1 2 3 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 6 AMELIA GARZA, Case No. 19-cv-06549-MMC
7 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 8 v. MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND; REMANDING CASE TO STATE 9 TARGET CORPORATION, COURT; STAYING EXECUTION FOR LIMITED PERIOD 10 Defendant.
12 Before the Court is plaintiff Amelia Garza’s (“Garza”) motion for leave to amend, 13 filed April 28, 2020, whereby Garza seeks to substitute for four Doe defendants the 14 names of four employees of defendant Target Corporation (“Target”), which individuals, 15 Garza alleges, were responsible for failing to maintain a San Mateo Target store in a safe 16 17 condition, leading to Garza’s slip and fall therein. Defendant has filed opposition, to 18 which plaintiff has replied. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and 19 in opposition to the motion, the Court rules as follows.1 20 On October 11, 2019, Target removed the instant action to federal court on the 21 basis of diversity jurisdiction. It is undisputed that the individuals whom Garza seeks to 22 join as defendants are California residents, and, consequently, that their inclusion in the 23 instant action would destroy complete diversity. 24 25 26 1 By order filed May 29, 2020, the Court deemed the matter appropriate for 27 determination on the parties’ written submissions, vacated the hearing scheduled for “If after removal the plaintiff seeks to join additional defendants whose joinder 1 2 would destroy subject matter jurisdiction, the court may deny joinder, or permit joinder 3 and remand the action to the State court.” See 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e). District courts, in 4 deciding whether to exercise their discretion to allow joinder under § 1447(e), have 5 considered the following six factors: “(1) whether the party sought to be joined is needed 6 for just adjudication and would be joined under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(a); (2) 7 whether the statute of limitations would prevent the filing of a new action against the new 8 defendant in state court; (3) whether there has been an unexplained delay in seeking to 9 10 join the new defendant; (4) whether plaintiff seeks to join the new party solely to defeat 11 federal jurisdiction (5) whether denial of the joinder would prejudice the plaintiff; (6) the 12 strength of the claims against the new defendant.” See Boon v. Allstate Ins. Co., 229 F. 13 Supp. 2d 1016, 1020 (C.D. Cal. 2002). The Court addresses each factor in turn. 14 1. Need for Just Adjudication / Joinder Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(a) 15 Rule 19(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires joinder of persons 16 whose absence would preclude the grant of complete relief, or whose absence would 17 impede their ability to protect their interests or would subject any of the parties to the 18 danger of inconsistent obligations.” See Clinco v. Roberts, 41 F. Supp. 2d 1080, 1082 19 (C.D. Cal. 1999). Here, liability on the part of Target is alleged to be based primarily on 20 the conduct of the proposed new defendants, and, consequently, Target can be found 21 liable based on a showing of negligence on the part of any such employee, irrespective of 22 whether he or she is named as a defendant. See Perez v. City of Huntington Park, 7 Cal. 23 App. 4th 817, 820 (Ct. App. 1992) (holding “plaintiff seeking to hold an employer liable for 24 injuries caused by employees acting within the scope of their employment is not required 25 to name or join the employees as defendants”).2 Accordingly, the first factor weighs 26 27 1 against amendment. 2 2. Statute of Limitations 3 Garza’s fall and injury, i.e., the facts on which she bases her claims, are alleged to 4 have occurred on May 22, 2017. Consequently, a separate action against the proposed 5 new defendants would appear to be time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations. 6 See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 (setting forth two-year limitations period for “injury to 7 . . . an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another”). Accordingly, the 8 second factor weighs in favor of amendment. 9 3. Timeliness 10 Contrary to Target’s argument that Garza was not diligent in seeking amendment, 11 the Court finds Garza has adequately explained the circumstances surrounding the 12 timing of the instant motion, and further finds there was no unreasonable delay in moving 13 to join the proposed new defendants. In particular, in the course of fact discovery, which, 14 to date, has not closed, Garza learned the identities of three of the four proposed new 15 defendants and, shortly after an unsuccessful attempt to arrive at a stipulated 16 amendment, filed the instant motion.3 Accordingly, the third factor weighs in favor of 17 amendment. 18 4. Motive for Joinder 19 As noted, Garza initially filed the instant action in state court, thus evidencing a 20 preference to litigate her claims in that forum. Nothing in the record before the Court, 21 however, suggests the instant motion was prompted solely by a desire to defeat federal 22 jurisdiction. Indeed, Garza included Doe defendants in the complaint she initially filed in 23 state court, posed interrogatories to obtain the names of the Doe defendants, and, after 24 subject any party to the danger of inconsistent obligations. 25 3 Although plaintiff acknowledges she knew the name of one of the proposed new 26 defendants prior to receiving the above-referenced discovery, she explains she waited to move to substitute him for a Doe “in order to promote judicial economy and seek 27 amendment only after she had discovered the names of the other individuals so as to 1 obtaining their names in discovery, promptly moved to join them as named parties, none 2 of whom, contrary to defendant’s argument, is a “sham” (see Opp’n at 2:10) defendant. 3 See Morris v. Princess Cruises, Inc., 236 F.3d 1061, 1067 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding a non- 4 diverse defendant is “sham” or “fraudulently joined” where plaintiff fails to state, and 5 “according to the settled rules of the state” cannot state, a claim against such party); see 6 also Vreeland v. Target Corp., No. 09-cv-5673-MEJ, 2010 WL 545840, at *4 (holding, in 7 removed slip-and-fall action against Target, store manager could be sued for negligence). 8 Moreover, as courts have acknowledged, plaintiffs have an interest, such as that 9 expressed here, in “asserting [their] rights against an employee directly involved in the 10 alleged . . . causes of action.” See IBC Aviation Services, Inc. v. Compania Mexicana de 11 Aviacion, 125 F. Supp. 2d 1008, 1012 (N.D. Cal. 2000). Accordingly, the fourth factor 12 weighs in favor of amendment. 13 5. Prejudice to Plaintiff 14 Although having to try a case in two forums would ordinarily be a consideration 15 relevant to prejudice, such eventuality, in the instant case, has no bearing on the issue 16 because, as discussed above, Garza’s claims against the proposed new defendants, if 17 filed in a separate action, would be time-barred. Moreover, as also discussed above, 18 Garza can obtain a judgment against Target, whether or not the negligent employee is 19 himself/herself named as a defendant, see Perez, 7 Cal. App.
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1 2 3 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 6 AMELIA GARZA, Case No. 19-cv-06549-MMC
7 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 8 v. MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND; REMANDING CASE TO STATE 9 TARGET CORPORATION, COURT; STAYING EXECUTION FOR LIMITED PERIOD 10 Defendant.
12 Before the Court is plaintiff Amelia Garza’s (“Garza”) motion for leave to amend, 13 filed April 28, 2020, whereby Garza seeks to substitute for four Doe defendants the 14 names of four employees of defendant Target Corporation (“Target”), which individuals, 15 Garza alleges, were responsible for failing to maintain a San Mateo Target store in a safe 16 17 condition, leading to Garza’s slip and fall therein. Defendant has filed opposition, to 18 which plaintiff has replied. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and 19 in opposition to the motion, the Court rules as follows.1 20 On October 11, 2019, Target removed the instant action to federal court on the 21 basis of diversity jurisdiction. It is undisputed that the individuals whom Garza seeks to 22 join as defendants are California residents, and, consequently, that their inclusion in the 23 instant action would destroy complete diversity. 24 25 26 1 By order filed May 29, 2020, the Court deemed the matter appropriate for 27 determination on the parties’ written submissions, vacated the hearing scheduled for “If after removal the plaintiff seeks to join additional defendants whose joinder 1 2 would destroy subject matter jurisdiction, the court may deny joinder, or permit joinder 3 and remand the action to the State court.” See 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e). District courts, in 4 deciding whether to exercise their discretion to allow joinder under § 1447(e), have 5 considered the following six factors: “(1) whether the party sought to be joined is needed 6 for just adjudication and would be joined under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(a); (2) 7 whether the statute of limitations would prevent the filing of a new action against the new 8 defendant in state court; (3) whether there has been an unexplained delay in seeking to 9 10 join the new defendant; (4) whether plaintiff seeks to join the new party solely to defeat 11 federal jurisdiction (5) whether denial of the joinder would prejudice the plaintiff; (6) the 12 strength of the claims against the new defendant.” See Boon v. Allstate Ins. Co., 229 F. 13 Supp. 2d 1016, 1020 (C.D. Cal. 2002). The Court addresses each factor in turn. 14 1. Need for Just Adjudication / Joinder Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(a) 15 Rule 19(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires joinder of persons 16 whose absence would preclude the grant of complete relief, or whose absence would 17 impede their ability to protect their interests or would subject any of the parties to the 18 danger of inconsistent obligations.” See Clinco v. Roberts, 41 F. Supp. 2d 1080, 1082 19 (C.D. Cal. 1999). Here, liability on the part of Target is alleged to be based primarily on 20 the conduct of the proposed new defendants, and, consequently, Target can be found 21 liable based on a showing of negligence on the part of any such employee, irrespective of 22 whether he or she is named as a defendant. See Perez v. City of Huntington Park, 7 Cal. 23 App. 4th 817, 820 (Ct. App. 1992) (holding “plaintiff seeking to hold an employer liable for 24 injuries caused by employees acting within the scope of their employment is not required 25 to name or join the employees as defendants”).2 Accordingly, the first factor weighs 26 27 1 against amendment. 2 2. Statute of Limitations 3 Garza’s fall and injury, i.e., the facts on which she bases her claims, are alleged to 4 have occurred on May 22, 2017. Consequently, a separate action against the proposed 5 new defendants would appear to be time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations. 6 See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1 (setting forth two-year limitations period for “injury to 7 . . . an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another”). Accordingly, the 8 second factor weighs in favor of amendment. 9 3. Timeliness 10 Contrary to Target’s argument that Garza was not diligent in seeking amendment, 11 the Court finds Garza has adequately explained the circumstances surrounding the 12 timing of the instant motion, and further finds there was no unreasonable delay in moving 13 to join the proposed new defendants. In particular, in the course of fact discovery, which, 14 to date, has not closed, Garza learned the identities of three of the four proposed new 15 defendants and, shortly after an unsuccessful attempt to arrive at a stipulated 16 amendment, filed the instant motion.3 Accordingly, the third factor weighs in favor of 17 amendment. 18 4. Motive for Joinder 19 As noted, Garza initially filed the instant action in state court, thus evidencing a 20 preference to litigate her claims in that forum. Nothing in the record before the Court, 21 however, suggests the instant motion was prompted solely by a desire to defeat federal 22 jurisdiction. Indeed, Garza included Doe defendants in the complaint she initially filed in 23 state court, posed interrogatories to obtain the names of the Doe defendants, and, after 24 subject any party to the danger of inconsistent obligations. 25 3 Although plaintiff acknowledges she knew the name of one of the proposed new 26 defendants prior to receiving the above-referenced discovery, she explains she waited to move to substitute him for a Doe “in order to promote judicial economy and seek 27 amendment only after she had discovered the names of the other individuals so as to 1 obtaining their names in discovery, promptly moved to join them as named parties, none 2 of whom, contrary to defendant’s argument, is a “sham” (see Opp’n at 2:10) defendant. 3 See Morris v. Princess Cruises, Inc., 236 F.3d 1061, 1067 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding a non- 4 diverse defendant is “sham” or “fraudulently joined” where plaintiff fails to state, and 5 “according to the settled rules of the state” cannot state, a claim against such party); see 6 also Vreeland v. Target Corp., No. 09-cv-5673-MEJ, 2010 WL 545840, at *4 (holding, in 7 removed slip-and-fall action against Target, store manager could be sued for negligence). 8 Moreover, as courts have acknowledged, plaintiffs have an interest, such as that 9 expressed here, in “asserting [their] rights against an employee directly involved in the 10 alleged . . . causes of action.” See IBC Aviation Services, Inc. v. Compania Mexicana de 11 Aviacion, 125 F. Supp. 2d 1008, 1012 (N.D. Cal. 2000). Accordingly, the fourth factor 12 weighs in favor of amendment. 13 5. Prejudice to Plaintiff 14 Although having to try a case in two forums would ordinarily be a consideration 15 relevant to prejudice, such eventuality, in the instant case, has no bearing on the issue 16 because, as discussed above, Garza’s claims against the proposed new defendants, if 17 filed in a separate action, would be time-barred. Moreover, as also discussed above, 18 Garza can obtain a judgment against Target, whether or not the negligent employee is 19 himself/herself named as a defendant, see Perez, 7 Cal. App. 4th at 820, and there is no 20 reason to question Target’s ability to satisfy any such judgment. Accordingly, the fifth 21 factor weighs against amendment. 22 6. Strength of Claims Against New Defendants 23 As noted above, the proposed new defendants are alleged to hold positions in 24 which they are responsible for maintaining the premises at issue in a safe condition. 25 Although Target, in a response to an interrogatory, states the premises had been 26 checked thirty minutes prior to plaintiff’s fall, the determination of “[w]hether a dangerous 27 condition has existed long enough for a reasonably prudent person to have discovered it 1 (Cal. 2001) (citing, inter alia, Sapp v. W.T. Grant Co., 172 Cal. App. 2d 89 (Ct. App. 2 || 1959)); see also Sapp, 172 Cal. App. 2d at 94 (affirming verdict in favor of plaintiff and 3 || against defendant where area in which plaintiff fell was left “unsupervised for a period of 4 || 20 minutes”). Accordingly, the sixth factor weighs in favor of amendment. 5 CONCLUSION 6 The majority of the above-discussed factors weighing in favor of amendment, the 7 || Court finds it appropriate to allow joinder of the proposed new defendants. 8 Accordingly, plaintiff's motion for leave to amend is hereby GRANTED, and, 9 || pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e), the above-titled action is hereby REMANDED to the 10 Superior Court of California, in and for the County of San Mateo. 11 In light of the upcoming court-sponsored mediation, however, execution of this 12 || order is hereby STAYED through June 8, 2020. 5 13 IT IS SO ORDERED. S 14 Oo 15 |] Dated: June 2, 2020 [oie late MAKINE M. CHESNEY 0 16 United States District Judge 17
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