Logan v. Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc.

834 F. Supp. 2d 484, 2011 WL 6010021, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138009
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Virginia
DecidedDecember 1, 2011
DocketCase No. 4:11-CV-00008
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 834 F. Supp. 2d 484 (Logan v. Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Logan v. Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc., 834 F. Supp. 2d 484, 2011 WL 6010021, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138009 (W.D. Va. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

JACKSON L. KISER, Senior District Judge.

Before me are Plaintiffs Renewed Motion to Remand and Renewed Response to Motion to Dismiss (“Renewed Motion to Remand”) and Defendants’ Motion to Strike Plaintiffs Memorandum (“Motion to Strike”). The Court held a hearing on these motions on November 29, 2011, at which counsel for both Plaintiff and Defendants appeared and presented argument. After careful consideration, for the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s Motion to Strike is GRANTED, Defendant Cindy Roberson (incorrectly named in the Complaint as “Cindy Robinson”) is DISMISSED from this case, and Plaintiffs Renewed Motion to Remand is DENIED.

I. STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiff Bernadette G. Logan originally filed the present action against Defendants Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc. (“Boddie-Noell”) and Cindy Roberson (“Roberson”) (collectively, “Defendants”) in the Circuit Court for the City of Danville. (Joint Notice of Removal, Ex. A [ECF No. 1].) The Complaint alleges that on January 30, 2010, Plaintiff was an invitee at Hardees’s [485]*485Restaurant in Danville, Virginia, a business owned and operated by Boddie-Noell. {Id. ¶ 6-7.) Roberson was serving as the restaurant’s general manager on that date. {Id. ¶ 5.) The Complaint further alleges that on that date, Defendants allowed water to accumulate on the restaurant’s dining room floor, thus failing to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition. {Id. ¶ 10-12.) Furthermore, Defendants failed to warn Plaintiff of the unsafe condition. {Id. ¶'12.) As a result, Plaintiff slipped on the slick surface and sustained serious injuries. {Id. ¶ 13.) Plaintiff seeks judgment jointly and severally against Defendants in the amount of $150,000.00.

On February 16, 2011, Defendants filed a Joint Notice of Removal, removing the matter to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441 and 1446 on the grounds that this Court may exercise diversity jurisdiction over the matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (Joint Notice of Removal ¶ 1 [ECF No. 1].) The amount in controversy undisputedly exceeds $75,000. The citizenship of the respective parties is also undisputed. Plaintiff is a Virginia citizen, residing in Pittsylvania County. {Id. ¶ 1, Ex. A, ¶ 1.) Boddie-Noell is a North Carolina corporation with its principal place of business in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. {Id. ¶ 2.) Roberson is a Virginia citizen. {Id. ¶ 3.) Complete diversity of citizenship required to exercise diversity jurisdiction is, therefore, absent. Defendants assert, however, that Plaintiff fraudulently joined Defendant Roberson to defeat diversity jurisdiction. (Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss ¶ 1 [ECF No. 7].)

On February 17, 2011, Roberson filed a Motion to Dismiss which, if granted, would eliminate the non-diverse party and cure the jurisdictional bar to this court. {Id.) In her Motion, she argues that Virginia law precludes holding her liable under the facts as alleged in the Complaint because an employee of the premises’ owner or operator may be held liable only for affirmative acts, not omissions. {Id. ¶ 3^4.) She filed a Memorandum in Support of this Motion on February 24, 2011. (Def.’s Mem. in Supp., pg. 1 [ECF No. 9].) On March 9, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Remand and Response to Motion to Dismiss in which she briefly contends that she properly pled a cause of action against Roberson. {See Pl.’s Mot. to Rem. ¶ 2 [ECF No. 12].) She argues, therefore, that the Court lacks jurisdiction and that the matter should be remanded. In support of this position, Plaintiff contends that Defendant Roberson “directed the efforts of the employees and agents of the restaurant to remove snow and ice accumulating in the parking lot;” moreover, she negligently performed this affirmative act by allowing water to accumulate on the floor and failing to place warning signs. {Id. ¶ 2.) The Court held a hearing on the Motion to Dismiss and the Motion to Remand on April 4, 2011, at which both parties appeared. [ECF No. 16.] I took the matter under advisement pending further discovery of the underlying facts in the case. (Order entered April 4, 2011 [ECF No. 17].)

On June 15, 2011, the parties took deposition testimony from both Plaintiff and Roberson. Subsequently, on August 25, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Renewed Motion to Remand and Renewed Response to Motion to Dismiss in which she argues that the facts adduced in discovery support her cause of action against Roberson. (Pl.’s Ren. Mot. to Rem., ¶ 2 [ECF No. 35].) Plaintiff argues that Roberson undertook the affirmative duty of clearing the restaurant entrance area of snow and ice and of overseeing the dining area. {Id.) Plaintiff appears to suggest that her undertaking and performance of these duties constituted an affirmative act rather than mere omissions. She contends that Roberson [486]*486negligently performed these affirmative acts by allowing water to accumulate on the floor and failing to place warning signs. (Id) Basically, Plaintiff argues that her conduct in overseeing restaurant operations amounted to affirmative acts for which she may be held liable. She requests that I remand this case to the Circuit Court for the City of Danville.

On September 7, 2011, Defendants filed their Memorandum in Response to Plaintiffs Renewed Motion to Remand/Renewed Response to Motion to Dismiss. (Mem. in Resp. [ECF No. 36].) Defendants argue that under the facts as adduced in Plaintiffs and Roberson’s depositions, Plaintiff cannot state a cause of action against Roberson. (Id) The Complaint alleges that Roberson was negligent in allowing water to accumulate on the floor and in failing to place warning signs. (Id) Defendants contend that such allegations recite mere omissions. (Id) Moreover, Defendants argue that the deposition testimony reveals no evidence that Roberson either committed any affirmative act resulting in Plaintiffs injury or possessed actual or constructive knowledge of any danger. (Id) Defendants conclude that the Court should dismiss Plaintiffs claims as to Roberson and deny Plaintiffs Renewed Motion to Remand.

On November 21, 2011, Plaintiff filed her Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs Second Motion to Remand and Renewed Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss. (Pl.’s Mem. in Supp. of Ren. Mot. to Rem. [ECF No. 39].) Plaintiff argues that Roberson “herself removed snow from the sidewalk and laid down ice melt;” therefore, “she played an active role in opening the store, and preparing the premises for receipt of customers.” (Id pg. 3-4.) In addition, Roberson herself selected where to place warning cones. (Id pg. 6.) Plaintiff contends that such conduct comprises affirmative acts and cites case law in support of this proposition. (Id pg. 7.)

On November 23, 2011, Defendants filed their Motion to Strike Plaintiffs Memorandum in which they argue that Plaintiffs Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs Second Motion to Remand and Renewed Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss filed on November 21, is untimely. (Def.’s Mot. to Strike, [ECF No.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
834 F. Supp. 2d 484, 2011 WL 6010021, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138009, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/logan-v-boddie-noell-enterprises-inc-vawd-2011.