Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-02132/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-02132-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Contract Default

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Linda D. Livingood, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV-11-2132-PHX-FJM

ORDER

Plaintiff filed this forcible detainer action in state court. Defendant removed the

action on October 28, 2011. 

Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, possessing only that power granted

by the United States Constitution or federal statute. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511

U.S. 375, 377, 114 S. Ct. 1673, 1675 (1994). We have subject matter jurisdiction over a case

if it arises under federal law or the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in

controversy exceeds $75,000. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332(a). Plaintiff’s forcible detainer

action does not arise under federal law. Moreover, because the only issue raised by a forcible

detainer complaint is the right of possession, not title, see A.R.S. § 12-1177(A), there is no

dollar amount in controversy. Moreover, defendant’s purported counterclaims cannot form

the basis for removal jurisdiction. K2 America Corp. v. Roland Oil & Gas, LLC, 653 F.3d

1024, 1029 (9th Cir. 2011). And, a resident defendant cannot remove. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b).

Case 2:11-cv-02132-FJM Document 11 Filed 12/20/11 Page 1 of 2
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We conclude that we lack subject matter jurisdiction over this case, and therefore we

sua sponte remand this case to state court. See Fiedler v. Clark, 714 F.2d 77, 78 (9th Cir.

1983) (“a federal court may dismiss sua sponte if jurisdiction is lacking”); Fed. R. Civ. P.

12(h)(3).

IT IS ORDERED REMANDING this case to state court. The clerk is directed to

remand the action to the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County.

DATED this 19th day of December, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-02132-FJM Document 11 Filed 12/20/11 Page 2 of 2