Central Milling v. Weggenman

Filing 11

MEMORANDUM DECISION and Order-The case is DISMISSED and REMANDED to state court. Signed by Judge Clark Waddoups on 3/26/12. (jmr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF UTAH, NORTHERN DIVISION

CENTRAL MILLING, LLC,

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER

Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 1:11-CV-0088-CW

DANIEL WEGGENMAN,

Judge Clark Waddoups

Defendant.

On March 13, 2012, this court ordered the parties to show cause why Plaintiff’s complaint
should not be dismissed for lack of federal jurisdiction and be remanded to state court. (Dkt. No.
8.) The Tenth Circuit has clearly articulated that “there is a presumption against removal
jurisdiction.” Laughlin v. Kmart Corp., 50 F.3d 871, 873 (10th Cir. 1995). Accordingly, “[a]s the
parties invoking the federal court’s jurisdiction [through removal], defendants bear the burden of
establishing that the requirements for the exercise of diversity jurisdiction are present.” Martin v.
Franklin Capital Corp., 251 F.3d 1284, 1290 (10th Cir. 2001); see also Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980
F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992) (“The ‘strong presumption’ against removal jurisdiction means that
the defendant always has the burden of establishing that removal is proper.”)
In light of this requirement, the court’s order stated that “Defendant has failed to
demonstrate on removal that diversity exists between the unincorporated organization’s members
and Defendant.” (Dkt. No. 8, 2.) Defendant replied with two points: (1) Defendant explained that
he is not a member of Plaintiff organization, and (2) that “Defendant is unaware of the current
members of Plaintiff as it is not alleged in Plaintiff’s complaint.” (Dkt. No. 9, 2.). On removal,
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the Defendant carries the burden to demonstrate complete diversity. In this case, that burden
required the Defendant to show that all members of the Plaintiff LLC are diverse from the
Defendant. The Defendant has failed to make that showing and the court is required to remand.
The case is DISMISSED and REMANDED to state court.

DATED this 26th day of March, 2012.
BY THE COURT:

_________________________________
Clark Waddoups
United States District Judge

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