Opinion
Case No.: 2:19-cv-738-FtM-38MRM
10-16-2019
CMR CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING LLC, a/a/o John Polsenberg and Regina Polsenberg Plaintiff, v. FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant.
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Before the Court is Defendant Federal Insurance Company's ("FIC") Notice of Removal. (Doc. 1). This breach of contract suit stems from damage that Hurricane Irma caused to FIC's insured. (Doc. 3). Plaintiff CMR Construction & Roofing LLC fixed the damage, but FIC allegedly did not pay it for its work. CMR thus sued FIC in Florida state court. FIC then removed the case to this Court based on diversity jurisdiction. (Doc. 1).
Removal permits a defendant to move a case from state court to a federal district court when the federal court has original subject matter jurisdiction over the suit. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). "A removing defendant bears the burden of proving proper federal jurisdiction." Leonard v. Enter. Rent a Car, 279 F.3d 967, 972 (11th Cir. 2002). "Because removal jurisdiction raises significant federalism concerns, federals courts are directed to construe removal statutes strictly" and resolve "all doubts about jurisdiction . . . in favor of remand to state court." Univ. of S. Ala. v. Am. Tobacco Co., 168 F.3d 405, 411 (11th Cir. 1999) (citations omitted). Diversity jurisdiction question is one type of original jurisdiction. And a federal court has diversity jurisdiction if the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 and the parties are citizens of different states. Morrison v. Allstate Indem. Co., 228 F.3d 1255, 1261 (11th Cir. 2000).
Here, FIC does not show a diversity of citizenship between the parties. A limited liability company ("LLC"), like CMR, is a citizen of every state in which one of its members is domiciled. Rolling Greens MHP, L.P. v. Comcast SCH Holdings LLC, 374 F.3d 1020 (11th Cir. 2004). Each member of the LLC must be diverse from the opposing party. See Lincoln Prop. Co. v. Roche, 546 U.S. 81, 89 (2005). But the Notice of Removal merely says that CMR "is a Florida limited liability company whose members are all citizens of Florida, and therefore Plaintiff is a citizen of Florida." This blanket allegation is insufficient because the Court has no information on the members of CMR and their domiciles. See McCormick v. Aderholt, 293 F.3d 1254, 1257 (11th Cir. 2002) (stating an individual is a citizen where he is domiciled, not necessarily where he is a resident). Without such allegations, FIC has not adequately pled diversity of citizenship and this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this case.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
Defendant Federal Insurance Company must SUPPLEMENT the Notice of Removal on or before October 29, 2019, to show cause why this case should not be remanded for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Failure to comply with this Order will cause this case being remanded without further notice.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida this 16th day of October 2019.
/s/ _________
SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies: All Parties of Record