MOUDY et al v. GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY et al

Filing 2

SHOW CAUSE ORDER. The parties are hereby ORDERED to show cause on or before July 6, 2007 why this action should not be remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, because of the questionable subject matter jurisdiction in that the amount of controversy does not appear to exceed $75,000. See Order of Court for further details. Signed by Judge Terrence F. McVerry on 06/22/07. (bsc)

MOUDY et al v. GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY et al

Doc. 2

Case 2:07-cv-00818-TFM

Document 2

Filed 06/22/2007

Page 1 of 2

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA WILLIAM MOUDY, SR., and CAROL A. MOUDY, husband and wife, Plaintiffs, v. GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY and/or GENERAL ELECTRIC CORPORATION, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

02: 07cv818

ORDER OF COURT The defendant General Electric Company removed this matter from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on June 8, 2007. Defendant's counsel was served with the Complaint on or about May 11, 2007. In its Notice of Removal, defendant states that it "reasonably believes that the matter in controversy will exceed the sum of $75,000, exclusive of interests and costs." Notice of Removal, ¶ 4 (Document No. 1). However, in their Complaint, Plaintiffs request judgment against Defendant "in excess of the jurisdictional limits of the Board of Arbitrators" of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. See Complaint, ad damnum clause. The removal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1441, must be strictly construed to honor the intent of Congress to restrict federal diversity jurisdiction. Samuel-Bassett v. KIA Motors Am., Inc., 357 F.3d 392, 396 (3d Cir. 2004). When the parties are citizens of different states, district courts will exercise jurisdiction over a removed case if the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). The removing party bears the burden of proving to a legal certainty that federal jurisdiction subject matter exists. Samual-Bassett, 357 F.3d at 396. The

Dockets.Justia.com

Case 2:07-cv-00818-TFM

Document 2

Filed 06/22/2007

Page 2 of 2

Court has the obligation to raise the question of subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte if it appears to the Court that the matter before it falls outside of the limited jurisdiction of the federal courts. Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Environment, 523 U.S. 83, 94-95 (1998). AND NOW, this 22nd day of June, 2007, it is hereby ORDERED that on or before July 6, 2007, the parties shall show cause why this action should not be remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, because of the questionable subject matter jurisdiction in that the amount in controversy does not appear to exceed $75,000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. It is further ORDERED that if plaintiffs contend that this Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction because the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000, then on or before July 6, 2007, plaintiffs shall also file a certificate stating that they are willing to irrevocably remit all damages in excess of $75,000, the jurisdictional threshold, should this action be remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

BY THE COURT: /s Terrence F. McVerry United States District Court Judge cc: Brendan B. Lupetin, Esquire Portnoy & Quinn Email: [e-mail] John E. Quinn, Esquire Portnoy & Quinn Email: [e-mail] Timothy J. Burdette, Esquire Email: [e-mail] 2