Nutt v. Ole Miss Athletics Foundation et al

Filing 22

ORDER granting 13 Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction. Signed by Senior Judge Neal B. Biggers on 8/9/2017. (llw)

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Case: 3:17-cv-00130-NBB-RP Doc #: 22 Filed: 08/09/17 1 of 1 PageID #: 89 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI OXFORD DIVISION HOUSTON DALE NUTT, JR. PLAINTIFF V. CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:17-CV-00130-NBB-RP OLE MISS ATHLETICS FOUNDATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, and THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING DEFENDANTS ORDER This cause comes before the court upon the defendants’ Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction. Defendants argue that jurisdiction is lacking because both the University of Mississippi and the Board of Trustees for Institutions of Higher Learning are arms of the state of Mississippi and, consequently, are not “citizens” of any state for purposes of diversity jurisdiction. See Hood v. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP, 744 F. Supp. 2d 590 (N.D. Miss. 2010); Tradigrain, Inc. v. Mississippi State Port Authority, 701 F.2d 1131 (5th Cir. 1983). In response to the instant motion, the plaintiff concedes that the defendants’ argument is meritorious and asserts “it is agreed that this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction.” The court points out that the claims filed by the plaintiff involve no federal statutes or U.S. Constitution claims and are all state law claims, and therefore, since the issues are not between “citizens of different states,” the federal court lacks jurisdiction under the pleadings as presented. It is, therefore, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the motion to dismiss is GRANTED, and this case is dismissed without prejudice. This, the 9th day of August, 2017. /s/ Neal Biggers NEAL B. BIGGERS, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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