Brigante v. Tonawanda Coke Corporation et al

Filing 29

DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING Plaintiffs' 10 Motion to Remand; DENYING Plaintiffs' 12 request for attorneys fees; DIRECTING the Clerk of the Court to transfer this case to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie; DIRECTING the Cl erk of the Court to close this case upon transfer to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie; DENYING without prejudice Defendants Crane and Kamholz's 4 Motion to Dismiss; DENYING without prejudice Defendant Tonawanda Coke's 5 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by William M. Skretny, Chief Judge U.S.D.C. on 8/25/2011. (MEAL) (Attachments: # 1 DeLuca Decision and Order)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
COLLEEN BRIGANTE, Individually and as
Parent and Natural Guardian of
MARY BRIGANTE, an Infant,
Plaintiffs,
v.

DECISION AND ORDER
10-CV-875S

TONAWANDA COKE CORPORATION; JAMES
DONALD CRANE; MARK KAMHOLZ; ABC
CORPORATIONS 1 through 20 (Fictitious Defendants);
DEF CORPORATIONS 1 through 20 (Fictitious
Defendants); JOHN DOES 1 through 20 (Fictitious
Defendants),
Defendants.

Plaintiffs Colleen Brigante and Mary Brigante are residents of Tonawanda, New
York. (Notice of Removal (Docket No. 1), Ex. F (Complaint) ¶¶ 1-2.) The named
Defendants are Tonawanda Coke Corporation (“Tonawanda Coke”), James Donald Crane,
and Mark Kamholz. (Compl. ¶¶ 3-6.) This case originally was filed in the New York State
Supreme Court, County of Erie, but was removed by Defendants to this Court. (Notice of
Removal at 1.)
Pending before this Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion to Remand this action back to the
state court, along with a request for attorneys’ fees.1 (Docket No. 10.) Also pending is
Defendant Tonawanda Coke’s motion to dismiss several counts of the Complaint and to

1

In support of his m otion, Plaintiffs have filed the following: the affidavit of Charles H. Cobb, Esq.
with attachm ents (Docket No. 12); a m em orandum of law (Docket No. 13), and a reply m em orandum
(Docket No. 27). Defendants have filed a m em orandum in opposition to Plaintiffs’ m otion. (Docket No.
24.)

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strike several allegations within the Complaint (Docket No. 5),2 and a motion by Defendants
Crane and Kamholz to dismiss the Complaint for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).3 (Docket No. 4.)
The Complaint states the following causes of action: (1) negligence; (2) gross
negligence; (3) negligence per se; (4) strict liability; (5) absolute liability; (6) battery; (7)
intentional infliction of emotional distress; (8) negligent infliction of emotional distress; (9)
trespass; (10) nuisance; (11) unjust enrichment; and (12) “punitive damages.” (Compl. ¶¶
57-111.) Plaintiffs seek compensatory, exemplary, and punitive damages. (Compl. at pp.
25-26.)
In the related case of DeLuca, et al. v. Tonawanda Coke Corporation, et al., 1:10CV-859, this Court found it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the action and remanded
that case back to the New York state court. (Decision and Order, Case No. 1:10-CV-859,
Docket No. 23. )
This Court has reviewed the Complaint and the parties’ motions in this case. For
the reasons stated in the Decision and Order in DeLuca, this Court will grant Plaintiffs’
motion to remand. In short, Plaintiffs’ Complaint does not assert any causes of action
“arising under” federal law. Accordingly, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over
this action, and it must be remanded to the state court. Additionally, because this Court

2

In support of its m otion, Defendant Tonawanda Coke has subm itted a m em orandum of law
(Docket No. 5); the declaration of Rick Kennedy (Docket No. 6); and a reply m em orandum (Docket No.
25). Plaintiffs have filed a m em orandum in opposition to Tonawanda Coke’s m otion (Docket No. 20) and
an affidavit in opposition to the m otion (Docket No. 18).
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In support of their m otion, Defendants Crane and Kam holz have subm itted a m em orandum of
law (Docket No. 4); the declaration of Rick Kennedy (Docket No. 6); and a reply m em orandum (Docket
No. 26). Plaintiffs have filed a m em orandum in opposition to Crane and Kam holz’s m otion (Docket No.
21) and an affidavit in opposition to the m otion (Docket No. 18).

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does not possess jurisdiction over this case, Defendants’ motions to dismiss will be denied
without prejudice. This Court will deny Plaintiffs’ demand for attorneys’ fees for the
reasons stated in the Decision and Order in DeLuca.
ORDERS
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that Plaintiffs’ Motion to Remand (Docket No. 10) is
GRANTED.
FURTHER, that Plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees (Docket No. 12 (Cobb Aff. ¶
13)) is DENIED.
FURTHER, that the Clerk of the Court is directed to transfer Case No. 1:10-CV-875
to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie.
FURTHER, that the Clerk of the Court is directed to close the above-referenced
case upon transfer to the New York State Supreme Court, County of Erie.
FURTHER, that Defendants Crane and Kamholz’s Motion to Dismiss (Docket No.
4) is DENIED without prejudice.
FURTHER, that Defendant Tonawanda Coke’s Motion to Dismiss (Docket No. 5)
is DENIED without prejudice.

SO ORDERED.
Dated: August 25, 2011
Buffalo, New York
/s/William M. Skretny
WILLIAM M. SKRETNY
Chief Judge
United States District Court

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