Lantz et al v. Progressive Casualty Insurance et al

Filing 11

ORDER: Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1653, that, on or before 7/29/2016, the removing defendant shall file an amended notice of removal providing the citizenship of defendants State Farm automobile Insurance Company, Progressive Casualty Insurance Co mpany, Nationwide Casualty Insurance Company, USAgencies and EAN Holdings, LLC by setting forth all citizenship particulars required to sustain federal diversity jurisdiction. Signed by Magistrate Judge Richard L. Bourgeois, Jr. on 7/11/2016. (LLH)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
KATHERINE COLLINS LANTZ, ET AL

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

NO. 16-318-JJB-RLB

PROGRESSIVE CASUALTY INSURANCE
ET AL
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.

2.

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 State Farm automobile
Insurance Company, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, Nationwide
Casualty Insurance Company and USAgencies is not provided.1

3.

____

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.2

4.

X

1

A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must properly allege the citizenship of a
limited liability company. The citizenship of a limited liability company for
diversity purposes is determined by the citizenship of its members. The

The phrase “principal place of business” in §1332(c)(1) refers to the place where a corporation’s
high level officers direct, control, and coordinate the corporation’s activities, i.e., its “nerve center,”
which will typically be found at its corporate headquarters. Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 130 S.Ct. 1181, 175
L.Ed.2d 1029 (2010)
2

See footnote 1.

citizenship of all of the members of a limited liability company must be properly
alleged. In the event a member of a limited liability company is another limited
liability company, the members of that limited liability company must be properly
alleged as well. See Harvey v. Grey Wolf Drilling Co., 542 F.3d 1077, 1080 (5th
Cir. 2008). The complete citizenship of EAN Holdings, LLC is not provided.
5.

A party invoking diversity jurisdiction must properly allege the citizenship of a
general partnership, a limited liability partnership, and a limited partnership. A
general partnership, a limited liability partnership, and a limited partnership has
the citizenship of each one of its partners. Both the general partner and limited
partner must be alleged to establish citizenship of a limited partnership. See
International Paper Co. v. Denkmann Assoc., 116 F.3d 134, 137 (5th Cir. 1997);
Carden v. Arkoma Associates, 494 U.S. 185 (1990). The citizenship of
_____________________ is not provided.

6.

____ 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).

7.

____ 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, No. 07-1733, 2007 WL 3095382
(N.D. Tex., Oct. 22, 2007). The citizenship of _____________ is not provided.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1653, that, on or before July 29, 2016, the

removing defendant shall file an amended notice of removal providing the citizenship of
defendants State Farm automobile Insurance Company, Progressive Casualty Insurance
Company, Nationwide Casualty Insurance Company, USAgencies and EAN Holdings, LLC
by setting forth all citizenship particulars required to sustain federal diversity jurisdiction.
Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 11, 2016.

S

RICHARD L. BOURGEOIS, JR.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE