Opinion ID: 163856
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: 1 Invoking diversity of citizenship jurisdiction, Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (Woodmen) brought suit in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico against insured members Ross Manganaro, Edward J. Hofer, Jr., Philip Anaya, Joseph P. Anaya, and Cecilia Sanchez (collectively Defendants). Woodman sought to compel Defendants to arbitrate claims they raised in a state court proceeding in accordance with Woodmen's Problem Resolution Procedure (the Procedure). Defendant Sanchez filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The district court dismissed the suit, concluding that Woodmen's potential damages did not meet the jurisdictional amount of more than $75,000. Exercising jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court reverses. Based upon the record before this court, it cannot be said to a legal certainty that the arbitration award would be less than the requisite jurisdictional amount.