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FAY v. TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES CO. LTD., 3:12-0809. (2012)

Court: District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania Number: infdco20120510c35 Visitors: 6
Filed: May 09, 2012
Latest Update: May 09, 2012
Summary: MEMORANDUM DATE A. RICHARD CAPUTO, District Judge. Presently before the Court is a Complaint filed by Plaintiff Robin Fay (Doc. 1). Because the Complaint fails to establish that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the action, it will be dismissed unless Plaintiff can show that diversity jurisdiction is proper. I. Background Plaintiff brings this action alleging diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1332. (Doc. 1, 8.) Plaintiff is averred to be "an individual who resid
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MEMORANDUM

DATE A. RICHARD CAPUTO, District Judge.

Presently before the Court is a Complaint filed by Plaintiff Robin Fay (Doc. 1). Because the Complaint fails to establish that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the action, it will be dismissed unless Plaintiff can show that diversity jurisdiction is proper.

I. Background

Plaintiff brings this action alleging diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (Doc. 1, ¶ 8.) Plaintiff is averred to be "an individual who resides at 755 Cokely Road, Springville, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania." (Doc 1, ¶¶ 2-3.)

Defendants named in this action include Ryobi Technologies, Inc. and Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. (Doc. 1, ¶¶ 6-7.) Defendant Ryobi is alleged to be "a Delaware corporation with a principal place of business at 1428 Pearman Dairy Road, Anderson, South Carolina." (Doc. 1, ¶ 6.) Defendant Home Depot is alleged to be "a Delaware corporation with a principal place of business at 2455 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia." (Doc. 1, ¶ 7.)

II. Discussion

Federal courts have an obligation to address issues of subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte. Meritcare Inc. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co., 166 F.3d 214, 217 (3d Cir. 1999). Plaintiffs allege that this Court's basis for jurisdiction is diversity of citizenship pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Section 1332(a)(1) gives district courts original jurisdiction to hear cases where the matter in controversy exceeds the value of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and is between citizens of different states. In order for jurisdiction to exist, there must be complete diversity, meaning that each defendant must be a citizen of a different state from each plaintiff. Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 373 (1978). Of course, "[t]he person asserting jurisdiction bears the burden of showing that the case is properly before the court at all stages of the litigation." Packard v. Provident Nat'l Bank, 994 F.2d 1039, 1045 (3d Cir. 1993).

"It is . . . well established that when jurisdiction depends upon diverse citizenship the absence of sufficient averments or of facts in the record showing such required diversity of citizenship is fatal and cannot be overlooked by the court, even if the parties fail to call attention to the defect, or consent that it may be waived." Thomas v. Bd. of Trs., 195 U.S. 207, 211 (1904). Moreover, "[w]hen the foundation of federal authority is, in a particular instance, open to question, it is incumbent upon the courts to resolve such doubts, one way or the other, before proceeding to a disposition of the merits." Carlsberg Res. Corp. v. Cambria Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 554 F.2d 1254, 1256 (3d Cir. 1977); see also Fed R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).

A. Citizenship of Plaintiff

For purposes of diversity jurisdiction, a natural person is deemed to be a citizen of the state where she is domiciled. Swiger v. Allegheny Energy, Inc., 540 F.3d 179, 182 (3d Cir.2008) (citing Gilbert v. David, 235 U.S. 561, 569, 35 S.Ct. 164, 59 L.Ed. 360 (1915)). To be domiciled in a state, a person must reside there and intend to remain indefinitely. Krasnov v. Dinan, 465 F.2d 1298, 1300-01 (3d Cir.1972). A person may have only one domicile, and thus may be a citizen of only one state for diversity jurisdiction purposes. See Williamson v. Osenton, 232 U.S. 619, 34 S.Ct. 442, 58 L.Ed. 758 (1914).

To the extent the Complaint alleges that Plaintiff "resides" in Springville, Pennsylvania, this is not sufficient. Residence is not the same as domicile and does not establish citizenship for diversity purposes. See Krasnov, 465 F.2d at 1300 (3d Cir.1972) ("Where one lives is prima facie evidence of domicile, but mere residency in a state is insufficient for purposes of diversity") (internal citations omitted). The Court therefore finds that the Complaint has not properly alleged Plaintiff's citizenship for the purposes of diversity jurisdiction.

B. Citizenship of Corporate Defendants Ryobi and Home Depot

The Complaint also fails to properly allege the citizenship of Ryobi and Home Depot. A corporation may have more than one state of citizenship: "a corporation shall be deemed to be a citizen of every State . . . by which it has been incorporated and of the State . . . where it has its principal place of business." 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1). A corporation may only have one principal place of business, and proper invocation of diversity jurisdiction requires that the plaintiff allege where a corporation has "its principal place of business." See S. Freedman & Co., Inc. v. Raab, 180 F. App'x 316, 320 (3d Cir. 2006) (affirming the district court's dismissal of a complaint alleging where the plaintiff corporation maintained "a principal place of business," rather than "its principal place of business"). A corporation's principal place of business is its "nerve center," that is, the place "where a corporation's officers direct, control, and coordinate the corporation's activities." Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 130 S.Ct. 1181, 1192 (2010).

Here, Plaintiff's Complaint indicates that both Ryobi and Home Depot are Delaware corporations. (Doc. 1, ¶¶ 6-7.) However, Ryobi is only alleged to have "a principal place of business" in South Carolina and Home Depot is only averred to have "a principal place of business" in Georgia. (Doc. 1, ¶¶ 6-7.) In order to properly plead the citizenship of these corporations, Plaintiff must allege the principal place of business and state of incorporation of each corporation. As the Complaint does not contain allegations regarding the principal place of business for Ryobi or Home Depot, the Court cannot determine whether there is proper jurisdiction over these Defendants.

III. Conclusion

For the above stated reasons, the Complaint fails to adequately plead the citizenship of Plaintiff and Defendants Home Depot and Ryobi. As Plaintiff has not shown that complete diversity of citizenship exists between the parties, the Court cannot determine that subject matter jurisdiction exists and the matter is subject to dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3). However, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1653, Plaintiff will be permitted the opportunity to demonstrate that diversity-of-citizenship jurisdiction exists, thereby saving the Complaint. See USX Corp. v. Adriatic Ins. Co., 345 F.3d 190, 204 (3d Cir. 2003) (noting that Section 1653 gives district courts "the power to remedy inadequate jurisdictional allegations, but not defective jurisdictional facts."). As such, Plaintiff will be given twenty-one (21) days in which to file an amended complaint. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of this action.

An appropriate order follows.

Source:  Leagle

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