Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01294/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01294-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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08cv1294

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FREDERICK B. NIMTZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

DANIEL CEPIN, M.D., et al.,

Defendants.

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Civil No. 08cv1294 L(MDD)

ORDER REMANDING THIS

ACTION TO THE STATE COURT

This action was removed from the Superior Court for the State of California, County of

San Diego, on July 18, 2008, by defendant Guidant Corporation. Guidant based the removal on

the Court’s diversity jurisdiction arguing that defendant Daniel Cepin, M.D. was improperly

joined to destroy diversity of citizenship. Therefore, Guidant argued Cepin’s citizenship should

be disregarded, and the medical malpractice claim against him should be severed and remanded

to state court.

The Court dismissed with prejudice defendant Guidant on June 1, 2011. As a result, the

sole remaining defendant is Dr. Cepin, who is a citizen and resident of California, as is plaintiff,

and the claim against Dr. Cepin is based entirely on state law. 

The federal court is one of limited jurisdiction. See Gould v. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of N.Y.,

790 F.2d 769, 774 (9th Cir. 1986). It possesses only that power authorized by the Constitution

or a statute. See Bender v. Williamsport Area Sch. Dist., 475 U.S. 534, 541 (1986). It is

Case 3:08-cv-01294-L-MDD Document 57 Filed 07/25/11 Page 1 of 2
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constitutionally required to raise issues related to federal subject matter jurisdiction, and may do

so sua sponte. Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env't, 523 U.S. 83, 93-94 (1998); see Indus.

Tectonics, Inc. v. Aero Alloy, 912 F.2d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir. 1990). 

Because plaintiff’s sole remaining claim is for medical malpractice under state law and

the parties are both citizens of the state of California, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction

over this action. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED remanding this action, Case No. 37-2008-

00071342-CU-MM-SC, to the Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Diego,. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: July 25, 2011

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. MITCHELL D. DEMBIN

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

Case 3:08-cv-01294-L-MDD Document 57 Filed 07/25/11 Page 2 of 2