Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-00641/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-00641-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Product Liability

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Jeffrey A. Lowy, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Kellogg Sales Company, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV-11-641-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it defendant Kellogg Sales Company’s motion to dismiss (doc.

8), plaintiff’s response (doc. 12) and addendum (doc. 13), and defendant’s reply (doc. 14).

Plaintiff filed a one-paragraph document in state court alleging that he ingested

Kellogg’s peanut butter crackers, contracted salmonella poisoning and now has end stage

renal disease (doc. 1). Defendant removed the case to federal court and now seeks to dismiss

the complaint for failure to meet the pleading requirements of Rule 8, Fed. R. Civ. P., and

for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), Fed. R. Civ. P. 

Plaintiff admits that he did not have a complaint when he went to state court to file

this action. Instead, at the suggestion of the clerk, he “jot[ted] something down quickly” to

file as a complaint. Response at 1. Notwithstanding that plaintiff is proceeding pro se, he

is required to “follow the same rules of procedure that govern other litigants.” King v.

Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). 

Case 2:11-cv-00641-FJM Document 15 Filed 04/27/11 Page 1 of 2
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To satisfy Rule 8, a plaintiff must plead “a short and plain statement of the claim

showing that [he] is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “[A] complaint must contain

sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its

face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v.

Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual

content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for

the misconduct alleged.” Id. A dismissal for failure to state a claim can be based on either

“the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a

cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.

1990). 

Plaintiff’s complaint does not set forth a cognizable legal theory or facts that support

a cause of action against Kellogg. While it appears that plaintiff may be intending to assert

a products liability claim, it is far from clear. His attempt to include additional factual

information in his response to the motion to dismiss, does not remedy the deficiencies of his

complaint. 

IT IS ORDERED GRANTING defendant’s motion to dismiss (doc. 8). Plaintiff is

granted leave to file an amended complaint that complies with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a party to successfully manage the

complexities of a lawsuit unaided by a lawyer. We urge plaintiff to seek the advice of

counsel. If he does not have a lawyer, he may wish to call the Lawyer Referral Service of

the Maricopa Bar Association at 602-257-4434. Because it may take time for plaintiff to find

and hire a lawyer, plaintiff will be allowed 30 days within which to file an amended

complaint. If plaintiff has a products liability claim, there are scores of competent lawyers

who will take the case on a contingent basis. 

DATED this 26th day of April, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-00641-FJM Document 15 Filed 04/27/11 Page 2 of 2