Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-2_07-cv-00086/USCOURTS-ared-2_07-cv-00086-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Other Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

EASTERN DIVISION

ANDREW BOWERS PLAINTIFF

vs. NO. 2:07CV00086

CITY OF HELENA-WEST HELENA;

and MARY LOESCHNER, Individually and 

in her official capacity as a Police Officer

for the City of Helena-West Helena DEFENDANTS

ORDER TO REMAND

Pending is Plaintiff’s Motion for Remand of this case to state court. (Docket # 7). 

Defendant has responded. Plaintiff’s motion to remand is granted for the reasons set forth below.

“In reviewing a motion to remand, the district court must strictly construe the removal

statute against the party seeking removal and resolve all doubts as to the propriety of federal

jurisdiction in favor of state court jurisdiction.” Masepohl v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., 974 F.

Supp. 1245, 1249 (D. Minn. 1997) (citing In re Potash Antitrust Litig., 866 F. Supp. 406, 410 (D.

Minn. 1994)); in accord Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 108-109, 61 S. Ct

868, 872 (1941). A heavy burden of proof is on the party contesting a remand motion. 14A

Wright, Miller & Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure, Jurisdiction 2d § 3739 (1994).

After careful review of the record and briefs of the parties on this issue, the Court finds

that federal jurisdiction does not exist in this case. There is no dispute that diversity does not

exist. Plaintiff specifically states that he is bringing state law causes of action for false

imprisonment, abuse of process and malicious prosecution. Accordingly, at this time, the case

does not arise under the Constitution or laws of the United States; nor is it dependent on the

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 If Plaintiff subsequently amends his pleadings to assert a claim for relief “from which it

may first be ascertained that the case is one which is or has become removable” Defendant may

be entitled to seek removal at that time. 28 U.S.C. §1446(b). 

construction of a federal statute or the federal Constitution.1 The Defendant has not met its

burden of proof.

Plaintiff’s motion for remand (Docket # 7) is granted. The Clerk is ordered to send a

certified copy of this Order to the Circuit Court of Phillips County and to remand this case

forthwith. 

IT IS SO ORDERED this 27th day of September, 2007.

________________________________________

James M. Moody

United States District Judge

Case 2:07-cv-00086-JMM Document 14 Filed 09/27/07 Page 2 of 2