Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02305/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02305-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JEFF DUMBRELL and

PAUL RASORI,

Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. 16cv2305-LAB (MDD)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

vs.

POWAPOS, INC. et al.,

Defendants.

Dumbrell and Rasori sued PowaPos for breach of contract. Plaintiffs admit that the

Court lacks jurisdiction unless it counts anticipated attorney’s fees towards the amount in

controversy. Our circuit hasn't decided whether “attorney’s fees that are anticipated but

unaccrued” at the time of filing “may be included in the amount-in-controversy.” Gonzales

v. CarMax Auto Superstores, LLC, 840 F.3d 644, 649 (9th Circ. 2016).

The Court adopts Judge Easterbrook’s position: “legal expenses that lie in the future

and can be avoided by the defendant's prompt satisfaction of the plaintiff's demand are not

an amount ‘in controversy’ when the suit is filed.” Gardynski-Leschuck v. Ford Motor Co.,

142 F.3d 955, 959 (7th Cir. 1998). Since Dumbrell and Rasori admit that, excluding future

fees, the amount at stake is below $75,000, the Court lacks jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).

The case is dismissed without leave to amend, but without prejudice to filing in state court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 30, 2017

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

- 1 - 16cv2305

Case 3:16-cv-02305-LAB-MDD Document 8 Filed 05/30/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 1