Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180426_0001225.MPA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:29:09+00:00

Document:
On February 16, 2018, plaintiffs Antonello Boldrini,  Michael J. Pega, Jr., and Daniele A. Boldrini, filed, pro se, a Notice of Removal, (Doc. 1), seeking to remove a case which was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, namely, PEGA Real Estate Trust Notice of Audit filed February 17, 2017, Docket No. 4009-1634, regarding the cases of Estate of Mirella Pega and the Estate of Giuseppina Boldrini, Docket Nos. 4004-0411 and 4009-1357. Pending before the court is the report and recommendation of Judge Saporito, (Doc. 8), recommending that plaintiffs' action be remanded to state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1447(c) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. After being granted extensions of time, plaintiffs filed objections to Judge Saporito's report on April 20, 2018. (Doc. 35). For the following reasons, the report and recommendation is ADOPTED, plaintiffs' action will be REMANDED to state court, and plaintiffs' objections will be OVERRULED.
When objections are timely filed to the report and recommendation of a magistrate judge, the district court must review de novo those portions of the report to which objections are made. 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1): Brown v. Astrue. 649 F.3d 193. 195 (3d Cir. 2011). Although the standard is de novo, the extent of review is committed to the sound discretion of the district judge, and the court may rely on the recommendations of the magistrate judge to the extent it deems proper. Rieder v. Apfel. 115 F.Supp.2d 496. 499 (M.D.Pa. 2000) (citing United States v. Raddatz. 447 U.S. 667. 676 (1980)).
For those sections of the report and recommendation to which no objection is made, the court should, as a matter of good practice, "satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation." Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b). advisory committee notes; see also Univac Dental Co. v. Dentsply Intern.. Inc.. 702 F.Supp.2d 465.469 (M.D.Pa. 2010) (citing Henderson v. Carlson. 812 F.2d 874. 878 (3d Cir. 1987) (explaining judges should give some review to every report and recommendation)). Nevertheless, whether timely objections are made or not, the district court may accept, not accept, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. $636(b)(1): Local Rule 72.31.
Judge Saporito correctly indicates that since plaintiffs were not defendants in the underlying actions filed in state court, this federal court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the removed action. Judge Saporito states that "there is simply no statutory authorization for a plaintiff, the party who chose to initiate litigation in the state forum, to remove his own action to federal court." (Doc. 8 at 2-3) (citations omitted). Judge Saporito also points out that since the issue in this case is a jurisdictional defect in removal, not a procedural defect, the court can sua sponte remand the case to state court.
Section 1441 (a) of Title 28 of the United States Code provides that "any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant... to the district court of the United States." At all times this removal statute should be "strictly construed against removal and all doubts should be resolved in favor of remand." Steel Vallev Auth. v. Union Switch and Signal Div.. 809 F.2d 1006. 1010 (3d Cir. 1987). "Because lack of jurisdiction would make any decree in the case void and the continuation of the litigation in federal court futile, the removal statute should be strictly construed and all doubts should be resolved in favor of remand." Abels v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co.. 770 F.2d 26. 29 (3d Cir. 1985).
Federal courts, being courts of limited jurisdiction, have a continuing duty to satisfy themselves of jurisdiction before addressing the merits of a case. Packard v. Provident Nat'l Bank, 994 F.2d 1039, 1049 (3d Cir. 1993). Moreover, federal courts have an obligation to address issues of subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte. Zambelli Fireworks Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Wood, 592 F.3d 412, 418 (3d Cir. 2010) (citation omitted); Shaffer v. GTE North, Inc., 284 F.3d 500, 502 (3d Cir. 2002).
In the removal context, a district court has the authority-indeed the obligation-to remand a case sua sponte for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. §1447(c) ("If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded."); see Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ward Trucking Corp., 48 F.3d 742, 750 (3d Cir. 1995) ("[Section 1447(c)] allows and indeed compels a district court to address the question of jurisdiction, even if the parties do not raise the issue."). Following Third Circuit law, we strictly construe the removal statutes against removal and resolve all doubts in favor of remand. Steel Valley Auth. v. Union Switch & Signal Div., 809 F.2d 1006, 1010 (3d Cir. 1987).
Plaintiffs are attempting to challenge a Notice of an Audit filed in state court regarding two estates, namely, Estate of Mirella Pega and the Estate of Giuseppina Boldrini. Plaintiffs allege that PEGA Real Estate Trust and the other named defendants in their petition for removal have "since 2004 purposely knowingly and in conspiracy misused Racketeering pursuant to Pa. 18 C.S.A. [§]911(h)(1)(iii) - 'the altar of the due process' to deprive all the plaintiffs of their property, liberty and life, allegedly causing the death of Giuseppina Boldrini." Plaintiffs also state that their petition for removal was based upon their constitutional right to equal protection under the law.

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