IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO DIVISION

BELINDA TORRES § 

Plaintiff § 

v. § Civil Action No.: 5:20-cv-00434

§

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE § 

INSURANCE COMPANY § 

Defendant

DEFENDANT STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE 

INSURANCE COMPANY’S NOTICE OF REMOVAL

TO THE HONORABLE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE:

Defendant State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (“State Farm”) files this 

Notice of Removal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a) and respectfully shows the following:

Procedural Background

1. On March 2, 2020, Plaintiff filed her Original Petition against diverse Defendant

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (“State Farm”), styled Cause No. 

2020CV01511; Belinda Torres v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company; In the 

County Court at Law No. 10, Bexar County, Texas. Defendant filed its answer on March 23, 2020.

Nature of the Suit

2. This lawsuit involves claims for personal injuries arising out of an automobile

accident which occurred on January 15, 2018. Plaintiff claims tortfeasor Natalie Gusme was 

negligent in her handling of her vehicle. Plaintiff seeks underinsured motorist benefits of 

$30,000.00 from State Farm pursuant to the Texas Declaratory Judgment Act. Plaintiff also seeks 

to recover attorney’s fees. Plaintiff has refused to sign a binding damage cap stipulation.

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Basis for Removal

3. Removal is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1332 because there is complete diversity of 

citizenship between the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00, exclusive of 

interest and costs. 

4. There is complete diversity of citizenship between the parties. At the time State 

Farm was served with the citation on March 10, 2020, and as of the date of filing this Notice, State 

Farm was and is a citizen of Illinois. Defendant was incorporated under the laws of the State of 

Illinois, and its principal place of business is in Bloomington, Illinois. Accordingly, State Farm

was and is considered an out-of-state citizen for diversity jurisdiction purposes. 

5. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff was a citizen of Texas when she filed her

Original Petition, and continues to be a citizen of Texas. 

6. Further, this Court has diversity jurisdiction over this matter because the amount in 

controversy exceeds $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs. Plaintiff pleads in his Original 

Petition for the recovery of underinsured motorist benefits of $30,000.00. The 

uninsured/underinsured motorist (“UM/UIM”) policy provides UM/UIM limits of $30,000.00 per 

person. (See State Farm Policy and Declarations Page). Plaintiff also seeks the recovery of 

attorney’s fees. Plaintiff has refused to sign a binding damage cap stipulation due to the claim for 

attorney’s fees.

The Removal is Procedurally Correct

7. Plaintiff filed suit against Defendant State Farm in state court on March 2, 2020. 

Defendant was served on March 10, 2020. Defendant filed its answer in state court on March 23, 

2020.

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8. Removal is timely pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b) and (c) and Thompson v. 

Deutsche Bank Nat. Trust Co., 775 F.3d 298 (5th Cir. 2014). In Thompson, the Fifth Circuit held 

that a defendant’s right to removal under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b) and (c) runs from the date it is 

formally served with process. Here, State Farm was served on March 10, 2020.

9. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a) because this district and 

division embrace the place in which the removed action has been pending and because a substantial 

part of the events giving rise to Plaintiff’s claim allegedly occurred in this district.

10. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a), all pleadings, process, orders, and all other filings 

in the state court action are attached to this notice.

11. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(d), promptly after Defendant State Farm files this 

Notice, written notice of filing of this Notice of Removal will be given to Plaintiff, the adverse 

party.

12. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446(d), a true and correct copy of this Notice will be filed 

with the Clerk of the County Court At Law No. 3 in Bexar County, Texas, promptly after 

Defendant State Farm files this Notice.

WHEREFORE, Defendant State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company requests 

that this action be removed from the County Court At Law No. 3 of Bexar County, Texas to the 

United States District Court for Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, and that this 

Court enter such further orders as may be necessary and appropriate. 

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Respectfully submitted,

LINDOW STEPHENS TREAT LLP

By: 

Margaret Brown

State Bar No. 24092181

One Riverwalk Place

700 N. St. Mary’s St., Suite 1700

San Antonio, Texas 78205

(210) 227-2200 (telephone)

(210) 227-4602 (facsímile)

mbrown@lstlaw.com

Counsel for Defendant State Farm Mutual 

Automobile Insurance Company

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing Defendant State Farm Mutual 

Automobile Insurance Company’s Notice of Removal was filed electronically with the United 

States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, with notice of case 

activity to be generated and sent electronically by the Clerk of the Court with ECF notice being 

sent and a copy mailed via certified mail on this 4th day of April, 2020, addressed to those who do 

not receive notice from the Clerk of the Court.

Julian T. Lopez

State Bar No. 12566450

VILLARREAL & BEGUM

5826 I.H. 10 West

San Antonio, Texas 78201

Telephone: (210) 233-6904

Facsimile: (210) 233-8278

julian@vblawgroup.com

______________________________

Margaret Brown

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