Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_10-cv-01089/USCOURTS-cand-4_10-cv-01089-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Labor/Mgmnt. Relations

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

OAKLAND DIVISION 

JOSE TIJERO, 

 Plaintiff, 

 vs. 

AARON BROTHERS, INC., et al., 

 Defendants. 

Case No: C 10-01089-SBA

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’ 

MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT 

TO FEDERAL RULE OF CIVIL 

PROCEDURE 12(b)(5)

[Docket No. 13] 

The parties are presently before the Court on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Pursuant 

to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5). (Docket No. 13.) Having read and considered 

the papers filed in connection with this matter and being fully informed, the Court hereby 

DENIES the motion for the reasons set forth below. The Court, in its discretion, finds this 

matter suitable for resolution without oral argument. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b). 

This action was initially filed on May 7, 2009 in state court. Plaintiff did not serve the 

Defendants until February 12, 2010, more than nine months later. On March 15, 2010, 

Defendants removed this action to this Court solely on diversity grounds. By this motion, 

Defendants move to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5) for insufficiency of service process, 

on the grounds that Plaintiff failed to serve Defendants within 60 days from filing, as 

Defendants assert is required under California law. 

The parties are correct that California law governs here because service of process 

preceded removal to federal court. See Anderson v. Allstate Ins. Co., 630 F.2d 677, 682 (9th 

Cir. 1980). California Rule of Court 3.110 (“Rule 3.110”) provides “[t]he complaint must be 

served on all named defendants and proofs of service on those defendants must be filed with 

the court within 60 days after the filing of the complaint.” Cal. R. Ct. 3.110(b). Rule 3.110 

further provides “[i]f a party fails to serve and file pleadings as required under this rule, and 

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has not obtained an order extending time to serve its pleadings, the court may issue an order to 

show cause why sanctions shall not be imposed.” Cal. R. Ct. 3.110(f) (emphasis added) (no 

extension is at issue here).

It should be noted that even though Plaintiff was approximately seven months late under 

Rule 3.110 in serving his complaint, the court in the state action never issued an order to show 

cause under Rule 3.110. Moreover, this Court observes that, despite over a month passing 

between Plaintiff’s service and Defendants’ notice of removal, Defendants in that time never 

moved for an order to show cause or for dismissal in state court action. This Court further 

notes that the parties have not set forth any arguments regarding prejudice that may, or may not 

have, resulted from Plaintiff’s delay in service. Instead, their arguments relate solely to their 

respective interpretations of Rule 3.110, none of which has merit. Accordingly, 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 

1. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

12(b)(5) (Docket No. 13) is DENIED. 

2. The July 21, 2010 hearing date on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) is VACATED. 

2. The Case Management Conference currently scheduled for July 21, 2010 at 2:00 

p.m. is CONTINUED to October 14, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. The parties shall meet and confer 

prior to the conference and shall prepare a joint Case Management Conference Statement 

which shall be filed no later than ten (10) days prior to the Case Management Conference that 

complies with the Standing Order for All Judges of the Northern District of California and the 

Standing Order of this Court. Plaintiff shall be responsible for filing the statement as well as 

for arranging the conference call. All parties shall be on the line and shall call (510) 637-3559 

at the above indicated date and time. 

 This order terminates Docket No. 13. 

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 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: July 19, 2010 ______________________________ 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG 

United States District Judge 

Case 4:10-cv-01089-SBA Document 27 Filed 07/20/10 Page 3 of 3