Melder v. Brittain et al

Filing 18

SUA SPONTE JURISDICTIONAL REVIEW ORDER. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joseph H L Perez-Montes on 4/25/2017. (crt,Tice, Y)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
ALEXANDRIA DIVISION

b

BILLY MELDER

CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:16-CV-01767

VERSUS

CHIEF JUDGE DRELL

LARRY BRITTAIN, et al.

MAGISTRATE JUDGE PEREZ-MONTES

SUA SPONTE JURISDICTIONAL REVIEW ORDER
Before the Court is a Complaint removed from a Louisiana state court by
Defendants Larry Brittain, Deem Structural Services, L.L.C., American Alternative
Insurance Corporation, and Shelter Mutual Insurance Company.

Defendants

premise federal jurisdiction on diversity of citizenship.
The diversity statute – 28 U.S.C. § 1332 – is satisfied upon a showing of: (1)
diversity of citizenship between the parties; and (2) an amount in controversy in
excess of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs. “Complete diversity requires that
all persons on one side of the controversy be citizens of different states than all
persons on the other side.” Harvey v. Grey Wolf Drilling Co., 542 F.3d 1077, 1079
(5th Cir. 2008) (internal citation and quotation omitted). Further, “when jurisdiction
depends on citizenship, citizenship must be distinctly and affirmatively alleged.”
Getty Oil Corp., a Div. of Texaco, Inc. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 841 F.2d 1254, 1259 (5th
Cir. 1988).
The Court has “an independent obligation to determine whether subjectmatter jurisdiction exists, even in the absence of a challenge from any party.”
Arbaugh v. Y&H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 514 (2006). This duty persists throughout all

phases of the litigation, “even after trial and the entry of final judgment.” Id. at 50607.
The citizenship of an individual is his or her domicile, meaning the place where
an individual resides and intends to remain. See Acridge v. Evangelical Lutheran
Good Samaritan Soc., 334 F.3d 444, 448 (5th Cir. 2003). A corporation shall be
deemed to be a citizen of every State and foreign state by which it has been
incorporated and of the State or foreign state where it has its principal place of
business. See Tewari De-Ox Sys., Inc. v. Mountain States/Rosen, Ltd. Liab. Corp.,
757 F.3d 481, 483 (5th Cir. 2014). The citizenship of an LLC, a limited partnership,
or other unincorporated association or entity is determined by the citizenship of all
its members. See Harvey, 542 F.3d at 1079-80.
Plaintiff Billy Melder is a Louisiana resident.
Defendant Larry Brittain is a Texas resident.
Defendants allege that Deem Structural Services, L.L.C. is a Texas limited
liability company with its principal place of business in Texas. Defendants have not
specified the identity(ies) and citizenship(s) of the owner(s)/member(s) of Deem
Structural Services, L.L.C.
Defendants allege that Shelter Mutual Insurance Company is a “foreign
corporation” with its principal place of business in Texas. Defendants have not
alleged the state of incorporation for Shelter Mutual Insurance Company.
Defendant have not alleged the state of incorporation or the principal place of
business for American Alternative Insurance Corporation.

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Therefore, diversity is not shown on the face of the pleadings.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to serve a copy of this order upon any and
all Defendants IMMEDIATELY upon receipt of proof of service or an appearance.
IT IS ORDERED that, not later than 21 days from service of this Order on
Defendants Larry Brittain, Deem Structural Services, L.L.C., American Alternative
Insurance Corporation, and Shelter Mutual Insurance Company, Defendants SHALL
FILE: (1) a Jurisdictional Memorandum setting forth the citizenship of all parties to
this lawsuit; and (2) a motion under for leave to amend the jurisdictional allegations
of the Notice of Removal to adequately allege diversity jurisdiction.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff will be allowed seven days from
receipt of Defendants’ memoranda regarding jurisdiction to file a response.
25th
THUS DONE AND SIGNED in chambers in Alexandria, Louisiana, this _____
day of April, 2017.

______________________________
Joseph H.L. Perez-Montes
United States Magistrate Judge

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