Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_06-cv-00073/USCOURTS-alnd-2_06-cv-00073-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Fraud

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Reference to a document number, [“Doc. ___”], refers to the number assigned to each

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document as it is filed in the court’s record.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

MARY S. SUGGS; CARL SUGGS,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

SEARS HOME IMPROVEMENT

P R O D U C T S , I N C . ; T O MMY

JOHNSON,

Defendants.

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CV 06-B-0073-S

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This case is presently pending before the court on plaintiff’s Motion to Remand.

(Doc. 11.) This case was removed from the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, 1

on the basis of diversity jurisdiction. (Doc. 1.) After removal, plaintiffs filed a Motion for

Leave to File an Amended Complaint, seeking to add Thomas Johnson as a defendant. The

court granted plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint.

Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on April 12, 2006. (Doc. 8.) The Amended

Complaint added Thomas Johnson as a defendant. Plaintiffs are residents of Alabama and

Johnson is a resident of Alabama. Therefore, Johnson’s addition to the case destroyed

diversity jurisdiction.

FILED

 2006 Aug-02 PM 04:05

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:06-cv-00073-SLB Document 12 Filed 08/02/06 Page 1 of 2
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Section 1447(e) states, “If after removal the plaintiff seeks to join additional

defendants whose joinder would destroy subject matter jurisdiction, the court may deny

joinder, or permit joinder and remand the action to the State court.” 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e).

This court does not have “discretion to add [a non-diverse defendant],, retain jurisdiction and

decide the case on the merits. . . . [When] section 1447(e) [is] applicable . . ., the district

court [is] left with only two options: (1) deny joinder; or (2) permit joinder and remand [the]

case to state court.” Ingram v. CSX Transp., Inc., 146 F.3d 858, 862 (11th Cir. 1998). This

court allowed Johnson’s joinder; therefore, this case is due to be remanded.

For the foregoing reasons, the court is of the opinion that plaintiffs’ Motion to

Remand is due to be remanded to the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama. An Order

granting plaintiffs’ Motion to Remand and remanding this case will be entered

contemporaneously with this Memorandum Opinion.

DONE this 2nd day of August, 2006.

 

SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 2:06-cv-00073-SLB Document 12 Filed 08/02/06 Page 2 of 2