Virginia Housing Development Authority v. Meredith et al

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on December 12, 2012. (sfc)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG DIVISION VIRGINIA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CASE NO. 6:12-cv-00050 Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM OPINION v. CHARLES B. MEREDITH, JUDGE NORMAN K. MOON Defendant. I. INTRODUCTION This matter is before the court upon Plaintiff Virginia Housing Development Authority’s (“VHDA”) motion to remand to state court. VHDA originally brought an unlawful detainer action in Lynchburg General District Court against Defendant Charles Meredith (“Defendant”). VHDA alleged that Defendant refused to vacate real property located at 614 Dinwiddie Street in Lynchburg after VHDA purchased the property at a foreclosure sale on August 1, 2012. On September 25, 2012, Defendant removed the case to this court under 28 U.S.C. § 1441, asserting federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Defendant contends that the foreclosure sale violated the Fourteenth Amendment and various federal statutes. Plaintiff moves to remand pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction. II. DISCUSSION The law regarding removal based on federal question jurisdiction is well established. Cases filed in state court can be removed only when a plaintiff could have filed the case in federal court originally. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a); Chicago v. Int’l Coll. Of Surgeons, 522 U.S. 156, 163 (1997). “Under the longstanding well-pleaded complaint rule . . . a suit ‘arises under’ federal law ‘only when the plaintiff's statement of his own cause of action shows that it is based upon [federal law].’” Vaden v. Discover Bank, 556 U.S. 49, 60 (2009) (quoting Louisville & Nashville R. Co. v. Mottley, 211 U.S. 149, 152 (1908)). Federal question jurisdiction cannot rest on a defense to the claim or upon actual or anticipated counterclaims. Id. “If federal jurisdiction is doubtful, a remand is necessary.” Mulcahey v. Columbia Organic Chemicals Co., Inc., 29 F.3d 148, 151 (4th Cir. 1994). This case was filed originally in state court as an unlawful detainer based on state law. There is nothing on the face of the complaint that presents a federal question. Any defenses to the unlawful detainer or any counterclaims that Defendant may bring cannot confer federal question jurisdiction upon this Court. See Vaden, 556 U.S. at 60; Fed. Nat’l Mortg. Ass’n v. Goode, No. 4:11-cv-00016, 2011 WL 3349810 (W.D. Va. 2011). Thus, this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, and it shall be remanded to Lynchburg General District Court. III. CONCLUSION For the aforementioned reasons, Plaintiff’s motion to remand shall be granted. An appropriate order accompanies this memorandum opinion. The Clerk of the Court is hereby directed to send a certified copy of this memorandum opinion and the accompanying order to all counsel of record. 12th Entered this _____ day of December, 2012. 2

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