Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01437/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01437-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1 Because oral argument will not be of material

assistance, the court orders this matter submitted on the briefs. 

E.D. Cal. L.R. 78-230(h).

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

TERESA MEANS-FERGUSON,

NO. CIV. 07-1437 FCD/KJM

Plaintiff,

v. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN FIRE

DISTRICT, et al.,

Defendants.

----oo0oo----

This matter is before the court on defendants Sacramento

Metropolitan Fire District, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District

Board of Trustees, Don Mette, and Richard P. Margarita’s

(collectively “defendants”) motion to remand this action to state

court.1 Defendants move pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447. Plaintiff

Teresa Means-Ferguson (“plaintiff”) does not oppose the motion.

///

///

/// 

Case 2:07-cv-01437-FCD-KJM Document 26 Filed 10/23/07 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2 Co-defendant Patrick Monahan, who is represented by

separate counsel from the moving defendants, also filed a

statement of non-opposition to the motion. (Stmt of Non-Opp’n,

filed Oct. 16, 2007.)

2

 (Stmt. of Non-Opp’n, filed Oct. 15, 2007.)2

On June 20, 2007, plaintiff filed the original complaint in

Sacramento County Superior Court. The initial complaint alleged

seven causes of action, including one cause of action under 42

U.S.C. § 1983. Defendants filed a notice of removal to this

court on July 19, 2007. Defendants removed the action on the

basis of federal question jurisdiction pursuant to plaintiff’s

Section 1983 claim. Subsequently, in response to defendants’

motions to dismiss the complaint under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6),

plaintiff filed a statement of intent to file an amended

complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). (Minute Order,

filed Aug. 27, 2007.) On September 5, 2007, plaintiff filed her

first amended complaint, but the amended complaint did not allege

the Section 1983 claim. 

28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) provides: “If at any time before final

judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter

jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded.” Jurisdictional

challenges may be raised at any time. Snell v. Cleveland, Inc.,

316 F.3d 822, 826 (9th Cir. 2002). 

Defendants move to remand, arguing plaintiff’s first amended

complaint fails to state a federal question. (Defs.’ Mot. Remand

at 3, filed Sept. 25, 2007.) Defendants are correct. 

Plaintiff’s first amended complaint does not allege any cause of

action establishing subject matter jurisdiction in federal court. 

The first amended complaint alleges state law claims of wrongful

Case 2:07-cv-01437-FCD-KJM Document 26 Filed 10/23/07 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

termination, invasion of privacy, defamation, discrimination

under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, and

intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. 

(FAC, filed Sept. 5, 2007.) While plaintiff’s first cause of

action for wrongful termination makes some cursory reference to

Section 1983 and the Federal Constitution, the gravamen of the

claim consists of counts that rely only on the California

Constitution and thus do not present federal questions. (FAC at

¶¶ 72-125.) Plaintiff’s remaining causes of action present

solely state law issues. Accordingly, because plaintiff’s first

amended complaint does not allege a federal question and

diversity of citizenship does not exist (FAC at ¶¶ 2-7, 10-11),

defendants’ motion to remand pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1447 is

GRANTED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 22, 2007

Case 2:07-cv-01437-FCD-KJM Document 26 Filed 10/23/07 Page 3 of 3