Court Opinion

ID: 222151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-07-29 16:31:34+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:53.451501
License: Public Domain

DLD-241                                                      NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ___________

                                     No. 11-2581
                                     ___________

                                  JAY L. THOMAS,
                                     Appellant

                                           v.

                           ADVANCE HOUSING, INC.;
                               JOHN DOES 1-10;
                                XYZ CORP. 1-10
                     ____________________________________

                   On Appeal from the United States District Court
                            for the District of New Jersey
                           (D.C. Civil No. 2-11-cv-01426)
                    District Judge: Honorable Peter G. Sheridan
                    ____________________________________

                       Submitted for Possible Summary Action
                  Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                     July 21, 2011

          Before: FISHER, BARRY and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.

                                 (Filed: July 29, 2011)
                                      _________

                                      OPINION
                                      _________

PER CURIAM

      Jay L. Thomas appeals pro se from an order denying his request to file an

amended complaint. Appellee, Advance Housing Inc., has requested summary dismissal
of the appeal. For the reasons that follow, we will deny appellee’s request, and vacate

and remand to the District Court for further proceedings.

       Thomas filed a complaint against Advance Housing Inc., John Does 1-10, and

XYZ Corp. 1-10, 1 alleging claims of gross negligence, breach of contract, and violations

of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Advance Housing Inc. filed a motion to

dismiss, which was granted. The District Court concluded that it lacked subject matter

jurisdiction. Thomas then filed a motion for an extension of time to file an amended

complaint, motion to amend complaint, and a proposed amended complaint, which the

District Court denied. Thomas appeals and requests appointment of counsel.

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and review the District Court's

denial of Thomas’ motion to file an amended complaint for abuse of discretion. See

Alvin v. Suzuki, 227 F.3d 107, 121 (3d Cir. 2000). Leave to amend shall be freely given

“when justice so requires.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15. Before it dismisses a case for lack of

subject matter jurisdiction, the district court must allow plaintiff a chance to amend his

complaint, unless amendment would be inequitable or futile. See Grayson v. Mayview

State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 108 (3d Cir. 2002).

       The District Court properly denied Thomas’ original complaint for lack of subject

matter jurisdiction because it failed to raise a federal question and the parties lacked

diversity of citizenship. In denying Thomas’ motion to amend his complaint, the District

       1
         Thomas’ complaint states that John Does 1-10 and XYZ Company 1-10 were
agents, servants, or employees of Advance Housing Inc.

                                              2
Court failed to offer any explanation. 2 Advance Housing Inc. argues that granting leave

to amend would have been futile because Thomas’ proposed amended complaint failed to

establish subject matter jurisdiction. We disagree.

       In his proposed amended complaint, Thomas raised an additional claim, that

Advance Housing Inc. violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. 3 He asserts in his

proposed amended complaint that “[o]n or about March 24, 2008, defendant Advance

Housing maliciously [sic] and with intent denied plaintiff services due to his race” and

that “[a]t all times relevant[,] defendant Advance Housing denied services based upon

plaintiff[’]s race.” A federal court has subject matter jurisdiction over civil actions

arising under “the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1331.

Thomas’ proposed amended complaint cured the jurisdictional defect in his original

       2
         Even if a district court does not explain its decision, it is not an abuse of
discretion to deny a motion to amend “as long as the court’s rationale is readily apparent
from the record on appeal.” Lake v. Arnold, 232 F.3d 360, 374 (3d Cir. 2000).
       3
         Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, “[n]o person . . . shall, on the ground of
race, color, or national origin, . . . be subjected to discrimination under any program . . .
receiving Federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000d.

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complaint. Therefore, the District Court erred in dismissing his motion to amend his

complaint to state a basis for federal jurisdiction. 4

       Accordingly, we will vacate the District Court’s order and will remand for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion. We deny Advance Housing Inc.’s request for

summary dismissal and deny Thomas’ motion for appointment of counsel. 5 See Tabron

v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 155 (3d Cir. 1993).

       4
         Additionally, the District Court did not analyze the allegations in Thomas’
original or proposed amended complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure. Regardless, even if Thomas’ proposed amended complaint does not
allege all that is necessary to state a claim for relief, he would be given another
opportunity to amend his complaint. “[I]f a complaint is vulnerable to [Rule] 12(b)(6)
dismissal, a district court must permit a curative amendment, unless an amendment would
be inequitable or futile.” Phillips v. Cnty. of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 236 (3d Cir.
2008) (citing Grayson, 293 F.3d at 108).
       5
        Thomas’ “motion to leave to permit amendment of subject matter jurisdiction”
appears to restate his request in his notice of appeal and motion for appointment of
counsel. Therefore, this motion is dismissed as moot.

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