Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-02323/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-02323-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Dollar Tree Jefan, LLC
Defendant
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
Defendant
Margarita Dominguez
Plaintiff

Document Text:

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 - 1 -

[PROPOSED] ORDER ON STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S JUDGMENT, AWARD, OR RECOVERY AND TO REMAND

DOMINGUEZ V. DOLLAR TREE

CASE NO. 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC dba 

DOLLAR TREE JEFAN, LLC, and 

DOES 1 through 10, Inclusive,

Defendants.

CASE NO.: 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN

(Solano County Superior Court; Court Case 

No. FCS053401)

ORDER GRANTING THE PARTIES’ 

STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S 

JUDGMENT, AWARD, OR 

RECOVERY AND TO REMAND

Assigned to Hon. John A. Mendez

The Court, having read and considered the Parties’ Stipulation to Cap 

Plaintiff’s Judgment, Award, or Recovery and to Remand, hereby ORDERS as 

follows:

I. BACKGROUND

On or about August 14, 2019, Plaintiff MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ 

(hereinafter “Plaintiff”) commenced the above-entitled civil action in the Superior 

Court for the County of Solano by filing a Complaint therein entitled Margarita 

Dominguez v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. dba Dollar Tree Jefan, LLC, and DOES 1 to 

10, inclusive, Case No. FCS053401. Plaintiff’s Complaint for personal injury arises 

from an alleged incident on July 20, 2018, at defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.’s 

(“Dollar Tree”) store in Fairfield, California. 

Case 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN Document 8 Filed 06/01/20 Page 1 of 3
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 - 2 -

PROPOSED] ORDER ON STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S JUDGMENT, AWARD, OR RECOVERY AND TO REMAND

DOMINGUEZ V. DOLLAR TREE

CASE NO. 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN

THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

On November 7, 2019, plaintiff, by and through her counsel of record, made a 

written settlement demand in the amount of $100,000 to defendant. Based on this 

“other paper,” Dollar Tree determined that the amount in controversy exceeded the 

$75,000.00 statutory minimum. Accordingly, Dollar Tree removed the matter to 

federal court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§1332, 1441, and 1367, on November 18, 2019.

 The parties have now agreed and stipulated to limit any and all recovery of 

damages by plaintiff MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ to $74,999.99 or less, as 

evidenced by the Stipulation to Cap Plaintiff’s Judgment, Award, or Recovery and To 

Remand, executed by plaintiff MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ and defendant 

DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC., by and through their attorneys of record. 

Accordingly, the parties request an order from this Court remanding the case to the 

Solano County Superior Court, Case No. FCS053401.

II. ANALYSIS

United States Code, Title 28, Section 1447(c), provides that “[i]f at any time 

before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, 

the case shall be remanded.” (Emphasis added). In light of the parties’ stipulation 

limiting any and all recovery by Plaintiff to $74,999.99 or less, this Court lacks subject 

matter jurisdiction and must, therefore, remand the case to state court pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 1447(c). See Bruns v. NCUA 122 F.3d 1251, 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (“Section 

1447(c) is mandatory, not discretionary.”)

III. ORDER OF THE COURT

1. Plaintiff’s total recovery, if any, from Defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., 

for any injuries, damages, harms, or losses resulting from the alleged incident that 

occurred on Defendant’s premises on or about July 20, 2018, and which are the subject 

of the within action (including formerly Solano County Superior Court Case No.: 

FCS053401) (the “Litigation), including but not limited to economic and noneconomic damages as well as any award of attorneys’ fees and costs of suit (including 

///

Case 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN Document 8 Filed 06/01/20 Page 2 of 3
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 - 3 -

PROPOSED] ORDER ON STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S JUDGMENT, AWARD, OR RECOVERY AND TO REMAND

DOMINGUEZ V. DOLLAR TREE

CASE NO. 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN

THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

any award of costs for the services of expert witnesses), is hereby capped at 

$74,999.99.

2. If any judgment or award, entered in her favor and against Defendant 

Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., in the Litigation should exceed $74,999.99, inclusive of any 

award of attorneys’ fees and costs of suit (including any award of costs for the services 

of expert witnesses) Plaintiff has knowingly and voluntarily waived the right to claim 

that portion of her final judgment or award which exceeds $74,999.99. 

3. Should any judgment or award, inclusive of any award of attorneys’ fees 

and costs of suit (including any award of costs for the services of expert witnesses) be 

entered in her favor and against Defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., in the Litigation, 

in excess of $74,999.99, Plaintiff shall execute any necessary documents to reduce any 

such award or judgment to $74,999.99, and is barred from executing on any amount 

of the award or judgment in excess of $74,999.99.

4. Pursuant to the parties’ Stipulation, because this matter no longer exceeds 

$75,000.00, this Court no longer has subject matter jurisdiction and the matter is

hereby REMANDED to the Superior Court for the State of California, County of 

Solano, Case No.: FCS053401. This Order shall be accorded full force and effect in 

the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Solano, Case No.: FCS053401.

5. All pending dates in the Federal action are hereby vacated.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 1, 2020 /s/ John A. Mendez

_____________________________

Hon. John A. Mendez

United States District Court Judge

Case 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN Document 8 Filed 06/01/20 Page 3 of 3