Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-3_15-cv-00722/USCOURTS-almd-3_15-cv-00722-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Fraud

---

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, EASTERN DIVISION 

JOSEPH CAVITT and RACHEL 

CAVITT, 

)

) 

)

 Plaintiffs, )

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

 v. ) 3:15cv722-MHT 

) (WO) 

THE PLUMBING & ROOTER

COMPANY, LLC, d/b/a 

Benjamin Franklin 

Plumbing, a Georgia 

Limited Liability 

Corporation, and DIRECT 

ENERGY US HOME SERVICES, 

INC., an Ohio Profit 

Corporation registered to 

do business in Alabama, 

)

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

)

 Defendants. )

ORDER 

 The allegations of the notice of removal are 

insufficient to invoke this court's removal 

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1332 (diversity of 

citizenship) and 1441 (removal). To invoke removal 

jurisdiction based on diversity, the notice of removal 

must distinctly and affirmatively allege each party's 

citizenship. McGovern v. American Airlines, Inc., 511 

Case 3:15-cv-00722-MHT-CSC Document 12 Filed 10/28/15 Page 1 of 3
2 

F. 2d 653, 654 (5th Cir. 1975) (per curiam). The 

allegations must show that the citizenship of each 

plaintiff is different from that of each defendant. 28 

U.S.C. § 1332; see also 2 James Wm. Moore, et al., 

Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 8.03[5][b] at 8-10 (3d ed. 

1998). 

 The notice of removal fails to meet this standard. 

The notice gives the "residence" rather than the 

"citizenship" of the plaintiffs, Joseph and Rachel 

Cavitt. An allegation that a party is a "resident" of 

a State is not sufficient to establish that a party is 

a "citizen" of that State. Delome v. Union Barge Line 

Co., 444 F.2d 225, 233 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 

U.S. 995 (1971). See 13E Fed. Prac. & Proc. Juris. § 

3612 (3d ed.). This is particularly true where the 

party is a member of the military, as the complaint 

alleges plaintiff Joseph Cavitt was during the events 

at issue in the case. See 13E Fed. Prac. & Proc. 

Juris. § 3617 (3d ed.) (“Members of the military 

Case 3:15-cv-00722-MHT-CSC Document 12 Filed 10/28/15 Page 2 of 3
services of the United States also are protected 

against the involuntary loss of a domicile for purposes 

of diversity of citizenship jurisdiction.”). 

*** 

 It is therefore the ORDER, JUDGMENT, and DECREE of 

the court that the removing party has until November 4, 

2015, to amend the notice of removal to allege 

jurisdiction sufficiently, 28 U.S.C. § 1653; otherwise 

this lawsuit shall be remanded to state court. 

DONE, this the 28th day of October, 2015. 

 /s/ Myron H. Thompson___

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:15-cv-00722-MHT-CSC Document 12 Filed 10/28/15 Page 3 of 3