Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_05-cv-00494/USCOURTS-almd-2_05-cv-00494-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 23:134 P.I.- Auto Negligence

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION

HAZEL M. ROBY, as )

Administratrix of the )

of the Estate of Ronald )

Tyrone Roby, Deceased, )

)

Plaintiff, )

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

v. ) 2:05cv494-T

) (WO)

BENTON EXPRESS, INC., )

)

Defendant. )

ORDER

The allegations of the notice of removal are

insufficient to invoke this court's removal jurisdiction

under 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 1332 (diversity of citizenship) 1441

(removal). To invoke removal jurisdiction based on

diversity, the notice of removal must distinctly and

affirmatively allege each party's citizenship. See McGovern

v. American Airlines, Inc., 511 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

Case 2:05-cv-00494-MHT-VPM Document 4 Filed 06/13/05 Page 1 of 3
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defendant. See 28 U.S.C.A. § 1332; see also 2 James Wm.

Moore, et al., Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 8.03[5][b] at 8-

10 (3d ed. 1998).

Plaintiff has brought this lawsuit in her capacity as

personal representative for the estate of the decedent.

"[T]he legal representative of the estate of a decedent

shall be deemed to be a citizen only of the same state as

the decedent ...." 28 U.S.C.A. § 1332(c)(2). Moreover, 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. See Delome v. Union Barge Line Co., 444 F.2d 225,

233 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 995, 92 S.Ct. 534

(1971). Because the notice of removal sets forth the

“residence” of only the “personal representative” and not

the “citizenship” of the “decedent,” the notice does not

adequately establish grounds for this court to assume

removal jurisdiction of this matter.

It is therefore the ORDER, JUDGMENT, and DECREE of the

court that the defendant has until June 29, 2005, to amend

Case 2:05-cv-00494-MHT-VPM Document 4 Filed 06/13/05 Page 2 of 3
the notice of removal to allege jurisdiction sufficiently,

see 28 U.S.C.A. § 1653; otherwise this cause shall be

remanded to state court.

DONE, this the 13th day of June, 2005.

 /s/ Myron H. Thompson 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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