Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00918/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00918-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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AMENDED REMAND ORDER

K:\AWI\To_Be_Signed\06cr0916.stip.Remand Order.2.wpd Nieves v. Lowe’s HIW, Inc.

Case No.1:06-CV-00918-AWI-TAG

CHARLES D. MAY, ESQ. (Bar No. 129663)

STEPHANIE FORMAN, ESQ. (Bar No. 195757)

GENE B. SHARAGA, ESQ. (Bar No. 131661)

THARPE & HOWELL

 15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

 Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

 Telephone: (818) 205-9955

 Facsimile: (818)205-9944

 E-Mail: cmay@tharpe-howell.com

 E-Mail: sforman@tharpe-howell.com

 E-Mail: gsharaga@tharpe-howell.com

Attorneys for Defendant, 

 LOWE’S HIW, INC., erroneously sued as LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GERARDO PEREZ NIEVES,

Plaintiff,

v.

LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC.; and

DOES 1 THROUGH 100,

INCLUSIVE

Defendants.

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CASE NO. 1:06-CV-00918-AWI-TAG

AMENDED REMAND ORDER

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff, a resident of California, commenced this premises liability action

by filing a complaint against defendant, a Washington corporation, in the Superior

Court of California, County of Kern, on May 11, 2006. The complaint alleges

plaintiff sustained bodily injury due to defendant’s negligence in creating a

dangerous condition at its Bakersfield store location. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges

defendant negligently allowed the top of a cement mixer to fall and strike his right

hand and leg.

Because California courts prohibit the inclusion of ad damnun clauses in

complaints for personal injuries, plaintiff served a Statement of Damages from 

Case 1:06-cv-00918-AWI-TAG Document 24 Filed 11/27/06 Page 1 of 3
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AMENDED REMAND ORDER

K:\AWI\To_Be_Signed\06cr0916.stip.Remand Order.2.wpd Nieves v. Lowe’s HIW, Inc.

Case No.1:06-CV-00918-AWI-TAG

pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 425.11. After plaintiff

submitted a Statement of Damages in excess $75,000, defendant removed the

matter to federal court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1332 and 1441(b). Thereafter,

plaintiff filed a motion to remand, wherein he questioned the parties’ diversity of

citizenship and the amount in controversy. Defendant responded with timely

opposition. 

The parties have now agreed and stipulated to limit any and all recovery of

damages in this matter to $75,000 or less, as evidenced by the Stipulation Capping

Plaintiff’s Damages and Recovery to $75,000, executed by both plaintiff and his

counsel. Accordingly, the parties seek an order from this Court remanding the

case to the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, Case No. S-1500-CV

258188.

II. ANALYSIS

United States Code, title 28, section 1447(c), provides that “[i]f at any time

before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter

jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded.” (Emphasis added). In light of the

parties’ stipulation limiting any and all recovery by plaintiff to $75,000 or less,

this Court to lacks subject matter jurisdiction and must, therefore, remand the case

to state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). See Bruns v. NCUA 122 F.3d 1251,

1257 (9 Cir. 1997) (“Section 1447(c) is mandatory, not discretionary.”)

th

CONCLUSION

Because the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000, this Court

lacks subject matter jurisdiction in the present case. Accordingly, the case is

REMANDED to the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, Case No. S1500-CV 258188.

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AMENDED REMAND ORDER

K:\AWI\To_Be_Signed\06cr0916.stip.Remand Order.2.wpd Nieves v. Lowe’s HIW, Inc.

Case No.1:06-CV-00918-AWI-TAG

It is further ORDERED that the Scheduling Conference set for November

22, 2006, is hereby VACATED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 22, 2006 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00918-AWI-TAG Document 24 Filed 11/27/06 Page 3 of 3