Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_06-cv-04712/USCOURTS-alnd-2_06-cv-04712-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jimmie Buzbee
Plaintiff
Albert Hughes
Defendant
Streicher Mobile Fueling, Inc.,
Defendant

Document Text:

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

JIMMIE BUZBEE,

Plaintiff,

vs.

STREICHER MOBILE FUELING,

INC., and ALBERT HUGHES,

Defendants.

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Civil Action Number

 2:06-cv-4712-UWC

MEMORANDUM OPINION

The present action was initiated by Plaintiff Jimmie Buzbee (“Buzbee”) in the

Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, against Streicher Mobile fueling (“SMF”)

and Albert Hughes (“Hughes”). The Plaintiff in this action is a citizen of Alabama. 

Defendant SMF is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida, with its

principal place of business in Florida. Defendant Albert Hughes is a commercial driver

employed by SMF. Hughes is a citizen of Florida. 

According to the complaint, Plaintiff was injured during a collision with Hughes,

who was operating a truck in the line and scope of his employment for SMF. This

accident occurred in Louisiana. (Compl. ¶ 7.) 

FILED

 2007 Jan-26 AM 11:30

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:06-cv-04712-UWC Document 9 Filed 01/26/07 Page 1 of 3
 Hughes, who filed a special appearance in the state court action, agreed to the removal. 1

Although the docket sheet in the present action lists an entry for an Answer by defendant Hughes. 

(See Doc. 5.) The actual document is an answer by SMF. 

 As the removing defendant, SMF obviously does not contest personal jurisdiction. 2

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SMF removed this action on the basis of diversity jurisdiction.1

Presently before the Court is a motion by Hughes, who has made a special

appearance in this Court, seeking dismissal of this action against him based on lack of in

personom jurisdiction, improper venue, and forum non conveniens. In his motion, 2

Hughes notes that his regular truck driving route does not take him outside the state of

Florida. However, he was in Louisiana at the time of the accident because he was making

an emergency fuel delivery in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. He does not own any

property in Alabama and he has no business interests in Alabama. Moreover, prior to the

accident, he had not been inside the state of Alabama for ten years.

A civil action where jurisdiction is based upon diversity may be brought only in:

1) “a judicial district where any defendant resides, if all defendants reside in

the same state”;

2) “a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions

giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the

subject of the action is situated”; or

3) “a judicial district in which any defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction

at the time the action is commenced, if there is no district in which the

action may otherwise be brought.”

28 U.S.C. § 1391(a) (emphasis added).

There is no evidence that Hughes is a resident of Alabama. Thus, the first

Case 2:06-cv-04712-UWC Document 9 Filed 01/26/07 Page 2 of 3
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provision of the statute is not satisfied: all defendants do not reside in Alabama. Because

a substantial part of the events which gave rise to the complaint did not occur in Alabama,

the second provision of the statute is not satisfied. 

The third provision of the statute indicates that a claim may be brought in any

district where any defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction, but only if there is no

district in which the action might otherwise be brought. Inasmuch as the present action

could have been brought in Florida or Louisiana, the third provision of the statute is not

satisfied.

Accordingly, venue is not proper in the federal district courts of Alabama and this

action is due to be remanded. 

Done this 27 day of January, 2007. th

______________________________

 U.W. Clemon

 United States District Judge

Case 2:06-cv-04712-UWC Document 9 Filed 01/26/07 Page 3 of 3