Colbert Jr. v. General Motors LLC

[10] 11 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 12 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA [13] 14 BRENT COLBERT, JR., No. 1:23-CV-01269-KES-CDB 15 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING MOTION TO REMAND 16 v. Doc. 14 17 GENERAL MOTORS, LLC, a limited liability company; and DOES 1 through 10, 18 inclusive, 19 Defendant. [20] 21 Plaintiff Brent Colbert Jr. (“Colbert”) moves to remand this action to Kern County 22 Superior Court. Doc. 14 (“MTR”). Defendant General Motors LLC and DOES 1 through 10, 23 inclusive (“GM”), filed an opposition. Doc. 16 (“Opp’n”). Colbert filed a reply. Doc. 18 24 (“Reply”). The Court took the motion under submission. Doc. 15. For the reasons set forth 25 below, Colbert’s motion is denied. 26 I. Background 27 On October 3, 2023, Colbert brought this case in Kern County Superior Court alleging 28 that GM violated various express and implied warranties in their sale of a 2018 Cadillac CT6 to 1 Colbert. Doc. 1-1 (“Compl.”). Colbert alleges that following the purchase of the Cadillac, the car 2 exhibited various defects and malfunctions. Id. ¶ 13. GM attempted to repair the car, and despite 3 their representations that they were successful, the car continued to exhibit issues. Id. ¶¶ 14–15. 4 The complaint asserts three causes of action under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act 5 (“Song-Beverly Act”) and a fourth cause of action alleging violations of California Business & 6 Professions Code 17200. Id. at 2. Colbert seeks rescission of the purchase contract and 7 restitution, civil penalties in the amount of two times plaintiff’s actual damages, and attorneys’ 8 fees, among other relief. See id. at 14. 9 GM removed the action to this Court on August 23, 2023, based on diversity jurisdiction. 10 Doc. 1 (“Notice of Removal”). In their notice of removal, GM asserted that this Court has subject 11 matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 (a) because the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 12 and the parties are completely diverse. Id. at 3–6. Colbert moves to remand the action to Kern 13 County Superior Court, arguing that GM’s notice of removal failed to establish this Court’s 14 jurisdiction. MTR at 6. 15 II. Legal Standard 16 A. Removal Jurisdiction 17 A suit filed in state court may be removed to federal court if the federal court would have 18 had original jurisdiction over the suit. 28 U.S.C. § 1441 (a). Removal is proper when a case 19 originally filed in state court presents a federal question or where there is diversity of citizenship 20 among the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 , 21 1332(a). 22 “If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter 23 jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded.” 28 U.S.C. § 1447 (c). Section 1447(c) “is strictly 24 construed against removal jurisdiction, and the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction falls to 25 the party invoking the statute.” Acad. Of Country Music v. Cont’l Cas. Co., 991 F.3d 1059 , 1061 26 (9th Cir. 2021) (quoting Cal. ex rel. Lockyer v. Dynegy, Inc., 375 F.3d 831 , 838 (9th Cir. 2004); 27 see also Provincial Gov’t of Marinduque v. Placer Dome, Inc., 582 F.3d 1083, 1087 (9th Cir. 28 2009) (“The defendant bears the burden of establishing that removal is proper.”). As such, a 1 federal court must reject jurisdiction and remand the case to state court if there is any doubt as to 2 the right of removal. Matheson v. Progressive Specialty Ins. Co., 319 F.3d 1089, 1090 (9th Cir. 3 2003). A “notice of removal ‘need not contain evidentiary submissions,’ but only plausible 4 allegations of the jurisdictional elements.” Arias v. Residence Inn by Marriott, 936 F.3d 920 , 922 5 (9th Cir. 2019) (quoting Ibarra v. Manheim Investments, Inc., 775 F.3d 1193 , 1197–99 (9th Cir. 6 2015)). 7 B. Diversity Jurisdiction 8 A court may exercise diversity jurisdiction over a matter when there is diversity of 9 citizenship among the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. See 28 U.S.C. 10 § 1332(a). 11 i. Diversity of Citizenship 12 An action may be removed to federal court based on diversity jurisdiction only where 13 there is complete diversity of citizenship between the parties. Hunter v. Phillip Morris USA, 582 14 F.3d 1039, 1043 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing 28 U.S.C. §§ 1332 (a), 1441(b)). For diversity purposes, a 15 person is a citizen of a state if he or she is: (1) a citizen of the United States and (2) domiciled in 16 that state. Kantor v. Wellesley Galleries, Ltd., 704 F.2d 1088, 1090 (9th Cir. 1983). An LLC is a 17 citizen of the state of which its owners or members are citizens. Johnson v. Columbia Props. 18 Anchorage, LP, 437 F.3d 894, 899 (9th Cir. 2006). A corporation is a citizen of the state in which 19 it is incorporated and the state in which its principal place of business is located. See, e.g., id. 20 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1332 (c)(1)). “In determining whether a civil action is removable on the basis 21 of [diversity jurisdiction], the citizenship of defendants sued under fictitious names shall be 22 disregarded.” 28 U.S.C. § 1441 (b)(1). 23 ii. Amount in Controversy 24 A notice of removal must include “a plausible allegation that the amount in controversy 25 exceeds the jurisdictional threshold.” Dart Cherokee Basin Operating Co. v. Owens, 574 U.S. 81 , 26 89 (2014). The amount in controversy is calculated based upon “the complaint operative at the 27 time of removal and encompasses all relief a court may grant on that complaint if the plaintiff is 28 victorious.” Chavez v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., 888 F.3d 413 , 414–15 (9th Cir. 2018). “The 1 amount in controversy is simply an estimate of the total amount in dispute, not a prospective 2 assessment of defendant’s liability.” Lewis v. Verizon Commc’ns, Inc., 627 F.3d 395, 400 (9th 3 Cir. 2010) (citation omitted). 4 When the “plaintiff’s state court complaint does not specify a particular amount of 5 damages, the removing [party] bears the burden of establishing, by a preponderance of the 6 evidence, that the amount in controversy exceeds” the threshold amount of $75,000. Canela v. 7 Costco Wholesale Corp., 971 F.3d 845 , 849 (9th Cir. 2020) (citation omitted). Courts begin their 8 inquiry by looking at the complaint, but “the amount-in-controversy inquiry in the removal 9 context is not confined to the face of the complaint.” Valdez v. Allstate Ins. Co., 372 F.3d 1115 , 10 1117 (9th Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). The court may also consider allegations in the removal 11 petition, “summary-judgment-type evidence relevant to the amount in controversy,” and evidence 12 filed in opposition to the motion to remand. Kroske v. U.S. Bank Corp., 432 F.3d 976, 980 (9th 13 Cir. 2005) (citation omitted); see also Lenau v. Bank of Am., N.A., 131 F. Supp. 3d 1003 , 1005 14 (E.D. Cal. 2015) (citing Cohn v. Petsmart, Inc., 281 F.3d 837 , 840 n.1 (9th Cir. 2002) (per 15 curiam)). 16 III. Discussion 17 The entirety of Colbert’s motion to remand rests on the argument that GM’s notice of 18 removal did not meet GM’s evidentiary burden of establishing procedural and substantive 19 compliance with removal requirements. See generally MTR. Colbert offers no evidence to 20 challenge GM’s compliance with any of the procedural or substantive removal requirements. 21 Therefore, the Court considers GM’s proffered evidence to determine if, by a preponderance of 22 the evidence, GM has met its burden to establish removal jurisdiction. Dart Cherokee, 574 U.S. 23 at 88. The Court finds that GM has met such burden. 24 A. Procedural Compliance with 28 U.S.C. § 1446 25 GM complied with all procedural removal requirements under 28 U.S.C. § 1446 . First, a 26 notice of removal must be filed within thirty days of the defendant receiving “a copy of the initial 27 pleading setting forth the claim for relief upon which such action or proceeding is based.” 28 28 U.S.C. § 1446 (b)(1). GM attached a copy of the summons to the notice of removal. Doc. 1-2. 1 The notice of service of process is dated August 8, 2023. Id. at 9 . GM filed their notice of 2 removal on August 23, 2023, within thirty days of service. Notice of Removal. Therefore, GM’s 3 removal was timely. 4 Second, when removing, a defendant must file in the district within which the state court 5 action was pending, “a short and plain statement of the grounds for removal, together with a copy 6 of all process, pleadings, and orders served upon such defendant.” 28 U.S.C. § 1446 (a). Colbert 7 filed this action in Kern County Superior Court, located in the Eastern District of California. 8 Compl. Therefore, GM removed to the proper district court. Additionally, the notice of removal 9 adequately stated the grounds for removal and attached the required copies of process, pleadings, 10 and orders served. See generally Notice of Removal. Therefore, GM complied with § 1446(a). 11 Third, “[w]hen a civil action is removed solely under section 1441(a), all defendants who 12 have been properly joined and served must join in or consent to the removal of the action.” 28 13 U.S.C. § 1446 (b)(2)(A). For the purposes of removal based on diversity, “many courts strictly 14 construe section 1441(b)(1) and disregard fictitious defendants.” Vasquez v. Walmart Inc., No. 15 1:23-cv-01142-JLT-BAM, 2024 WL 966076 , at *5 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2024). GM is the only 16 named defendant in the action and was therefore the only party required to consent to removal. 17 Therefore, GM has satisfied all procedural requirements for removal. 18 B. Substantive Compliance with 28 U.S.C. § 1441 (a) 19 GM has demonstrated that this Court has diversity jurisdiction over this case under 28 20 U.S.C. § 1441 (a). First, there is complete diversity between all named parties in this action. 21 Colbert alleges that he is “an individual residing in the City of Los Angeles, County of Los 22 Angeles, and the State of California.” Compl. ¶ 1. GM is a Delaware entity with its principal 23 place of business in Michigan. Notice of Removal ¶ 12; Doc. 16-3 ¶ 4–5. 24 Second, the amount-in-controversy exceeds the $75,000 threshold. See 28 U.S.C. § 25 1332(a). When the “plaintiff’s state court complaint does not specify a particular amount of 26 damages, the removing [party] bears the burden of establishing, by a preponderance of the 27 evidence, that the amount in controversy exceeds” the threshold amount of $75,000. Canela v. 28 Costco Wholesale Corp., 971 F.3d 845 , 849 (9th Cir. 2020) (citation omitted). Colbert’s 1 | complaint does not specify a particular amount of damages. However, GM adequately establishes 2 | the threshold amount in its notice of removal, opposition to the motion to remand, and supporting 3 | declarations. 4 Colbert seeks restitution of all monies expended in his purchase of the vehicle. Compl. at 5 | 14. According to the retail installment sale contract attached as an exhibit to GM’s opposition, 6 | Colbert purchased the car for a total sale price of $50,967.86. Doc. 16-2 at 2; Salazar v. Ford 7 | Motor Co., No. 2:21-cv-06756-FLA, 2022 WL 16855563 , at *2 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 10, 2022) 8 | (“Where the record does not show whether a plaintiff has made all installment payments for the 9 | amount financed, courts have found the total ‘cash price’ listed on a Retail Installment Sale 10 | Contract is a reasonable estimate of the ‘actual price paid or payable’ for the vehicle.”’) (citations 11 omitted). Pursuant to the Song-Beverly Act, Colbert also seeks two times the amount of his 12 | actual damages. Compl. 424. This amount alone would exceed $100,000. Finally, Colbert seeks 13 | recovery of attorney’s fees under the Song-Beverly Act. Compl. { 46; see Salazar, 2022 WL 14 | 16855563, at *4 (holding that when a statute or contract provides for recovery of attorney’s fees, 15 | “[they] are properly included in the court’s assessment of the amount in controversy.”) (citing 16 | Arias v. Residence Inn by Marriott, 936 F.3d 920 , 922 (9th Cir. 2019)). In their notice of 17 | removal, GM attached a declaration by their attorney and referenced several judicial opinions 18 | awarding more than $75,000 in attorney’s fees in Song-Beverly Act cases. Doc. 1-3 5-6. 19 Therefore, GM has established by a preponderance of the evidence all requirements for 20 | removal and that this Court has diversity jurisdiction over the action. 21 | IV. Conclusion and Order 22 Accordingly, the Court ORDERS: 23 1. Colbert’s motion to remand this action to state court, Doc. 14, is DENIED. [25] 26 | IT IS SO ORDERED. _ 27 Dated: _ February 6, 2025 4h | | 38 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE