Guzman v. Smithfield Foods Inc et al

Filing 16

ORDER Directing Dolgencorp, LLC to file a disclosure statement that complies with LCvR 7.1.1 within 7 days re 15 Disclosure Statement - Corporate filed by Dolgen Corporation LLC. Signed by Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti on 9/13/2017. (mb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
SANDRA GUZMAN,
Plaintiff,
v.
SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC., et al.,
Defendants.

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Case No. CIV-17-697-D

ORDER
Upon review of the Corporate Disclosure Statement [Doc. No. 15] filed by
Dolgencorp, LLC pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.1, the Court finds that the statement fails to
comply with LCvR7.1.1 and additional information is needed. Defendant Dolgencorp,
LLC “is a Kentucky limited liability corporation.” See Am. Joint Status Report [Doc.
No. 12]. This description is confusing, but it appears to indicate that Dolgencorp, LLC
was formed under the Kentucky Limited Liability Company Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann.
§§ 275.001-275.540. If so, the Court’s local rules require Defendant Dolgencorp, LLC to
“file a separate ‘Disclosure Statement Identifying Constituents of LLC or Partnership,’
identifying the LLC’s members.” See LCvR7.1.1.
Further, federal jurisdiction in this case rests on 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). A limited
liability company is not treated like a corporation for jurisdictional purposes under 28
U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1), but like an unincorporated association that has the citizenship of each
of its members under Carden v. Arkoma Assocs., 494 U.S. 185, 195-96 (1990). See Siloam
Springs Hotel, L.L.C. v. Century Surety Co., 781 F.3d 1233, 1237-38 (10th Cir. 2015).

Thus, Dolgencorp, LLC’s disclosure statement must also identify its members’ states of
citizenship. See LCvR7.1.1. If any of its members are LLC’s or other unincorporated
associations, the members of those entities must be identified as well. See Thomas v.
Guardsmark, LLC, 487 F.3d 531, 534 (7th Cir. 2007).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant Dolgencorp, LLC is directed to file
a disclosure statement that complies with LCvR7.1.1 within 7 days of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 13th day of September, 2017.