Dominguez v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ, CASE NO.: 2:19-cv-02323-JAM-KJN Plaintiff, (Solano County Superior Court; Court Case No. FCS053401) v. ORDER GRANTING THE PARTIES’ DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC dba STIPULATION TO CAP PLAINTIFF’S DOLLAR TREE JEFAN, LLC, and JUDGMENT, AWARD, OR DOES 1 through 10, Inclusive, RECOVERY AND TO REMAND Defendants. Assigned to Hon. John A. Mendez

The Court, having read and considered the Parties’ Stipulation to Cap Plaintiff’s Judgment, Award, or Recovery and to Remand, hereby ORDERS as follows: I. BACKGROUND On or about August 14, 2019, Plaintiff MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ (hereinafter “Plaintiff”) commenced the above-entitled civil action in the Superior Court for the County of Solano by filing a Complaint therein entitled Margarita Dominguez v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. dba Dollar Tree Jefan, LLC, and DOES 1 to 10, inclusive, Case No. FCS053401. Plaintiff’s Complaint for personal injury arises from an alleged incident on July 20, 2018, at defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.’s (“Dollar Tree”) store in Fairfield, California. On November 7, 2019, plaintiff, by and through her counsel of record, made a written settlement demand in the amount of $100,000 to defendant. Based on this “other paper,” Dollar Tree determined that the amount in controversy exceeded the $75,000.00 statutory minimum. Accordingly, Dollar Tree removed the matter to federal court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§1332, 1441, and 1367, on November 18, 2019. The parties have now agreed and stipulated to limit any and all recovery of damages by plaintiff MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ to $74,999.99 or less, as evidenced by the Stipulation to Cap Plaintiff’s Judgment, Award, or Recovery and To Remand, executed by plaintiff MARGARITA DOMINGUEZ and defendant DOLLAR TREE STORES, INC., by and through their attorneys of record. Accordingly, the parties request an order from this Court remanding the case to the Solano County Superior Court, Case No. FCS053401. United States Code, Title 28, Section 1447(c), provides that “[i]f at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded.” (Emphasis added). In light of the parties’ stipulation limiting any and all recovery by Plaintiff to $74,999.99 or less, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction and must, therefore, remand the case to state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). See Bruns v. NCUA 122 F.3d 1251, 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (“Section 1447(c) is mandatory, not discretionary.”) 1. Plaintiff’s total recovery, if any, from Defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., for any injuries, damages, harms, or losses resulting from the alleged incident that occurred on Defendant’s premises on or about July 20, 2018, and which are the subject of the within action (including formerly Solano County Superior Court Case No.: FCS053401) (the “Litigation), including but not limited to economic and non- economic damages as well as any award of attorneys’ fees and costs of suit (including /// any award of costs for the services of expert witnesses), is hereby capped at $74,999.99. 2. If any judgment or award, entered in her favor and against Defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., in the Litigation should exceed $74,999.99, inclusive of any award of attorneys’ fees and costs of suit (including any award of costs for the services of expert witnesses) Plaintiff has knowingly and voluntarily waived the right to claim that portion of her final judgment or award which exceeds $74,999.99. 3. Should any judgment or award, inclusive of any award of attorneys’ fees and costs of suit (including any award of costs for the services of expert witnesses) be entered in her favor and against Defendant Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., in the Litigation, in excess of $74,999.99, Plaintiff shall execute any necessary documents to reduce any such award or judgment to $74,999.99, and is barred from executing on any amount of the award or judgment in excess of $74,999.99. 4. Pursuant to the parties’ Stipulation, because this matter no longer exceeds $75,000.00, this Court no longer has subject matter jurisdiction and the matter is hereby REMANDED to the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Solano, Case No.: FCS053401. This Order shall be accorded full force and effect in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Solano, Case No.: FCS053401. 5. All pending dates in the Federal action are hereby vacated. Dated: June 1, 2020 /s/ John A. Mendez _____________________________ Hon. John A. Mendez United States District Court Judge