R. GARY KLAUSNER
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Present: The Honorable R. GARY KLAUSNER, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Sharon L. Williams (Not Present)¦Not Reported ¦N/A ¦ +--------------------------------+-------------------------+--------¦ ¦Deputy Clerk ¦Court Reporter / Recorder¦Tape No.¦ +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Attorneys Present for Plaintiffs:
Not Present
Attorneys Present for Defendants:
Not Present
Proceedings: (IN CHAMBERS) ORDER REMANDING CIVIL ACTION TO SUPERIOR COURT
On October 12, 2012, IAP World Services and Hobert H. Hicks (collectively, "Defendants") removed this action from state Court on the basis of diversity jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
Removal jurisdiction is governed by statute. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441, et seq. The Ninth Circuit has held unequivocally that the removal statute is construed strictly against removal. Ethridge v. Harbor House Rest., 861 F.2d 1389, 1393 (9th Cir. 1988). The removing defendant bears the burden of proving that removal is proper. Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). Additionally, the Notice of Removal of a civil action must be filed within 30 days after receipt of initial pleadings upon defendant of a state pleading alleging a removable claim. 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1).
Here, in the Notice of Removal, Defendants indicate that they received the initial state pleadings on August 9, 2012. However, the action was not removed until October 12, 2012, 34 days after the window for removal had expired. Therefore, removal is untimely and thus improper.
For the foregoing reasons, the above-entitled case is ordered REMANDED to the Superior Court for all further proceedings for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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