Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-00692/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-00692-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Citizenship

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Linda Noack-Wilson; et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

The Perfect Health Insurance Company; et

al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CV 08-692-PHX-JAT

ORDER

On May 12, 2008, the Court issued the following order:

“Inquiring whether the court has jurisdiction is a federal judge’s first duty in

every case.” Belleville Catering Co. v. Champaign Market Place, L.L.C., 350

F.3d 691, 693 (7th Cir. 2003). 

In this case, the complaint fails to sufficiently plead jurisdiction. See 28

U.S.C. § 1332; Industrial Tectonics v. Aero Alloy, 912 F.2d 1090, 1092, 1094

(9th Cir. 1990); Johnson v. Columbia Properties Anchorage, 437 F.3d 894, 899

(9th Cir. 2006); Kanter v. Warner-Lambert Co., 265 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir.

2001).

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that by May 19, 2008, Defendants The Association of

Franchise & Independent Distributors LLC and Spencer (as the parties

asserting jurisdiction and therefore, with the burden of pleading jurisdiction,

see Industrial Tectonics, 912 F.2d at 1092) shall file an amended notice of

removal properly alleging federal subject matter jurisdiction, or this case will

be [remanded] for lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction. [footnote omitted]

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants are cautioned that they will

be given one opportunity to amend to cure the jurisdiction defects. The Court

will not issue additional sua sponte show cause orders to assist Defendants in

pleading jurisdiction. Therefore, if the amended notice of removal fails to

plead federal subject matter jurisdiction, this case will be remanded without

the Court sua sponte granting Defendants any further opportunities to amend.

Doc. #12.

Case 2:08-cv-00692-JAT Document 14 Filed 05/20/08 Page 1 of 2
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1

 “We therefore join our sister circuits and hold that, like a partnership, an LLC is a

citizen of every state of which its owners/members are citizens.” Johnson, 437 F.3d at 899.

- 2 -

On May 16, 2008, an amended notice of removal was filed by The Association of

Franchise & Independent Distributors LLC and Spencer which cured some, but not all,

defects in pleading jurisdiction. Specifically, two of the cases cited above (Belleville

Catering Co. and Johnson1

) hold that a limited liability company is the same as a partnership

and to plead jurisdiction a party must assert the citizenship of every member of the LLC. In

this case, The Association of Franchise & Independent Distributors LLC claims to be

“incorporated” — which is incorrect because it is not a corporation — in Ohio with its sole

office in Ohio. Doc. #13 at 2. Such an allegation is insufficient to plead jurisdiction for an

LLC.

Accordingly, the Court having sua sponte given Defendants the opportunity to cure

the defects in their jurisdictional allegations, and having warned Defendants that the Court

would not undertake to explain multiple times how to plead jurisdiction, and the Notice of

Removal, as amended, still failing to sufficiently allege jurisdiction,

IT IS ORDERED remanding this case to state court for lack of federal subject matter

jurisdiction.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order does not undertake to rule on the

pending motion to dismiss and such motion shall remain pending before the state court judge.

DATED this 19th day of May, 2008.

Case 2:08-cv-00692-JAT Document 14 Filed 05/20/08 Page 2 of 2