PHILIP A. BRIMMER, Chief District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on the Urgent Motion Requesting Stay Pending Appeal [Docket No. 92] filed by defendant Mark A. Schwartz ("Schwartz").
This interpleader action arises out of a dispute as to who controls the bank account of defendant Mesh Suture, Inc. ("Mesh Suture") at Wells Fargo (the "Mesh Suture bank account") — Schwartz or the Dumanians. Docket No. 1 at 1-2, ¶¶ 1-2.
On November 23, 2019, Gregory A. Dumanian and Randa Dumanian filed an "emergency motion" to appoint a receiver for the Mesh Suture bank account during the pendency of this interpleader action. Docket No. 11. The emergency motion argued that a receiver was necessary to pay Mesh Suture invoices from the Mesh Suture bank account while this action is pending. Id. at 9. Magistrate Judge Gordon P. Gallagher set a hearing on the receiver motion for January 31, 2020. Docket No. 27. Schwartz did not file a response to the motion before the January 21 deadline set by the magistrate judge. See Docket No. 26.
On January 9, 2020, Schwartz filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, purportedly on behalf of Mesh Suture, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico (the "Puerto Rico bankruptcy case"). Docket No. 29 at 2; see also Docket No. 29-1 (bankruptcy petition); No. 20-00031-MCF11 (Bankr. P.R.). On January 10, 2020, the Dumanians filed another "emergency motion," seeking a declaration that the automatic stay provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 362(a), which are typically triggered by a bankruptcy proceeding, do not apply to this action (the "automatic stay motion"). Docket No. 29. Schwartz, through counsel, filed a response, arguing that (1) the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over this action because the claimants are all citizens of Puerto Rico, (2) the Court does not have jurisdiction to hear the automatic stay motion because the Bankruptcy Court in Puerto Rico has exclusive jurisdiction to grant relief from the automatic stay, and (3) the automatic stay should remain in place until the Bankruptcy Court in Puerto Rico decides how to proceed. Docket No. 33.
On January 17, 2020, Crosson, who serves on the Mesh Suture Board of Directors, moved to intervene in this case, Docket No. 35, and joined the automatic stay motion pending her intervention. Docket No. 37.
On January 29, 2020, the Court issued an order (the "automatic stay order") granting the automatic stay motion in part. Docket No. 40. First, the Court concluded that the question of subject matter jurisdiction was not ripe for decision and set a briefing schedule for the parties. Id. at 4-5. However, the Court ordered that the action would proceed pending resolution of the jurisdictional issue. Id. at 5. Next, the Court held that it had jurisdiction to decide whether the automatic stay applied. Id. (citing Amoco Pipeline Co. v. Admiral Crude Oil Corp., 490 F.2d 114, 116 (10th Cir. 1974)). Finally, the Court determined that the automatic stay did not apply to this interpleader action, as the purpose of the action is "to determine which claimant has the right to the funds contained in the Mesh Suture [bank] account" and thus did not f all within 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(3). Id. at 6.
On January 31, 2020, Magistrate Judge Gallagher held a hearing on the receiver motion. Docket No. 75.
On February 12, 2020, Schwartz, now proceeding pro se, filed a notice of appeal with the Tenth Circuit. Docket No. 90; see also No. 20-1041 (10th Cir.).
Meanwhile, in accordance with the automatic stay order, the Dumanians, Wells Fargo, and Crosson filed briefs addressing Schwartz's subject matter jurisdiction argument. Docket Nos. 84, 85, 86. The Dumanians argue that they are all citizens of Illinois. Docket No. 84. Wells Fargo argues that the Dumanians are citizens of Illinois, that Mesh Suture is a citizen of Puerto Rico and/or Wyoming, and that Schwartz is a citizen of Colorado. Docket No. 85. Crosson argues that she is a citizen of California. Docket No. 86. Schwartz filed a reply on February 23, 2020, arguing that he, the Dumanians, and Mesh Suture are all citizens of Puerto Rico. Docket No. 108.
On February 24, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico dismissed the Puerto Rico bankruptcy case. See Docket No. 112-1. On February 25, 2020, the Tenth Circuit sua sponte issued an order to show cause and suspended merits briefing. See No. 20-1041, Order dated Feb. 25, 2020 (the "show cause order"). As relevant here, the show cause order noted that "[i]t is . . . not clear how the district court's decisions are appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(2)." Id. at 2. The Tenth Circuit observed that, in light of the dismissal of the Puerto Rico bankruptcy case, it "appears that any attempted appeal of the [automatic stay order] is moot." Id. at 3. The Tenth Circuit further observed that "[a] decision entered by a magistrate judge" — such as the receiver order — "is generally not immediately appealable." Id.
Before turning to the merits of the instant motion, the Court considers Schwartz's argument that the entire action must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Wells Fargo brings this interpleader action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1335, which requires "[t]wo or more adverse claimants, of diverse citizenship" in order for the district court to have jurisdiction. This provision requires only "minimal diversity" — "diversity of citizenship between two or more claimants." State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Tashire, 386 U.S. 523, 531 (1967).
Mesh Suture is a citizen of Puerto Rico.
"An individual's state citizenship is equivalent to domicile." Smith v. Cummings, 445 F.3d 1254, 1259 (10th Cir. 2006). Mere residency in a state without an intent to remain is not determinative of a party's citizenship for purposes of diversity jurisdiction. See Middleton v. Stephenson, 749 F.3d 1197, 1200 (10th Cir. 2014) ("[A] person acquires domicile in a state when the person resides there and intends to remain there indefinitely."); Whitelock v. Leatherman, 460 F.2d 507, 514 (10th Cir. 1972) ("[A]llegations of mere `residence' may not be equated with `citizenship' for the purposes of establishing diversity."); see also Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30, 48 (1989) ("`Domicile' is not necessarily synonymous with `residence,' and one can reside in one place but be domiciled in another." (citations omitted)). The inquiry as to an individual's domicile "must be done on a case by case basis," taking into account factors such as "the party's current residence; voter registration and voting practices; situs of personal and real property; location of brokerage and bank accounts; membership in unions, fraternal organizations, churches, clubs, and other associations; place of employment or business; driver's license and automobile registration; payment of taxes; as well as several other aspects of human life and activity." 13E Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice & Procedure § 3612 (3d ed. Aug. 2019 update).
In connection with his response brief, Gregory Dumanian submitted a declaration attesting that he: (1) has resided in Chicago, Illinois, since July 1, 1996; (2) has been employed by Northwestern University since July 1, 1996; (3) bought his current home, located in Chicago, Illinois, in 1997; (4) has been registered to vote in Cook County, Illinois, since 1996; (5) has filed state taxes in Illinois for over 20 years; (6) only owns personal property, including a vehicle, located in Illinois; (7) has an Illinois driver's license; (8) has registered his vehicle in Illinois; and (9) maintains a personal checking account, savings account, and credit cards in Illinois. Docket No. 84-1 at 2-4, ¶¶ 5, 8, 9, 15-17. The Court has little difficulty concluding that Gregory Dumanian's affidavit, viewed in light of the relevant factors, establishes that he is domiciled in Illinois.
In reply, Schwartz contends that Gregory Dumanian is a citizen of Puerto Rico. Docket No. 108 at 3, ¶¶ 13, 15. Schwartz relies on a document indicating that Gregory Dumanian was awarded a tax exemption by the Government of Puerto Rico on February 27, 2017 (the "Tax Grant"). Docket No. 108-2. Schwartz contends that this conclusively proves that Gregory Dumanian is domiciled in Puerto Rico. The Court disagrees. First, the Tax Grant is not evidence that Gregory Dumanian was, at any point, a resident of Puerto Rico. Rather, the Tax Grant is evidence that Gregory Dumanian "submitted facts indicating that he meets the requirements to be treated as a `Resident Individual Investor' or that he will meet those requirements within one (1) year from the date of" the Tax Grant. See Docket No. 108-2 at 1. The Tax Grant also states that it "shall not become effective until [Gregory Dumanian] becomes a resident of Puerto Rico." Id., ¶ 2. Schwartz offers no evidence that Gregory Dumanian ever became a resident of Puerto Rico or accepted the benefits of the Tax Grant.
Because Mesh Suture is a citizen of Puerto Rico and Gregory Dumanian is a citizen of Illinois, minimal diversity exists and the Court has subject matter jurisdiction.
Schwartz moves to stay "the enforcement of [the Court's] orders" until the Tenth Circuit resolves the merits of his appeal of the automatic stay order and the receiver order. Docket No. 92 at 1.
"A stay is an intrusion into the ordinary processes of administration and judicial review, and accordingly is not a matter of right, even if irreparable injury might otherwise result to the appellant." Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 427 (2009) (internal citations and quotations omitted). The factors governing issuance of a stay pending appeal are: "(1) whether the stay applicant has made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) whether the applicant will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether issuance of the stay will substantially injure the other parties interested in the proceeding; and (4) where the public interest lies." Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987); see also 11 Fed. Prac. & Proc. § 2904. "The first two factors of the traditional standard are the most critical," as "more than a mere possibility of relief is required" and "showing some possibility of irreparable injury fails to satisfy the second factor." Nken, 556 U.S. at 434-35 (internal citations, quotations, and alterations omitted).
Schwartz has not made a sufficient showing as to the first two factors to merit a stay of proceedings and of this Court's orders pending appeal.
First, the Court finds that there is no basis for a stay because the dismissal of the bankruptcy case mooted the automatic stay order. "Under Article III of the Constitution [federal courts] may only adjudicate actual, ongoing controversies." Honig v. Doe, 484 U.S. 305, 317 (1988); see also Wiley v. Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Ass'n, 612 F.2d 473, 475 (10th Cir. 1979) (noting that mootness "has its constitutional origin in the `case or controversy' limitation of Article III"). In the mootness inquiry, "[t]he crucial question is whether granting a present determination of the issues offered will have some effect in the real world." Citizens for Responsible Gov't State Political Action Comm. v. Davidson, 236 F.3d 1174, 1182 (10th Cir. 2000) (internal quotations and alterations omitted). The Court entering a stay of the automatic stay order would have no impact in the real world because the Puerto Rico bankruptcy case has been dismissed. The automatic stay order concluded that the Puerto Rico bankruptcy case did not act to automatically stay proceedings in this action. See Docket No. 40 at 6-7. The goal of Schwartz's appeal — and the instant motion — is to undo that decision and apply the automatic stay from the Puerto Rico bankruptcy case to this action. However, with the Puerto Rico bankruptcy case dismissed, there is no automatic stay to apply to this action, even if this Court or the Tenth Circuit were to reach the merits of Schwartz's challenge to the automatic stay order. Thus, Schwartz has no likelihood of success on the merits of his appeal of the automatic stay order because, as the Tenth Circuit indicated in its show cause order, it "appears that any attempted appeal of the [automatic stay order] is moot." See No. 20-1041, show cause order at 3.
As to the receiver order, the Court finds that Schwartz faces insurmountable obstacles, both procedural and substantive, to achieving success on the merits. Procedurally, Schwartz's appeal is improper, as he has failed to file any objections to the receiver order, an order issued by a magistrate judge, with this Court. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a) ("A party may not assign as error a defect in [a magistrate judge's nondispositive] order not timely objected to."); Frontier Refining, Inc. v. Gorman-Rupp Co., Inc., 136 F.3d 695, 706 (10th Cir. 1998) (applying Rule 72(a) and holding that a party's "failure to appeal the magistrate's ruling to the district court precludes it from raising the issue on appeal to [the Tenth Circuit]").
Even assuming arguendo that Schwartz has some likelihood of success on the merits of his challenge to the receiver order, Schwartz fails to identify any irreparable harm that he would be caused by the receiver order. "To constitute irreparable harm, an injury must be certain, great, actual and not theoretical." Heideman v. South Salt Lake City, 348 F.3d 1182, 1189 (10th Cir. 2003). "To show a threat of irreparable harm, a plaintiff must demonstrate `a significant risk that he or she will experience harm that cannot be compensated after the fact by money damages.'" Fish v. Kobach, 840 F.3d 710, 751 (10th Cir. 2016) (quoting RoDa Drilling Co. v. Siegal, 552 F.3d 1203, 1210 (10th Cir. 2009)). Schwartz's argument as to irreparable harm — to the extent that he does not rely on the now-dismissed Puerto Rico bankruptcy case — is that Mesh Suture will suffer money damages by the receiver paying invoices as directed by the receiver order. See Docket No. 92 at 11 (stating that "[o]nce [Mesh Suture's] funds are distributed, they are gone").
Because Schwartz has not made an adequate showing of the likelihood of success on the merits of his appeal or irreparable harm from the denial of a stay pending appeal, the Court will deny Schwartz's motion to stay.
For the foregoing reasons, it is