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Arcadia Dev. LLC v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION
Oct 17, 2017
Case No: 2:17-cv-552-FtM-99MRM (M.D. Fla. Oct. 17, 2017)

Opinion

Case No: 2:17-cv-552-FtM-99MRM

10-17-2017

ARCADIA DEVELOPMENT LLC, Plaintiff, v. WINN-DIXIE STORES, INC. and WINN-DIXIE STORES LEASING, LLC, Defendants.


ORDER

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This matter comes before the Court on sua sponte review of Plaintiff Arcadia Development LLC's Complaint. (Doc. 1). Arcadia brings this breach of contract suit against Defendants Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. and Winn-Dixie Stores Leasing, LLC, citing diversity jurisdiction as the basis for this Court's subject matter jurisdiction. (Doc. 1).

Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and are obligated to inquire about jurisdiction sua sponte whenever it may be lacking. See Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994); Univ. of S. Ala. v. Am. Tobacco Co., 168 F.3d 405, 410 (11th Cir. 1999) (citations omitted). In an action filed directly in federal court, a plaintiff bears the burden of adequately pleading, and ultimately proving jurisdiction. See King v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 505 F.3d 1160, 1170 (11th Cir. 2007). Federal courts have original jurisdiction over a matter if the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and there is complete diversity of citizenship among the parties. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a); Morrison v. Allstate Indem. Co., 228 F.3d 1255, 1261 (11th Cir. 2000). Here, Arcadia fails to plead adequately diversity of citizenship.

A limited liability company ("LLC"), like Arcadia and Winn-Dixie Stores Leasing, is a citizen of every state in which one of its members is located. See Rolling Greens MHP, L.P. v. Comcast SCH Holdings L.L.C., 374 F.3d 1020, 1022 (11th Cir. 2004); Each member of the LLC must be diverse from the plaintiff. See Lincoln Prop. Co. v. Roche, 546 U.S. 81, 89 (2005). Here, Arcadia merely alleges that its principle place of business is in Ohio and that Winn-Dixie Stores Leasing's principle place of business is in Florida. (Doc. 1 at ¶¶ 2-3). But it fails to allege where the members of both business are domiciled. See generally McCormick v. Aderholt, 293 F.3d 1254, 1257 (11th Cir. 2002) (stating that an individual is a citizen where he is domiciled, not necessarily where he is a resident). Without such allegations, Arcadia has not adequately pleaded diversity of citizenship. The Court thus lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this case.

Accordingly, it is now

ORDERED:

The Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice. Plaintiff Arcadia Development LLC has up to and including October 25, 2017, to file an amended complaint that properly alleges this Court's subject matter jurisdiction. Failure to do so will result in this case being dismissed without further notice.

DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida this 17th day of October 2017.

/s/ _________

SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies: All Parties of Record


Summaries of

Arcadia Dev. LLC v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION
Oct 17, 2017
Case No: 2:17-cv-552-FtM-99MRM (M.D. Fla. Oct. 17, 2017)
Case details for

Arcadia Dev. LLC v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:ARCADIA DEVELOPMENT LLC, Plaintiff, v. WINN-DIXIE STORES, INC. and…

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION

Date published: Oct 17, 2017

Citations

Case No: 2:17-cv-552-FtM-99MRM (M.D. Fla. Oct. 17, 2017)