Opinion ID: 212570
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Original State Court Complaint and Removal

Text: Johnson’s action arose out of an attempt to obtain a mortgage loan modification with Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (“Ocwen”) in March 2009. Johnson, a citizen of Illinois, filed her original pro se complaint in a Florida state court against defendants Elizabeth R. Wellborn, P.A. (“Wellborn”) and Rick A. Kear of the Law Offices of Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy, Chtd. (“Kear”), whom Johnson alleged were debt collectors and agents of Ocwen. Johnson’s original complaint asserted claims under the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) regulations, 24 C.F.R. § 100.120, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692c-1692p, and state law. Johnson sought over $250,000 in damages and a preliminary injunction. Johnson attached a certificate of service to her complaint. The certificate stated that she had “forwarded” a copy of “this Petition and a NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION-WAIVER OF SERVICE OF PROCESS . . . to Defendants, electronically via Email delivery on September 27, 2009,” and listed e-mail addresses and Florida mailing addresses for each defendant. 2 Defendant Wellborn removed the action to the federal district court in Miami. Wellborn’s notice of removal stated that: (1) the basis for removal was federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 and supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367; (2) complete diversity existed between Johnson and the defendants and the amount in controversy exceeded $75,000;1 and (3) because the other defendant, Kear, had not been served, Wellborn did not need his consent to removal.