Gibbs et al v. Bank of America, NA et al

Filing 4

ORDER DISMISSING CASE With Prejudice Signed by District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. (CPin)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
JEREMY GIBBS, TANYA GIBBS,
individuals, and HARTLAND FELLOWSHIP,
Plaintiffs,
Case No: 13-13820
Hon. Victoria A. Roberts

v.

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., and
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER DISMISSING PLAINTIFFS’ AMENDED COMPLAINT (Doc. 3)
On September 16, 2013, Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint. Two causes of
action are alleged: (1) religious discrimination in violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil
Rights Act, MCL 37.2502, et seq. (Count 1); and (2) unjust enrichment (Count 2). In a
jurisdiction and venue section, Plaintiffs claim the Court has federal question jurisdiction
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 15 U.S.C. § 1640, et seq.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, the Court has jurisdiction of “all civil actions arising
under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” Plaintiffs’ causes of
action do not arise under federal law, the Constitution, or treaties of the United States,
and their right to relief does not depend on the resolution of a substantial question of
federal law. See Thornton v. Southwest Detroit Detroit Hosp., 895 F.2d 1131, 1133 (6th
Cir. 1990) (“Federal courts have jurisdiction under section 1331 in ‘only those cases in
which a well-pleaded Complaint establishes either that federal law creates the cause of
action or that the plaintiff[’]s right to relief necessarily depends on resolution of a

substantial question of federal law.’”) (quoting Franchise Tax Bd. v. Constr. Laborers
Vacation Trust, 463 U.S. 1, 27-28 (1983)).
Plaintiffs set forth two causes of action; neither is a federal one. Rather, both
claims arise under, and are governed by, state law. This Court lacks subject matter
jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ action. Accordingly, their Amended Complaint is sua sponte
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1); Sturgis v. Lloyd, No. 1010101, 2010 WL 1052342, at *2 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 19, 2010) (“Encompassed in the duty
to assess subject matter jurisdiction is the requirement to dismiss sua sponte an action
over which a court lacks jurisdiction.”).
IT IS ORDERED.

s/Victoria A. Roberts
Victoria A. Roberts
United States District Judge
Dated: September 30, 2013

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