Moss et al v. Nellis et al

Filing 51

ORDER that on or before September 21, 2012, defendants The Birches of Wildcat Cliffs, LLC and Nellis Realty, LLC and third-party defendant Le Bon Temps Roule', LLC d/b/a Appalachian Golf Cars, LLC shall file a response. (SEE ORDER FOR DETAILS). Signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell on 9/5/12. (nll)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
BRYSON CITY DIVISION
2:12-cv-02

WILLIAM J. MOSS, III, and JUDY R.
MOSS,
Plaintiffs, and
JUDITH TYNDAL,
Intervenor Plaintiff,
v.
PAMELA S. NELLIS, WILLIAM R.
NELLIS, and THE BIRCHES OF
WILDCAT CLIFFS, LLC, NELLIS
REALTY, LLC,
v.
Defendants and Third Party Plaintiffs,
v.
LE BON TEMPS ROULE’, LLC d/b/a
APPALACHIAN GOLF CARS, LLC
and WILLIAM TYNDAL,
Defendants.
_______________________________

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court sua sponte to ascertain subject matter
jurisdiction.
In the plaintiffs’ Complaint it is alleged that the Birches of Wildcat Cliffs,

LLC is a corporation organized under the laws of the state of North Carolina and
the defendant Nellis Realty, LLC is a corporation organized under the laws of the
state of North Carolina. (Comp., ¶¶ 5 & 6) It is admitted in the Answer of the
third-party defendant Le Bon Temps Roule’, LLC d/b/a Appalachian Golf Cars,
LLC that Le Bon Temps Roule’, LLC is a North Carolina Limited Liability
Company which does business under the assumed name of Appalachian Golf Cars,
LLC. (Answer to Third-Party Comp. on behalf of Le Bon Temps Roule’, LLC,
#36, ¶ 11)
Courts have an affirmative duty to question subject matter jurisdiction even
when the parties have not done so. Interstate Petroleum Corp. v. Morgan, 249 F.3d
215 (4 th Cir. 2001); Plyer v. Moore, 129 F.3d 728, 732 n.6 (4th Cir. 1997),
certiorari denied 524 U.S. 945, 118 S.Ct. 2359, 141 L.Ed.2d 727 (1998); 28 U.S.C.
§1447(c)("If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks
subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded."). A limited liability
company is a citizen of all states in which its constituent members are citizens.
Carden v. Arkoma Associates, 494 U.S. 185, 110 S.Ct. 1015, 108 L.Ed.2d 157
(1990). The defendants, in their Answer, and the third-party defendants have not
disclosed whether they have constituent members or partners and the citizenship of
those members or partners and therefore will be required to do so.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that on or before September 21, 2012,

the defendants The Birches of Wildcat Cliffs, LLC and Nellis Realty, LLC and the
third-party defendant Le Bon Temps Roule’, LLC d/b/a Appalachian Golf Cars,
LLC shall file a response disclosing the names and citizenships, if any, of all the
constituent members or partners of the above referenced LLC’s, including
Appalachian Golf Cars, LLC which is referenced in the pleadings, and, for any such
constituent members or partners that are limited liability companies or partnerships,
to identify the citizenships of the respective constituent members or partners until
all such constituents are fully identified.

Signed: September 5, 2012