GERALD E. ROSEN, District Judge.
The above-captioned matter is presently before the Court on Defendant Lear Corporation's Motion for reconsideration of the Court's Memorandum Opinion and Order of October 28, 2016 remanding the case to Texas state court due to Lear's failure to establish complete diversity of citizenship among the parties. The specific defect which led to the Court's remand of the case was Lear's failure to identify all of the partners of Plaintiff Ragar Transportation, Ltd. and the constituent partners and/or members of Ragar's sub-members. Lear alleged only that Plaintiff Ragar Transportation Ltd. is a Texas limited partnership whose general partner is Ragar Transportation Mgt, LLC. No limited partner was identified.
Ragar's general partner, Ragar Transportation Mgt, LLC, was also identified as a Texas limited liability company. No member of the LLC, however, was identified. Lear identified only the LLC's "registered agent" and its "manager," both of which are irrelevant with respect to the question of federal subject matter jurisdiction. See Smith v. Kenan Transport LLC, 2009 WL 1010251 (N.D. Ga. Apr. 14, 2009); see also Roe v. CitiMortgage, Inc., 2011 WL 2516511 (C.D. Cal. June 22, 2011).
Lear argued in its Response that the information concerning the citizenship of Ragar, its partners, members, and sub-members is available to Plaintiff Ragar, intimating that Ragar should be called upon to provide that information to the Court. However, it was Lear's burden to establish the existence of federal jurisdiction. "The removing party bears the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction, and all doubts should be resolved against removal." Harnden v. Jayco, Inc., 496 F.3d 579, 581-82 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Eastman v. Marine Mech. Corp., 438 F.3d 544, 549-50 (6
In an attempt to prevent remand, Lear suggested that the Court retain jurisdiction and permit jurisdictional discovery. However, as the Court explained in its October 28, 2016 Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court cannot retain what it never possessed. It was Lear's burden to prove the Court's jurisdiction. In the absence of such proof, the Court must presume that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994) (citing Turner v. Bank of North America, 4 U.S. 8, 11 (1799)).
The Court further noted that "allowing post-removal discovery regarding diversity would "frustrat[e] the limited nature of federal jurisdiction by encouraging defendants to remove, at best, prematurely, and at worst, in cases in which they will never be able to establish jurisdiction." Knox Hills LLC v. Ambac Assur. Corp., 2015 WL 1298622 (W.D. Ky. Mar. 23, 2015) (quoting Lowery v. Alabama Power Co., 483 F.3d 1184, 1217 (11th Cir. 2007)); see also May v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 751 F.Supp.2d 946, 949-55 (E.D. Ky. 2010) ("[J]urisdictional discovery is anathema to the limited nature of federal jurisdiction and the need to respect the authority of state courts.") A removing defendant "must be able to demonstrate, at the moment of removal, that the case meets the requirements for federal jurisdiction." May, 751 F. Supp. 2d at 955. Lear's inability to do so did not entitle it to post-removal discovery.
Lear now moves for reconsideration of the Court's October 28, 2016 Order. The Court doubts that it has jurisdiction to entertain Defendant's motion. See Brierly v. Alusuisse Flexible Packaging, Inc., 184 F.3d 527, 521 n. 1 (6
Assuming arguendo the Court does retain jurisdiction to consider Defendant's motion, the Court nonetheless concludes that Lear has failed to demonstrate its entitlement to reconsideration.
The requirements for the granting of motions for reconsideration are set forth in Eastern District of Michigan Local Rule 7.1(h), which, in relevant part, provides:
L.R. 7.1(h)(3).
Therefore, in order to prevail on a motion for reconsideration, the movant must not only demonstrate a palpable defect by which the Court has been misled, he must also show that a different disposition of the case must result from a correction of that defect. A "palpable defect" is "a defect that is obvious, clear, unmistakable, manifest or plain." United States v. Lockette, 328 F.Supp.2d 682, 684 (E.D. Mich. 2004). Moreover, a motion that merely presents the same issues already ruled upon by the Court — either expressly or by reasonable implication — will not be granted. L.R. 7.1(h)(3); see also Flanagan v. Shamo, 111 F.Supp.2d 892, 894 (E.D. Mich. 2000).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) also may be used as a vehicle for seeking reconsideration of a court's prior ruling. Generally, there are three situations which justify reconsideration under Rule 59(e): (1) to correct a clear error of law; (2) to account for newly discovered evidence; (3) to accommodate an intervening change in controlling law; or (4) to prevent manifest injustice. Intera Corp. v. Henderson, 428 F.3d 605, 620 (6
By application of the foregoing authorities, the Court will deny Defendant Lear's November 3, 2016 motion. Lear argues in its Motion for Reconsideration — as it did in responding to the Court's Order to Show Cause — that Plaintiff Ragar should be required to reveal the citizenship of its constituent entities. The Court has already rejected that argument explaining that, as the removing party, it was Defendant Lear's obligation to establish the basis for federal jurisdiction. Lear's motion, thus, merely presents the issues already ruled upon by the Court, either expressly or by reasonable implication. Furthermore, Plaintiff has not shown a "palpable defect" by which the Court has been misled. Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant Lear Corporation's Motion for Reconsideration