Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-00808/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-00808-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Diane Darrimon
Counter-defendant
Josh Darrimon
Counter-defendant
Jeff Smith
Counter-claimant

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DIANE DARRIMON AND JOSH

DARRIMON,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

JEFF SMITH,

Defendant. /

No. C 16-00808 WHA

ORDER GRANTING MOTION

TO REMAND AND DENYING

MOTION TO DISMISS AS MOOT

AND DENYING REQUEST FOR

FEES AND REFERRING TO THE

STATE BAR

INTRODUCTION

In this unlawful detainer action, plaintiff and counter-defendant Diane Darrimon moves

to remand, moves to dismiss defendant Jeff Smith’s counter-claims, and asks for costs and

attorney’s fees. For the reasons stated herein, plaintiff Darrimon’s motion to remand the action

is GRANTED. In light of the remand, plaintiff’s motion to dismiss is DENIED WITHOUT

PREJUDICE AS MOOT. Because plaintiff Darrimon withdrew her request for costs and

attorney’s fees at the hearing, her request is DENIED AS MOOT. 

STATEMENT

On January 7, 2016, plaintiff filed an action for unlawful detainer against defendant

Smith in Lake County Superior Court. On February 17, 2016, defendant Smith, who is pro se,

removed the action under 28 U.S.C. 1331 (Dkt. No. 1). Defendant Smith then asserted

counterclaims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) against plaintiff Darrimon

and her son, Josh Darrimon, counter-defendant (Dkt. No. 2). Plaintiff Darrimon then filed a

motion to remand, a motion to dismiss, and a request for costs and attorney’s fees. At first,

Case 3:16-cv-00808-WHA Document 30 Filed 06/01/16 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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defendant Smith did not respond to these motions nor to an order to show cause that followed. 

Defendant Smith eventually responded to a second order to show cause and filed oppositions to

the motions.

ANALYSIS

1. MOTION TO REMAND.

 A defendant in a state court may remove an action to federal court so long as the action

could have originally asserted federal-question jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. 1441(b). Under the

“well-pleaded complaint” rule, federal-question jurisdiction exists only where the federal

question appears on the face of the complaint. Duncan v. Stuetzle, 76 F.3d 1480, 1485 (9th

Cir.1996). A defense or counterclaim cannot serve as the basis for federal-question jurisdiction. 

Holmes Grp., Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Sys., Inc., 535 U.S. 826, 831 (2002).

Here, the face of the complaint asserts a state law claim for unlawful detainer only. An

unlawful detainer action arises purely under state law and therefore cannot provide grounds for

removal. Snavely v. Johnson, No. C 15-03773 WHA, 2015 WL 5242925, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept.

8, 2015). Defendant’s assertion of counterclaims under the FDCPA fails to cure the problem. 

“[A] counterclaim — which appears as part of the defendant’s answer, not as part of the

plaintiff’s complaint — cannot serve as the basis for ‘arising under’ jurisdiction.” Holmes Grp.,

Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Sys., Inc., 535 U.S. 826, 831 (2002). Because there is no basis

for federal-question jurisdiction, and because plaintiff does not claim the parties are diverse,

subject-matter jurisdiction does not exist. Plaintiff Darrimon’s request to remand the action is

therefore GRANTED.

2. REQUEST FOR COSTS AND ATTORNEY FEES.

Plaintiff Darrimon initially requested costs and attorney’s fees. At the hearing, however,

she withdrew this request. Plaintiff Darrimon’s request for costs and attorney’s fees is therefore

DENIED AS MOOT. 

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United States District Court

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CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff Darrimon’s request to remand the action is therefore

GRANTED. Plaintiff Darrimon’s request for costs and attorney’s fees is DENIED AS MOOT. 

Plaintiff Darrimon’s motion to dismiss is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AS MOOT.

It appears to the undersigned judge that defendant Smith is abusing the legal process in

order to keep a foothold on the property, thereby depriving the owner, plaintiff Darrimon, of

possession of the property.

Furthermore, defendant Smith has evidently been practicing law without a license. The

clerk will send a copy of this order and a transcript of the hearing to the State Bar of California

for its consideration. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 1, 2016. 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:16-cv-00808-WHA Document 30 Filed 06/01/16 Page 3 of 3