CHRISTINA A. BRYAN, Magistrate Judge.
Defendant C Lugrand-Dawkins Enterprises LLC removed this case to federal court from the 152nd Judicial District for Harris County, Texas on November 1, 2019.
No Defendant responded to Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand. The Court recommends that Plaintiffs' claims against C Lugrand-Dawkins Enterprises LLC be severed from this action and that Plaintiffs' case against all Defendants other than C Lugrand-Dawkins Enterprises LLC be remanded to state court.
Federal jurisdiction is limited. The party invoking this Court's removal jurisdiction bears the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction. Manguno v. Prudential Property and Cas. Ins. Co., 276 F.3d 720, 723 (5th Cir. 2002); Frank v. Bear Stearns & Co., 128 F.3d 919, 921-22 (5th Cir. 1997). Defendant removed this case alleging federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1331. Dkt. 1 at 2. The Notice of Removal does not allege diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §1332, and it appears from the face of Plaintiffs' petition that diversity does not exist because all Defendants and Plaintiffs are citizens of Texas. Defendant's statements in the Notice of Removal regarding federal jurisdiction, the procedural requirements for removal, and venue are conclusory and contain no factual allegations in support of removal.
The existence of federal question jurisdiction is governed by the "well pleaded complaint rule," which provides that a federal question must be presented by the fact of the plaintiff's properly pleaded complaint. Rivet v. Regions Bank of La., 522 U.S. 308, 312 (2005); Baron v. Strassner, 7 F.Supp.2d 871, 873 (S. D. Tex. 1998). Plaintiffs' Original Verified Complaint, filed on September 30, 2019, asserts causes of action for violations of the Texas Securities Act, TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 581-7, 9, 12, 15, and 23(C), as well as Texas common law claims of conversion, fraud, fraud by nondisclosure, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and seeks temporary and permanent injunctive relief and appointment of a receiver.
The existence of federal jurisdiction is judged as of the date of removal.Manguno v. Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 276 F.3d 720, 723 (5th Cir. 2002) ("To determine whether jurisdiction is present for removal, we consider the claims in the state court petition as they existed at the time of removal.").
For these reasons, the Court RECOMMENDS that Plaintiffs' claims against C Legrand-Dawkins Enterprises LLC be SEVERED from this case; that Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand (Dkt. 3) be GRANTED as to all Defendants other than C Legrand-Dawkins Enterprises LLC; and Plaintiffs' case against all remaining Defendants be REMANDED to the state court from which it was removed.
The Clerk of the Court shall send copies of the memorandum and recommendation to the respective parties, who will then have fourteen days to file written objections, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(c). Failure to file written objections within the time period provided will bar an aggrieved party from attacking the factual findings and legal conclusions on appeal. Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1428-29 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc), superseded by statute on other grounds.