Thomas v. Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company

Filing 3

ORDER: The Court sua sponte notes the potential insufficiency of the removing defts allegation of the citizenship of the parties, as stated...IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to 28 USC 1653, that by 2/5/2010, the deft shall file an amended notice of removal providing its citizenship, by setting forth all citizenship particulars required to sustain federal diversity jurisdiction. Amended Pleadings due by 2/5/2010. Signed by Magistrate Judge Docia L Dalby on 1/26/2010. (JDL, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA TAMARA A. THOMAS VERSUS MASSACHUSETTS BAY INSURANCE COMPANY CIVIL ACTION NO. 09-1010-RET-DLD

ORDER The court sua sponte notes the potential insufficiency of the removing defendant's allegation of the citizenship of the parties as follows; 1. A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must allege the citizenship rather than mere residence of an individual. In addition, see 28 U.S.C. §1332(c)(2) for infants, minors and an incompetent. The citizenship of _______________ is not provided. X A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must allege both the state of incorporation and principal place of business of each corporate party. See, e.g., Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Co. v. Pargas, Inc., 706 F.2d 633 (5th Cir. 1983). The state of incorporation and principal place of business of Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company is not provided.

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____ A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must allege both the state of incorporation and principal place of business of each corporate party. See, e.g., Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Co. v. Pargas, Inc., 706 F.2d 633 (5th Cir. 1983). Even when a liability insurer takes on its insured's citizenship under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1), its own citizenship still is considered in determining whether complete diversity exists. The state of incorporation and principal place of business of ________________ is not provided. A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must properly allege the citizenship of a limited liability company. For a limited liability company, case law suggests that the citizenship of a limited liability company for diversity purposes is determined by the citizenship of its members. See Cosgrove v. Bartolotta, 150 F.3d 729, 731 (7th Cir. 1998). The citizenship of ________________ is not provided. A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must properly allege the citizenship

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of a partnership and a limited liability partnership. For a partnership, case law suggests that a partnership has the citizenship of each one of its partners. See International Paper Co. v. Denkmann Assoc., 116 F.3d 134, 137 (5th Cir. 1997). A limited liability partnership or L.L.P. also has the citizenship of each one of its partners, both general and limited. See Carden v. Arkoma Associates, 494 U.S. 185, 110 S.Ct. 1014, 108 L.Ed.2d 157 (1990). The citizenship of _____________________ is not provided.

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____ A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must properly allege the citizenship of Underwriters at Lloyd's, London. The citizenship of Underwriters at Lloyd's, London has not been provided. See Corfield v. Dallas Glen Hills LP, 355 F.3d 853 (5th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 1073, 124 S.Ct. 2421, 158 L.Ed.2d 983 (2004). ____ A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must properly allege the citizenship of a sole proprietorship. A business entity cannot be both a corporation and sole proprietorship; therefore the court seeks to clarify the identity of plaintiff/defendant. Case law suggests that the citizenship of a sole proprietorship for diversity purposes is determined by the citizenship of its members and/or owners. See Linder Enterprises v. Martinringle, 2007 WL 3095382 (N.D. Tex.). The citizenship of __________________ is not provided. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1653, that, on or before February 5,

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2010, the defendant shall file an amended notice of removal providing its citizenship, by setting forth all citizenship particulars required to sustain federal diversity jurisdiction. Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 26, 2010.

MAGISTRATE JUDGE DOCIA L. DALBY