Bunch v. Fuentes

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE RICKY BUNCH, ) ) Case No. 3:22-cv-364 Plaintiff, ) ) Judge Travis R. McDonough v. ) ) Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin LARRY FUENTES, et al. ) ) Defendants. ) MEMORANDUM OPINION Before the Court is Plaintiff Ricky Bunch’s motion to amend the complaint to add Brian B D Transportation, Inc. (“B D Transportation”) and Brian Ray Veach (collectively, “proposed Defendants”) as defendants in this action (Doc. 21). Plaintiff moved to join the proposed Defendants because Defendants William Clerico and Wolverine Over the Road, LLC alleged negligence and comparative fault by Veach in their answers. (Doc. 21, at 1.) The vehicle operated by Veach was owned by motor carrier, B D Transportation, so Plaintiff believes it may be vicariously liable for Veach’s actions. (Id. at 1–2.) Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-1-119 provides: In civil actions where comparative fault is or becomes an issue, if a defendant named in an original complaint initiating a suit filed within the applicable statute of limitations . . . alleges in an answer or amended answer to the original or amended complaint that a person not a party to the suit caused or contributed to the injury or damage for which the plaintiff seeks recovery, . . . the plaintiff may, within ninety (90) days of the filing of the first answer or first amended answer alleging that person’s fault, [a]mend the complaint to add the person as a defendant pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 15 and cause process to be issued for that person . . . . All Defendants have agreed to the proposed amendment. (Doc. 22.) However, the proposed amended complaint alleges Veach is a resident of Kentucky. (Doc. 21-1, at 3.) Plaintiff is also a resident of Kentucky. (Doc. 21-1, at 1.) The Court’s subject matter jurisdiction in this case was based on diversity of citizenship with an amount in controversy over $75,000, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 . (See Doc. 1, at 2; Doc. 1-1, at 5–12.) “Under this provision, there must be complete diversity such that no plaintiff is a citizen of the same state as any defendant.” V & M Star, LP v. Centimark Corp., 596 F.3d 354, 355 (6th Cir. 2010) (citing Lincoln Prop. Co. v. Roche, 546 U.S. 81, 89 (2005)). Therefore, the joinder of Veach, a Kentucky resident like Plaintiff, would defeat diversity jurisdiction. Additionally, the proposed amended complaint does not allege any claim arising under federal law so as to confer federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 . (See Doc. 21-1.) This case was removed to this Court from Campbell County Circuit Court on October 14, 2022. “If after removal the plaintiff seeks to join additional defendants whose joinder would destroy subject matter jurisdiction, the court may deny joinder, or permit joinder and remand the action to the State court.” 28 U.S.C. § 1447 (e). This provision exists to prevent a plaintiff from single-handedly depriving the Court of jurisdiction by giving it the discretion to prohibit the joinder of non-diverse parties after removal. Davis v. Owners Ins. Co., 29 F. Supp. 3d 938, 942 (E.D. Ky. 2014). Courts should consider whether, under the particular circumstances, permitting joinder would be fair and equitable and whether the purpose of the amendment is to defeat federal jurisdiction. Christian v. Works, No. 3:09-CV-141, 2010 WL 1427299 , at *2 (E.D. Tenn. Apr. 7, 2010); City of Cleveland v. Deutsche Bank Tr. Co., 571 F. Supp. 2d 807, 823 (N.D. Ohio 2008) (citing Mayes v. Rapoport, 198 F.3d 457 , 461–63 (4th Cir. 1999); Hensgens v. Deere & Co., 833 F.2d 1179, 1182 (5th Cir. 1987); Siedlik v. Stanley Works, Inc., 205 F. Supp. 2d 762, 765 (E.D. Mich. 2002); Jones v. Woodmen Accident & Life Co., 112 F. Supp. 2d 676, 680 (N.D. Ohio 2000)). In this case, the purpose of the amendment is not to defeat diversity jurisdiction but to join parties who Defendants Clerico and Wolverine Over the Road, LLC allege bear comparative fault in the incident at issue. (See Doc. 21, at 1–2.) Additionally, all Defendants agree to the proposed joinder. (Doc. 22.) Therefore, joinder is fair and equitable under the circumstances. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion to amend is GRANTED. As required by 28 U.S.C. § 1447 (e), this case is REMANDED to Campbell County Circuit Court, the state court from which the case was removed. AN APPROPRIATE JUDGMENT WILL ENTER. /s/ Travis R. McDonough TRAVIS R. MCDONOUGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE