3.) As discussed above, the determination of and
criteria for citizenship of a corporate Plaintiff is different from that of an
unincorporated association. Each of the Plaintiffs is either an association (P.A.) or
3 

Case 2:22-cv-02272-EFM-KGG Document 6 Filed 08/02/22 Page 4 of 4

a corporation (P.C.), not both as alleged. In order for the Court to make a
determination as to the sufficiency of the allegations of diversity, Plaintiffs must
clarify its organizational structure.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that within 30 days of the date of this
Order, Plaintiffs shall file a status report, with affidavits attached, properly
alleging and demonstrating the citizenship of Plaintiffs and showing cause as to
why the undersigned Magistrate Judge should not recommend to the District Court
that the case be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this 2nd day of August, 2022, at Wichita, Kansas.
/S KENNETH G. GALE
HON. KENNETH G. GALE
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

4