Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-00514/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-00514-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Petition for Removal

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PETER M. OWENS, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

IRIS CANADA,

Defendant.

Case No. 16-cv-00514-EMC 

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S 

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS AND REMANDING 

CASE

Docket No. 2, 11, 12

I. INTRODUCTION

On January 29, 2016, Defendant Iris Canada removed the instant case from state court, on 

the basis of diversity jurisdiction. Docket No. 1 (Not. of Removal). Defendant has applied to 

proceed in forma pauperis. Docket No. 2 (IFP App.). Plaintiffs have filed a motion to remand 

and an ex parte motion to shorten time on their remand motion, on the basis that removal is 

untimely. Docket No. 11-1 (Mot. to Remand); Docket No. 12 (Mot. to Shorten Time).

For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s in forma pauperis

application, and REMANDS the case to state court.

II. DISCUSSION

A. In Forma Pauperis Application

When presented with an application to proceed in forma pauperis, a court must first 

determine if the applicant satisfies the economic eligibility requirement of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

See Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1226 n.5 (9th Cir. 1984). Section 1915(a) does not 

require an applicant to demonstrate absolute destitution. See McCone v. Holiday Inn Convention 

Ctr., 797 F.2d 853, 854 (10th Cir. 1982) (citing Adkins v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemous & Co., Inc., 335 

U.S. 331, 339 (1948)).

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United States District Court

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In her application, Plaintiff states that she is currently unemployed and that her only source 

of money is social security, as she is retired. IFP App. at ¶¶ 1, 2. Plaintiff asserts that she owns a 

home, on which she pays a mortgage, and only $40.00 in cash. Given this information, Plaintiff’s 

application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.

B. Improper Removal

The Court must dismiss an in forma pauperis action at any time if the Court determines 

that the allegation of poverty is untrue, the action is frivolous or malicious, or the action fails to 

state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seeks monetary relief against a defendant 

immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Courts in this district have found that in 

addition to examining the merits of an action under the IFP statute, the courts have an independent 

duty to determine whether it has jurisdiction. See Coast to Coast Inv., LLC v. Luna, Case No. 14-

cv-131-WHO, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5960, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 15, 2014) (granting IFP 

application and remanding case that was improperly removed); Fannie Mae v. Luna, No. C-12-cv6432 EMC, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15619, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2013) (same).

The Court finds that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction in this case. Defendant removed 

the case solely on the basis of diversity in citizenship,1as Defendant is a resident of California and 

Plaintiffs are residents of New Hampshire. See Not. of Removal at 3. Because Defendant is a 

resident of California, Defendant was not permitted to remove this action. Under 28 U.S.C. § 

1441(b)(2), “[a] civil action otherwise removable solely on the basis of the jurisdiction under 

section 1332(a) of this title [i.e., diversity jurisdiction] may not be removed if any of the parties in 

interest properly joined and served as defendants is a citizen of the State in which such action is 

brought.” This limitation on removal is referred to as the “forum defendant rule.” Thus, removal 

is improper and remand is appropriate.

Even if removal was permitted, the Court finds that Defendant’s removal was not timely. 

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1446, “[t]he notice of removal of a civil action or proceeding shall be filed 

 

1

There are no federal claims, as Plaintiffs’ claims are solely based on Defendant’s alleged 

violations of the terms of a life estate interest in premises owned by Plaintiffs. See Docket No. 1 

at 12.

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United States District Court

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within thirty days after the receipt by the defendant, through service or otherwise, of a copy of the 

initial pleading . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1). Here, Plaintiffs filed the state court action on 

December 30, 2014, over a year before Defendant’s removal of the case on January 29, 2016. See

Docket No. 1 at 12. Defendant also had notice that there was a basis for diversity jurisdiction long 

before the untimely removal. Defendant has been sending her monthly payments to Plaintiffs in 

New Hampshire for almost ten years. See Docket No. 11-3 (Owens Dec.) at ¶ 9, Exh. E. The 

promissory note executed by Defendant in 2005 also listed all Plaintiffs as citizens of New 

Hampshire. Id. at ¶ 9, Exh. B. Declarations filed with Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment 

stated that Plaintiffs lived in New Hampshire. Chernev Dec. at ¶ 10, Exh. E. Further, the 

bankruptcy petition filed by Defendant listed the Plaintiffs as residing in New Hampshire. Id., 

Exh. F. In short, Defendant has known of Plaintiffs’ citizenships long before she sought to 

remove the case, making removal untimely.

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s application to proceed in 

forma pauperis but also finds that the removal was not timely effectuated. For this reason, the 

Court finds that this case was improperly removed from state court and REMANDS this action 

back to the Superior Court of San Francisco. Plaintiffs’ motions to remand and to shorten time are 

DENIED as moot. The Clerk is instructed to close the case.

This order disposes of Docket Nos. 2, 11, and 12.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 12, 2016

______________________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

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