WILLIAM S. DUFFEY, Jr., District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman's Final Report and Recommendation ("R&R") [2], which recommends remanding this dispossessory action to the Magistrate Court of DeKalb County, Georgia. The R&R also recommends denying as moot Movant Michelle Jones's ("Movant" or "Jones") application to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP Application") [1].
On September 14, 2015, Plaintiff Brandywine Homes Georgia, LLC, as the agent of Astor ATL, LLC, ("Plaintiff") filed a dispossessory warrant ("Complaint") against its tenant, Defendant Michelle Steele ("Defendant"), in the Magistrate Court of DeKalb County, Georgia.
On October 2, 2015, Jones, proceeding pro se, removed the DeKalb County action to this Court by filing her Notice of Removal and IFP Application. Jones claims that she is an "Executrix" and a "Third-party Inventor [sic]." ([1.2] at 8). Although nearly incomprehensible, Jones appears to assert that there is federal subject matter jurisdiction because there is in this case a question of federal law. In her Notice of Removal, Jones claims that Plaintiff violated the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") and various federal laws, including the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1601
On October 21, 2015, Magistrate Judge Baverman issued his R&R. The Magistrate Judge found that it was improper for Jones, on behalf of Defendant, to sign both the Notice of Removal and IFP Application because she is not an attorney, and Jones is thus not authorized to represent Defendant in this action. The Magistrate Judge concluded that Jones's Notice of Removal and IFP Application are void as a matter of law and recommended that the IFP Application be denied as moot and that this action be remanded to the Magistrate Court of DeKalb County, Georgia.
The Magistrate Judge found further that, even if Jones's representation was proper and Defendant met the requirements to proceed IFP, this action is still required to be remanded because the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. The Magistrate Judge found that the Complaint shows that this is a state court dispossessory action and does not allege federal law claims. Because a federal law defense or counterclaim does not confer federal jurisdiction, the Magistrate Judge concluded that the Court does not have federal question jurisdiction over this matter. The Magistrate Judge also found that Jones failed to allege any facts to show that the parties' citizenship is completely diverse, or that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. The Magistrate Judge concluded that the Court does not have diversity jurisdiction over this matter and that this case is required to be remanded to the state court.
On November 4, 2015, Jones filed her Objections to the R&R.
After conducting a careful and complete review of the findings and recommendations, a district judge may accept, reject or modify a magistrate judge's report and recommendation. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1);
Jones's "Objections" are incoherent. They do not address the Magistrate Judge's reasons for recommending remand and instead consist of rambling allegations that are nearly impossible to discern.
The Magistrate Judge found that Plaintiff's Complaint does not present a federal question and that the parties are not diverse. The Court does not find any plain error in these conclusions. It is well-settled that federal-question jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of a plaintiff's well-pleaded complaint and that the assertions of defenses or counterclaims based on federal law cannot confer federal question jurisdiction over a cause of action.
Because the Court lacks both federal question and diversity jurisdiction, the Magistrate Judge recommended that this action be remanded to the state court.
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons,