Case ID: f-appx_243/html/0434-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MICHAEL W. McCONNELL Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Clarissa WELLS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jonathan James FERNANDEZ, and Donna Fernandez, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 07-1062.
    United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
    Aug. 9, 2007.
    Clarissa Wells, Aurora, CO, pro se.
    Before BRISCOE, EBEL, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges.
   ORDER AND JUDGMENT

MICHAEL W. McCONNELL Circuit Judge.

This automobile tort suit was dismissed from federal district court because the parties’ citizenship was not completely diverse. The plaintiff, Appellant Clarissa Wells, resides in Aurora, Colorado. Among the defendants are two persons, Jonathan and Donna Fernandez, who the complaint alleges reside in Denver, Colorado. Id. Under longstanding precedent, a federal court has diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a) to entertain state-law claims only when “each defendant is a citizen of a different State from each plaintiff.” Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 373, 98 S.Ct. 2396, 57 L.Ed.2d 274 (1978). Ms. Wells argued in district court and reiterates on appeal that there is no evidence either way to establish the citizenship of the defendants. This argument does nothing to further Ms. Wells’s cause. As the person invoking federal court jurisdiction, Ms. Wells bears the burden of proving that both this Court and the district court have subject matter jurisdiction. McNutt v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 298 U.S. 178, 189, 56 S.Ct. 780, 80 L.Ed. 1135 (1936); Penteco Corp. Ltd. P’ship-1985A v. Union Gas Sys., Inc., 929 F.2d 1519, 1521 (10th Cir.1991). If she is correct that no evidence exists to establish the defendants’ citizenship, this failure of proof is an additional reason that Ms. Wells’s claim should be dismissed without prejudice—not a reason to reinstate her lawsuit. Therefore, Ms. Wells’ APPEAL IS DISMISSED.

Appellant’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. 
      
       After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This case is therefore submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R.App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.