Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05613/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-05613-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 290
Nature of Suit: Other Real Property Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331(a) Fed. Question: Real Property

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PHILIP J. MILLER,

Plaintiff,

v.

GLORIA DAVIS, et al.,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

No. C-07-5613 EMC

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

On November 5, 2007, Gloria and William Davis initiated this lawsuit in federal court by

filing a document titled “Petition for a New Case Number.” See Docket No. 1. (Although the

Davises initiated the lawsuit, they identified themselves as the defendants in the caption and Philip J.

Miller as the plaintiff.) In their petition, the Davises take issue with a determination by a state court

judge regarding the parties’ dispute over an easement over and removal of a tree from the Davises’

property. 

Having reviewed the petition, as well as a letter from Mr. Miller’s former counsel in which

he claims that Mr. Miller was not properly served with the petition, the Court has concerns as to

whether it has jurisdiction over the instant case. In particular, the Court is concerned that (1) Mr.

Miller may not have been properly served in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4; (2)

there appear to be only state law claims at issue (not federal) and, under 28 U.S.C. § 1332, a federal

court has jurisdiction over such claims only when each of the plaintiffs is a citizen of a different

state from each of the defendants (i.e., when there is “complete diversity” and the amount in

controversy exceeds $75,000); and (3) the Rooker- Feldman doctrine prohibits a federal district

Case 3:07-cv-05613-EMC Document 11 Filed 02/07/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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court from exercising jurisdiction over a suit that is a “de facto appeal from a state court judgment.” 

Kougasian v. TMSL, Inc., 359 F.3d 1136, 1139 (9th Cir. 2004). 

For the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby orders the Davises to show cause why this case

should not be dismissed based on a lack of federal jurisdiction for the reasons identified above as

well as a lack of personal jurisdiction over Mr. Miller. The Davises’ response to this order to show

cause shall be filed with the Court by February 25, 2008.

The Court further vacates the case management conference in this case, set for February 13,

2008, and resets the conference for hearing on April 23, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 7, 2008

_________________________ EDWARD M. CHEN

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:07-cv-05613-EMC Document 11 Filed 02/07/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PHILIP J. MILLER,

Plaintiff,

v.

GLORIA DAVIS, et al.,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

No. C-07-5613 EMC

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the U.S. District Court, Northern

District of California. On the below date, I served a true and correct copy of the attached, by placing

said copy/copies in a postage-paid envelope addressed to the person(s) listed below, by depositing

said envelope in the U.S. Mail; or by placing said copy/copies into an inter-office delivery

receptacle located in the Office of the Clerk.

WILLIAM DAVIS

GLORIA DAVIS

1508 Spring Street

St. Helena, CA 94574

ALL OTHER COUNSEL SERVED VIA

ELECTRONIC FILING ("E-FILING")

Dated: February 7, 2008 RICHARD W. WIEKING, CLERK

By: /s/ 

Leni Doyle

Deputy Clerk

Case 3:07-cv-05613-EMC Document 11 Filed 02/07/08 Page 3 of 3