Smith v. Stephens et al

Filing 4

ORDER that Defendants shall file an amended notice of removal within 14 days that states a sufficient basis for jurisdiction re 1 Notice of Removal, filed by American International Group Inc, Christopher Stephens, Grand Transit Company LLC. Signed by Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti on 8/3/2015. (mb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
THOMAS BRIAN SMITH,
Plaintiff,
v.
CHRISTOPHER STEPHENS, an
individual, GRAND TRANSIT
COMPANY, LLC, and AMERICAN
INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.,
a foreign insurance company,
Defendant.

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Case No. CIV-15-776-D

ORDER
Upon examination of the Notice of Removal, the Court finds insufficient factual allegations
to show the existence of federal subject matter jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship under
28 U.S.C. § 1332(a), as asserted by Defendants.1 The Notice of Removal states there is complete
diversity of citizenship because Plaintiff is a citizen of the State of Oklahoma and Defendant Grand
Transit Company, LLC is a Texas Limited Liability Company, “with its principal place of business
in the state of Texas.” See Notice of Removal [Doc. No. 1], ¶ 4. The state court Petition alleges only
that Grand Transit Company, LLC “is a Texas limited liability company.” See Petition [Doc. No.
1-2]. The Notice of Removal contains no information concerning the citizenship of the members or
owners of Grand Transit Company, LLC and, therefore, fails to allege the citizenship of this
defendant. See Siloam Springs Hotel, L.L.C. v. Century Surety Co., 781 F.3d 1233, 1238 (10th Cir.

1

Because the Court has an independent obligation to determine whether subject-matter
jurisdiction exists, the Court raises the issue sua sponte. 1mage Software, Inc. v. Reynolds &
Reynolds Co., 459 F.3d 1044, 1048 (10th Cir. 2006).

2015 (joining “all other circuits that have considered the matter” and holding that a limited liability
company “ takes the citizenship of all its members”).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants shall file an amended notice of removal that
states a sufficient factual basis for diversity jurisdiction within 14 days from the date of this Order.2
IT IS SO ORDERED this 3rd day of August, 2015.

2

Defendants need not re-file the exhibits attached to the Notice of Removal but may
incorporate them by reference pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c).
2