Source: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/5:2011cv05770/248214/4
Timestamp: 2018-10-21 15:03:35
Document Index: 210494560

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1441', '§ 1446', '§ 1331', '§ 1441']

ORDER That Case Be Reassigned to a District Judge; REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re 1 Notice of Removal and 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. et al v. Dizon :: Justia Dockets & Filings
Justia Dockets & Filings Ninth Circuit California California Northern District Court Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. et al v. Dizon Filing 4
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. et al v. Dizon
ORDER That Case Be Reassigned to a District Judge; REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re 1 Notice of Removal and 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Objections due by 12/23/2011. Signed by Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd on 12/6/2011. (hrllc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/6/2011)
1 2 *E-FILED 12-06-2011* 3 4 5 6 NOT FOR CITATION 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 SAN JOSE DIVISION 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 7 12 13 No. C11-05770 HRL WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., ORDER THAT CASE BE REASSIGNED TO A DISTRICT JUDGE Plaintiff, v. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 14 15 LILIA E. DIZON and DOES 1-5, Defendants. / 16 17 Pro se defendant Lilia E. Dizon removed this case from Santa Clara County Superior 18 Court and requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP). For the reasons stated below, the 19 undersigned recommends that defendant’s IFP application be denied as moot, and that this 20 action be summarily remanded to the state court. 21 The record presented indicates that on May 18, 2011, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (Wells 22 Fargo) filed the instant action for forcible detainer/forcible entry. According to the complaint, 23 Wells Fargo previously filed an action for unlawful detainer against Dizon and obtained a 24 default judgment for possession of the property. The complaint further alleges that, without 25 plaintiff’s consent, defendant then forcibly took possession of the premises and refuses to leave. 26 A court may authorize the commencement of a civil action in forma pauperis if the court 27 is satisfied that the applicant cannot pay the requisite filing fee. 28 U.S.C § 1915(a)(1). 28 However, a court may dismiss a case filed without the payment of the filing fee whenever it 1 determines that the action “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief 2 may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such 3 relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii). Additionally, “[i]f the court determines at any time 4 that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action.” FED. R. CIV. P. 5 12(h)(3). 6 Removal to federal court is proper where the federal court would have original subject 7 matter jurisdiction over the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1441. If, after a court’s prompt review of a 8 notice of removal “it clearly appears on the face of the notice and any exhibits annexed thereto 9 that removal should not be permitted, the court shall make an order for summary remand.” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(c)(4) (emphasis added). These removal statutes are strictly construed against 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 removal and place the burden on the defendant to demonstrate that removal was proper. 12 Moore-Thomas v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 553 F.3d 1241, 1244 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing Gaus v. 13 Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992)). 14 Defendant contends that the foreclosure of her home and the prior unlawful detainer 15 action were conducted in violation of federal law and her constitutional rights. Federal courts 16 have original jurisdiction over civil actions “arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of 17 the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1331. A claim “arises under” federal law if, based on the 18 “well-pleaded complaint rule,” the plaintiff alleges a federal claim for relief. Vaden v. 19 Discovery Bank, 129 S. Ct. 1262, 1272 (2009). Defenses and counterclaims asserting a federal 20 question do not satisfy this requirement. Id. The record indicates that plaintiff’s complaint 21 presents claims arising only under state law and does not allege any federal claims whatsoever. 22 Defendant’s allegations in a removal notice or in a response to plaintiff’s complaint cannot 23 provide this court with federal question jurisdiction. Accordingly, defendant has failed to show 24 that removal is proper on account of any federal substantive law. 25 Nor does this court have diversity jurisdiction over the matter. Defendant does not 26 establish diversity of citizenship in her removal notice, and a review of the complaint shows 27 that it specifies that the amount of claimed damages does not exceed $10,000.00. (Complaint at 28 1). In any event, as a California defendant, Dizon does not have the right to remove this action 2 1 to federal court under diversity jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b) (stating that an action is 2 removable for diversity “only if none of the parties in interest properly joined and served as 3 defendants is a citizen of the State in which such action is brought”). 4 Because the parties have yet to consent to the undersigned’s jurisdiction, this court 5 ORDERS the Clerk of the Court to reassign this case to a District Judge. The undersigned 6 further RECOMMENDS that the newly assigned judge deny the IFP application as moot and 7 summarily remand the case to Santa Clara County Superior Court. Pursuant to Federal Rule of 8 Civil Procedure 72(b), any party may serve and file objections to this Report and 9 Recommendation within fourteen days after being served. 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 12 SO ORDERED. Dated: December 6, 2011 HOWARD R. LLOYD UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3 1 5:11-cv-05770-HRL Notice has been electronically mailed to: 2 Eric Gene Fernandez eric.fernandez@tflglaw.com, donna.hoagland@tflglaw.com, laurie.howell@tflglaw.com, noah.bean@tflglaw.com, sean.bedrosian@tflglaw.com 3 4 5:11-cv-05770-HRL Notice sent by U.S. Mail to: 5 Lilia Dizon c/o Non-Domestic Mail 1338 Flickinger Avenue San Jose, CA 95131 6 7 8 Lilia Dizon 2530 Berryessa Road #515 San Jose, CA 95132 9 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4