Jose Martinez v. Sunnova Energy Corporation

District Court, C.D. California·Decided November 25, 2024·No. 2:24-cv-06346·Unknown

Opinion

CIVIL MINUTES – GENERAL

Case No. 2:24-cv-06346-MRA-MAR Date November 25, 2024

Title Jose Martinez v. Sunnova Energy Corporation, et al

Present: The Honorable MÓNICA RAMÍREZ ALMADANI, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Gabriela Garcia None Present

Deputy Clerk Court Reporter

Attorneys Present for Plaintiffs: Attorneys Present for Defendants:

None Present None Present

Proceedings: (IN CHAMBERS) ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO REMAND [ECF 10, 11]

Before the Court is Plaintiff Jose Martinez’s Motion to Remand and Amendment to the Motion to Remand (the “Motion”).1 ECF 10, 11. The Court has read and considered the Motion and held a hearing on October 3, 2024. ECF 15. For the reasons stated herein, the Court DENIES the Motion. I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff Jose Martinez (“Plaintiff” or “Martinez”) filed this putative class action against Defendant Sunnova Corporation (“Defendant” or “Sunnova”) on June 26, 2024, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. See generally ECF 1 at 8-37, Ex. A (Compl.). Martinez, who worked for Sunnova as an hourly, non-exempt solar technician, alleges that Sunnova violated the California Labor Code and engaged in unfair business practices stemming from its purported failure to pay overtime compensation, provide meal breaks and rest periods, pay minimum wage, provide accurate wage statements, maintain accurate time and payroll records, reimburse necessary business-related expenses, and pay reporting wages. Compl. ¶¶ 1, 16-110. On July 26, 2024, Defendant removed this action to federal court based on diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).2 See generally ECF 1. On August 26, 2024,

1 The Court hereinafter refers only to the Amendment to the Motion to Remand. 2 Although Plaintiff brought this case as a putative class action, Defendant removed it based on diversity jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s individual claims. See ECF 1. In Gibson v. Chrysler Corp., the Ninth Circuit held that “there is supplemental jurisdiction over the claims of unnamed class members when the claim of an individual named plaintiff satisfies the amount-in- controversy requirement.” 261 F.3d 927, 940 (9th Cir. 2001). In moving to remand, Plaintiff CIVIL MINUTES – GENERAL

Case No. 2:24-cv-06346-MRA-MAR Date November 25, 2024

Title Jose Martinez v. Sunnova Energy Corporation, et al

Plaintiff filed the instant Motion, arguing that Defendant has not established that the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional minimum, $75,000.3 ECF 11-1 at 7. Defendant filed an Opposition to the Motion on September 12, 2024, ECF 12, and Plaintiff filed a Reply on September 19, 2024, ECF 13. The Court held a hearing on October 3, 2024. ECF 15. II. LEGAL STANDARD “Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. They possess only that power authorized by Constitution and statute, which is not to be expanded by judicial decree.” Kokkonen v. Guardians Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994) (internal citations omitted). Removal of a state action to federal court is only proper if the district court would have had original jurisdiction over the action. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). “If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded.” Id. § 1447(c). Where removal is sought based on diversity jurisdiction, the party asserting jurisdiction must show that (1) the parties are “citizens of different States,” and (2) “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.” Id. § 1332(a). “The amount in controversy is simply an estimate of the total amount in dispute, not a prospective assessment of defendant’s liability.” Lewis v. Verizon Commc’ns, Inc., 627 F.3d 395, 400 (9th Cir. 2010); see also Chavez v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., 888 F.3d 413, 417 (9th Cir. 2018) (describing the amount in controversy as what is “‘at stake’ in the litigation, whatever the likelihood that [plaintiff] will actually recover [that amount]”). “[T]his amount includes, inter alia, damages (compensatory, punitive, or otherwise) and the cost of complying with an injunction, as well as attorneys’ fees awarded under fee shifting statutes.” Gonzalez v. CarMax Auto Superstores, Inc., 840 F.3d 644, 648-49 (9th Cir. 2016). In most cases, this amount is determined by “the sum demanded in good faith in the initial pleading[.]” 28 U.S.C. § 1446(c)(2). However, “[w]here it is not facially evident from the complaint that more than $75,000 is in controversy, the removing party must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the amount in controversy meets the jurisdictional threshold.” Corral v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 878 F.3d 770, 774 (9th Cir. 2017)

whether the amount in controversy has been satisfied to establish diversity jurisdiction over his individual claims. See generally ECF 11-1. 3 Plaintiff does not dispute that there is complete diversity of citizenship between Plaintiff, a California resident, and Defendant, a corporation incorporated under Delaware law CIVIL MINUTES – GENERAL

Case No. 2:24-cv-06346-MRA-MAR Date November 25, 2024

Title Jose Martinez v. Sunnova Energy Corporation, et al

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