Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_08-cv-08007/USCOURTS-azd-3_08-cv-08007-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Medical Malpractice

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Carol Lucarelli, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

TRC Four Corners Dialysis Clinics,

LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

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No. CV-08-8007-PCT-PGR

 

 ORDER

In an order entered on April 16, 2008 (doc. #42), the Court ordered the

defendants to file an amended notice of removal that properly alleged the

existence of diversity of citizenship jurisdiction. The order required in part that the

defendants specifically set forth the citizenship of each member of the defendant

limited liability company. Having reviewed the defendants’ Amended Notice of

Removal (doc. #43), filed May 8, 2008, the Court finds that the defendants have

still not met their burden of properly alleging diversity jurisdiction.

The problem is that the jurisdictional allegation regarding Mark Bevan, MD,

one of the two members of the defendant limited liability company, is facially

deficient in that it merely states that he is “an individual residing in Farmington,

New Mexico.” It is black letter law that allegations of residency do not suffice for

purposes of § 1332. See Steigleder v. McQuesten, 198 U.S. 141, 143, 25 S.Ct.

Case 3:08-cv-08007-PGR Document 44 Filed 05/12/08 Page 1 of 2
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 The parties are advised that the total capitalization of the parties’ names

in the caption of any document filed with the Court violates LRCiv 7.1(a)(3).

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616, 617 (1905) ("It has long been settled that residence and citizenship [are]

wholly different things within the meaning of the Constitution and the laws

defining and regulating the jurisdiction of the ... courts of the United States; and

that a mere averment of residence in a particular state is not an averment of

citizenship in that state for the purpose of jurisdiction."); accord, Kanter v.

Warner-Lambert Co., 265 F.3d 853, 857-58 (9th Cir. 2001) (Plaintiffs' complaint ...

state[s] that Plaintiffs were 'residents' of California. But the diversity jurisdiction

statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1332, speaks of citizenship, not of residency. ... [The] failure

to specify Plaintiffs' state of citizenship was fatal to [the] assertion of diversity

jurisdiction.") 

In order to cure this pleading deficiency, the Court will require the

defendants to file an addendum to their Amended Notice of Removal that

specifically, and properly, sets forth Dr. Bevan’s citizenship.1

 The defendants are

advised that their failure to timely comply with this order shall result in the remand

of this action without further notice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the defendants shall file an addendum

to their Amended Notice of Removal that properly sets forth the citizenship of

Mark Bevan, MD no later than May 19, 2008.

DATED this 12th day of May, 2008.

Case 3:08-cv-08007-PGR Document 44 Filed 05/12/08 Page 2 of 2