Dexter Johnson v. Starbucks Corporation

• Court: District Court, C.D. California
• Decided: July 30, 2020
• Docket: 2:20-cv-02189
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

O 1 JS-6 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 United States District Court 9 Central District of California

11 DEXTER JOHNSON, an individual, Case № 2:20-cv-02189-ODW (SKx)

12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO

13 v. REMAND [17]

14 STARBUCKS CORPORATION, dba “STARBUCKS”; et al., 15

Defendants. 16

17 18 I. INTRODUCTION 19 On February 5, 2020, Plaintiff Dexter Johnson (“Johnson”) initiated this action 20 in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles against Defendants 21 Starbucks Corporation (“Starbucks”), Jane Doe and John Doe (“Doe Defendants”), 22 and Roes 1–10. (Notice of Removal (“Notice”) ¶¶ 3, 5, ECF No. 1.) Starbucks 23 removed this matter based on alleged diversity jurisdiction and Johnson moves to 24 remand. (Notice ¶ 1; Mot. to Remand (“Mot.”), ECF No. 17.) For the reasons below, 25 the Court finds it lacks subject matter jurisdiction and consequently must REMAND.1 26 27

28 1 Having carefully considered the papers filed in connection with the Motion, the Court deemed the matter appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. 1 II. BACKGROUND 2 Starbucks employed Johnson as a shift supervisor at its West Hills location until 3 November 2018. (Decl. of Rachael S. Lavi (“Lavi Decl.”) Ex. A (“First Am. Compl.” 4 or “FAC”) ¶¶ 9, 18, ECF No. 1-3.) As a shift supervisor, Johnson ensured the store 5 was clean and welcoming for all Starbucks patrons, and thus interacted with homeless 6 patrons who frequented the establishment. (FAC ¶ 9.) 7 In September 2018, Johnson called the police regarding a homeless man who 8 occupied the Starbucks bathroom for an “extended amount of time.” (FAC ¶¶ 9–10.) 9 Johnson alleges that, after this incident, a group of homeless individuals including 10 Jane Doe, the homeless man’s female companion, began to harass him. (FAC ¶ 10.) 11 Jane Doe called Johnson “a freak, and weirdo,” and stated Johnson “liked to go into 12 the bathroom to look at guys.” (FAC ¶ 10.) Johnson alleges he once asked a group of 13 homeless individuals, including Jane Doe, to leave the outside Starbucks patio seating 14 area, and as they left, one of the men called Johnson a “fag.” (FAC ¶ 12.) 15 Johnson alleges he felt unsafe at work because the homeless individuals 16 displayed “aggressive behavior, overt animosity,” and made “loud and insulting 17 comments” because of his sexual orientation. (FAC ¶ 13.) Johnson reported the 18 conduct and his fear to Starbucks and also repeatedly called mall security for help. 19 (FAC ¶¶ 13–14.) Johnson asked Starbucks for a transfer, to which Starbucks stated it 20 would “look into it.” (FAC ¶ 14.) Johnson did not receive the requested transfer. 21 (See FAC ¶ 14.) 22 Subsequently, in November 2018, Starbucks fired Johnson for ordering a 23 subordinate to “falsely change her timecard” after missing a break. (FAC ¶ 16.) 24 Johnson alleges he told the employee to alter her timecard because he was “distracted, 25 worried” and “fear[ed]” his current work environment. (FAC ¶ 15.) 26 On February 5, 2020, Johnson filed the operative FAC in the Superior Court of 27 California, County of Los Angeles. (Notice ¶ 3; see FAC; Decl. of Timothy E. Kearns 28 Ex. C, ECF No. 17-1.) Johnson asserts his first cause of action against all Defendants 1 for harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, pursuant to California Government 2 Code section 12940, et seq. (FAC ¶¶ 20–26.) Johnson asserts his second through 3 fifth causes of action against Defendants Starbucks and Roes 1–10, also pursuant to 4 California Government Code section 12940, et seq.: discrimination based upon sexual 5 orientation, retaliation, failure to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment, 6 discrimination, and retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of California 7 Public Policy. (FAC ¶¶ 27–52.) 8 On March 6, 2020, Starbucks removed this action to federal court based on 9 diversity jurisdiction on the grounds that (1) Starbucks is a Washington corporation 10 with its principle place of business in Washington; (2) Johnson is a citizen of 11 California; and (3) the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. (Notice ¶¶ 1, 9–11.) 12 Starbucks contends the Court should disregard Doe Defendants’ California 13 citizenship. (Notice ¶ 14; Opp’n to Mot. (“Opp’n”) 3–5, ECF No. 18.)). 14 On April 1, 2020, Johnson moved to remand on grounds including that Doe 15 Defendants are real, yet to be identified, citizens of California whose citizenship the 16 Court cannot ignore, and thus their presence defeats the Court’s diversity jurisdiction. 17 (See Mot.) Johnson seeks attorneys’ fees for his motion to remand. (Mot. 11.) 18 III. LEGAL STANDARD 19 Federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction only as authorized by the 20 Constitution and Congress. U.S. Const. art. III, § 2, cl. 1; see also Kokkonen v. 21 Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). When a suit is filed in state court, 22 the suit may be removed to federal court only if the federal court would have had 23 original jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). Federal courts have original jurisdiction 24 where an action arises under federal law or where there is complete diversity of 25 citizenship between the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Id. 26 §§ 1331, 1332(a). 27 Courts strictly construe the removal statute against removal and “federal 28 jurisdiction must be rejected if there is any doubt as to the right of removal in the first 1 instance.” Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). This “strong 2 presumption” against removal demands that a court resolve all ambiguity in favor of 3 remand to state court. Id. (quoting Nishimoto v. Federman-Bachrach & Assocs., 903 4 F.2d 709, 712 n.3 (9th Cir. 1990)); see Matheson v. Progressive Specialty Ins. Co., 5 319 F.3d 1089, 1090 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Where doubt regarding the right to removal 6 exists, a case should be remanded to state court.”). “If at any time before final 7 judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction [over a case 8 removed from state court], the case shall be remanded.” 28 U.S.C § 1447(c). 9 IV. DISCUSSION 10 Starbucks and Johnson both agree that complete diversity exists as between 11 them, as Starbucks is a citizen of Washington and Johnson is a citizen of California. 12 (Mot. 5; Opp’n 1.) However, the parties disagree on whether the presence of Doe 13 Defendants defeats this Court’s diversity jurisdiction. Starbucks contends the Court 14 should disregard the California citizenship of Jane Doe and John Doe because they are 15 (1) fictitious Doe defendants and (2) fraudulently joined. (See Opp’n 1.) In contrast, 16 Johnson argues Jane Doe and John Doe are not fictitious, but instead real parties not 17 fraudulently joined, and therefore their citizenship destroys the Court’s jurisdiction. 18 (See generally Mot.) 19 The Court first addresses whether Doe Defendants’ citizenship should be 20 disregarded before turning to whether they are fraudulently joined. 21 A. Citizenship of Doe Defendants 22 In 1988, Congress passed the Judicial Improvements and Access to Justice Act, 23 which amended 28 U.S.C. § 1441 to address “the issue of Doe defendants for 24 purposes of diversity jurisdiction and remand.” Goldsmith v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., 25 No. CV 20-00750-AB (JCx), 2020 WL 1650750, at *3 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 3, 2020); see 26 also Gardiner Family, LLC v. Crimson Res. Mgmt. Corp., 147 F. Supp. 3d 1029, 1034, 27 1036 (E.D. Cal. 2015) (discussing the amendment and its consequences). Today, 28 28 1 U.S.C. § 1441(b)(1) states that, when jurisdiction is based solely on diversity, “the 2 citizenship of defendants sued under fictitious names shall be disregarded.” 3 However, the issue remains “convoluted and unsettled,” due in large part to 4 exceptions created by the Ninth Circuit. Goldsmith, 2020 WL 1650750, at *3 (citing 5 Robinson v. Lowe’s Home Ctrs., LLC, No. 1:15-cv-1321-LJO (SMSx), 2015 WL 6 13236883, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 13, 2015)). While some courts find the language of 7 § 1441 preclusive, see Goldsmith, 2020 WL 1650750, at *4, others find a distinction 8 exists between “fictitious” and real party Does that requires greater scrutiny, see 9 Gardiner Family, 147 F. Supp. 3d at 1036. Courts that consider this distinction assess 10 whether the “[p]laintiffs’ description of Doe defendants or their activities is specific 11 enough as to suggest their identity, citizenship, or relationship to the action.” 12 Gardiner Family, 147 F. Supp. 3d at 1036; see also Sandoval v. Republic Servs., Inc., 13 No. 18-cv-01224-ODW (KSx), 2018 WL 1989528, at *3–4 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2018) 14 (“[W]hen a plaintiff’s allegations give a definite clue about the identity of the 15 fictitious defendant . . . the court should consider the citizenship of the fictitious 16 defendant.”); Robinson, 2015 WL 13236883, at *3 (considering whether allegations 17 “provide a reasonable indication” of Doe defendants’ “identity, the relationship to the 18 action, and their diversity-destroying citizenship). 19 Here, Johnson argues that the Doe Defendants are real individuals whose 20 liability and relationship to the suit is fully alleged. (See Mot. 1–9.) Johnson alleges 21 both Doe Defendants are not wholly fictitious but real parties, California citizens 22 whose “real names and identities are unknown.” (FAC ¶¶ 6–8.) Jane Doe is described 23 as the “female companion” of the man Johnson reported to the police. (FAC ¶ 10.) 24 Johnson alleges Jane Doe knew he was gay and called him “a freak, and weirdo, and 25 said he ‘liked to go into the bathroom to look at guys’” to insult him because of his 26 sexual orientation. (FAC ¶¶ 10, 22.) Johnson describes John Doe as one of the 27 homeless men, and alleges he called Johnson a “fag” after Johnson asked him, Jane 28 Doe, and other homeless individuals to leave the Starbucks outdoor seating area. 1 (FAC ¶¶ 12, 22.) These allegations demonstrate that both Doe Defendants are not 2 merely fictitious defendants; rather they are real parties known to Johnson whose 3 liability and relation to the suit is fully alleged in the FAC. (See generally FAC.) 4 Thus, their citizenship should not be disregarded. 5 Because the FAC alleges sufficient facts regarding Doe Defendants to establish 6 they are real parties with a relationship to this action and not wholly fictitious, their 7 California citizenship should not be disregarded. Thus, their citizenship destroys 8 complete diversity and this Court’s jurisdiction. 9 B. Fraudulent Joinder 10 Starbucks contends that, even if the Court does not disregard Doe Defendants’ 11 citizenship on the basis of fictitious parties, it should nevertheless disregard them 12 because they are fraudulently joined. (Opp’n 5–9.) 13 In evaluating whether complete diversity exists, district courts may disregard 14 the citizenship of a fraudulently joined non-diverse defendant. Grancare, LLC v. 15 Thrower by and through Mills, 889 F.3d 543, 548 (9th Cir. 2018) (citing Chesapeake 16 & Ohio Ry. Co. v. Cockrell, 232 U.S. 146, 152 (1914)). The Ninth Circuit established 17 two paths to fraudulent joinder: “(1) actual fraud in the pleading of jurisdictional facts, 18 or (2) inability of the plaintiff to establish a cause of action against the non-diverse 19 party in state court.” Id. (quoting Hunter v. Philip Morris USA, 582 F.3d 1039, 1044 20 (9th Cir. 2009)). “Fraudulent joinder is established the second way if a defendant 21 shows that an ‘individual[] joined in the action cannot be liable on any theory.’” Id. 22 (alteration in original) (quoting Ritchey v. Upjohn Drug Co., 139 F.3d 1313, 1318 (9th 23 Cir. 1998)). However, a defendant is not fraudulently joined where “a deficiency in 24 the complaint can possibly be cured by granting the plaintiff leave to amend.” 25 Grancare, 889 F.3d at 550; see also Sessions v. Chrysler Corp., 517 F.2d 759, 760–61 26 (9th Cir. 1975) (discussing that the label of a claim is irrelevant “so long as [plaintiff] 27 was entitled to relief against [non-diverse defendants] on any theory.”) 28 1 1. Harassment Claim 2 Johnson alleges Doe Defendants violated California’s Fair Employment and 3 Housing Act (“FEHA”), Government Code section 12940, et seq., by harassing him 4 on the basis of his sexual orientation. (FAC ¶ 21; Mot. 9.) Starbucks counters that 5 harassment under the FEHA “can only be asserted against employers and/or their 6 employees,” and not third parties like Doe Defendants. (Opp’n 1, 6–9.) 7 California Government Code section 12940(j)(1) imposes liability on an 8 employer “for the acts of nonemployees, with respect to harassment of 9 employees . . . if the employer, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have 10 known of the conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.” 11 Cal. Gov. Code § 12940(j)(1). As Johnson acknowledges, the California Supreme 12 Court clarified “the Legislature amended the [FEHA] to state that employers are 13 potentially liable when third party nonemployees (e.g., the employer’s customers or 14 clients) sexually harass their employees.” (Reply re: Mot. (“Reply”) 3, ECF No. 19 15 (emphasis added) (quoting Carter v. Cal. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, 38 Cal. 4th 914, 16 918 (2006)).) The amendment to the FEHA provided “explicit standards to govern 17 employer liability for sexual harassment that nonemployees commit.” Carter, 38 Cal. 18 4th at 931 (emphasis added). 19 Here, Johnson does not contend that Doe Defendants are Starbucks agents, 20 supervisors, or employees. In fact, Johnson asserts the “harassment identified did not 21 come from” Starbucks employees or managers; rather, it came from Doe Defendants 22 as Starbucks patrons. (FAC ¶ 21; Mot. 9; Reply 4.) Under the FEHA, Johnson may 23 seek to hold Starbucks, as his employer, liable for harassment by nonemployees like 24 Doe Defendants; however, the statute’s language does not extend liability to the 25 nonemployees directly. See Carter, 38 Cal. 4th at 931. As Johnson concedes that 26 Doe Defendants are not Starbucks agents or employees, Johnson’s harassment cause 27 of action under the FEHA fails as a matter of law. 28 1 2. Possibility of Amendment 2 Johnson contends that, even if the Court finds the cause of action for 3 harassment fails, Doe Defendants are not fraudulently joined because he can amend 4 the complaint to state a viable claim against them. (Reply 3–4.) As noted above, to 5 meet the heavy burden of proving fraudulent joinder, a defendant must establish the 6 plaintiff cannot state a claim against the non-diverse defendant on any theory, in the 7 current or an amended complaint. See Grancare, 889 F.3d at 548, 550; Revay v. Home 8 Depot U.S.A., Inc., No. 2:14-CV-03391-RSWL (ASx), 2015 WL 1285287, at *3 (C.D. 9 Cal. Mar. 19, 2015) (emphasis added) (quoting Hunter, 582 F.3d at 1044) (“If there is 10 ‘any possibility that the state law might impose liability on a resident defendant under 11 the circumstances alleged in the complaint,’ or in a future amended complaint, ‘the 12 federal court cannot find that joinder of the resident defendant was fraudulent, and 13 remand is necessary.’”). 14 In response to Starbucks argument that Johnson can state no viable claim 15 against Doe Defendants, Johnson argues Doe Defendants are potentially liable on a 16 theory of intentional infliction of emotional distress (“IIED”). (Reply 4.) To state a 17 cause of action for IIED, a plaintiff must allege “(1) extreme and outrageous conduct 18 by the defendant with the intention of causing, or reckless disregard of the probability 19 of causing, emotional distress”; (2) the plaintiff suffers severe or extreme emotional 20 distress; (3) “actual and proximate causation of the emotional distress by the 21 defendant’s outrageous conduct”; and (4) the defendants conduct must be with the 22 intent to inflict injury or the knowledge injury will result. Hughes v. Pair, 46 Cal. 4th 23 1035, 1050–51 (2009). Based on the facts presently alleged, it appears possible that 24 Johnson could amend his FAC to state an IIED claim against Doe Defendants. As 25 Johnson has raised a potential claim against Doe Defendants, the Court does not find 26 that Doe Defendants are fraudulently joined. 27 Although Johnson’s FEHA harassment claim fails, Starbucks has not 28 established that he could not amend his pleadings to state a cause of action against 1 Doe Defendants. Consequently, Doe Defendants are not fraudulently joined and their 2 citizenship must be considered for purposes of diversity jurisdiction. As both Johnson 3 and Doe Defendants are California residents, complete diversity does not exist 4 between the parties. Therefore, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction and must 5 remand.2 6 C. Attorneys’ Fees 7 Johnson seeks $7000 in attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 8 § 1447(c). (Mot. 11; Reply 9–10.) “[C]ourts may award attorney’s fees under 9 § 1447(c) only where the removing party lacked an objectively reasonable basis for 10 seeking removal.” Martin v. Franklin Capital Corp., 546 U.S. 132, 141 (2005). 11 “[R]emoval is not objectively unreasonable solely because the removing party’s 12 arguments lack merit, or else attorney’s fees would always be awarded whenever 13 remand is granted.” Lussier v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., 518 F.3d 1062, 1065 (9th Cir. 14 2008). The Court finds removal improper but that Starbucks attempt at removal was 15 not objectively unreasonable. As such, the Court DENIES Johnson’s request for fees 16 and costs. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 2 As the Court finds complete diversity lacking, it does not reach the parties’ arguments regarding amount in controversy. 1 V. CONCLUSION 2 For the reasons discussed above, the Court GRANTS Johnson’s Motion to 3 | Remand (ECF No. 17) and REMANDS the action to the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill 5 || Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Case No. 20STCV04463. The Clerk of the Court 6 || shall close the case. 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 10 July 30, 2020 ~N 1 VE J a 2 Sa 13 OTIS D.” GHT, II 14 UNITED STATES’DISTRICT JUDGE

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