Lamie v. Smith et al

Filing 4

ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT: for lack of subject matter jurisdiction ; signed by Chief Judge Paul L. Maloney (Chief Judge Paul L. Maloney, aeb)

Download PDF
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION ERVIN JOSEPH LAMIE, JR., Plaintiff, ) ) ) -v) ) GREG SMITH, ) PAMELA SUE SMITH, ) DAVID W. LAMIE, and ) MURIEL D. LAMIE, ) Defendants. ) ____________________________________) No. 1:12-cv-00142 HONORABLE PAUL L. MALONEY ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT FOR LACK OF SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION Based on its initial review of the Complaint, the court issues this sua sponte order dismissing the present action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. This case involves three claims brought by Plaintiff Ervin Joseph LaMie, Jr. against Defendants Greg Smith, Pamela Sue Smith, David W. LaMie, and Muriel D. LaMie. Plaintiff alleges (1) a claim of “waste to land”; (2) wrongful eviction and conversion; and (3) intentional infliction of emotional distress, all based on actions the Defendants have taken regarding a piece of property in Ottawa County, Michigan. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(1) requires that a pleading state the basis for the court’s jurisdiction. The “federal courts have a duty to consider their subject matter jurisdiction in regard to every case and may raise the issue sua sponte.” Answers in Genesis of Ky., Inc. v. Creation Ministries Int’l, Ltd., 556 F.3d 459, 465 (6th Cir. 2009). In this case, the complaint alleges diversity jurisdiction based on “the jurisdictional issues of the different defendants in other states and the amounts exceed[ing] seventy five thousand dollars.” Diversity is based on the citizenship of the parties. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332. The federal diversity statute requires that diversity actions be founded on complete diversity of citizenship—that is, that no defendant be a citizen of the same state as any plaintiff. See Lincoln Prop. Co. v. Roche, 546 U.S. 81, 89 (2005). Here, however, both Plaintiff and Defendant David W. LaMie are alleged to reside in the state of Michigan, and the complaint contains no allegations suggesting that either party is not in fact a Michigan citizen. Though the other Defendants are residents of other states, diversity cannot exist where a plaintiff and a defendant share citizenship. Therefore, it appears that this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the present dispute, and, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3), the court must dismiss this action. For these reasons, the present action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. IT IS SO ORDERED. Date: February 22, 2012 /s/ Paul L. Maloney Paul L. Maloney Chief United States District Judge 2

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?