Central District of California denies remand of a Song-Beverly lemon-law case, holding that a state-court civil case cover sheet checking a damages box is not an “initial pleading” or “other paper” that starts the 30-day removal clock.
Central District of California remands a putative wage-and-hour class action, holding that an employer’s speculative estimate of the named plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees cannot satisfy the $75,000 federal amount-in-controversy requirement.
Central District of California denies a federal prisoner’s petition to be transported approximately 1,500 miles to testify in person at a private Texas civil trial, finding the cost and security burdens outweigh the benefits.
Judge Kenly Kiya Kato ordered ADA plaintiff Darwin Boggs to show cause why his suit against Hunter’s Nursery should not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing, finding his ‘wishes to return’ deterrence allegations were boilerplate and conclusory under Murthy v. Missouri and
Magistrate Judge Karen E. Scott affirmed a Social Security denial, holding the ALJ reasonably interpreted Dr. Abrahimi’s ‘simple work’ opinion as compatible with Level Two reasoning jobs given the plaintiff’s daily activities and part-time work as a hair stylist (a Level Four
Magistrate Judge Stephanie S. Christensen remanded a car-accident case to Los Angeles Superior Court after The Hertz Corporation — the only out-of-state defendant whose removal had created federal jurisdiction — was dismissed, leaving only California citizens and destroying complete diversity.
Judge Hernán D. Vera remanded a music-rights case to Los Angeles Superior Court after Pardis Music dropped its federal copyright infringement claims (which it could not pursue federally because it lacked a registered copyright under 17 U.S.C. § 411(a)), eliminating federal-question jurisdiction.
Judge Christina Snyder awarded $247,897 in attorneys’ fees and $4,037 in costs to plaintiffs after a $1.6 million fraud verdict against former Baldwin Park City Attorney Tafoya, but declined to apply any lodestar multiplier — finding the legal issues were not extraordinary, counsel displayed o
Judge Percy Anderson denied remand of a FedEx wage-and-hour class action, holding CAFA’s minimal diversity and $5 million amount-in-controversy thresholds were both established by conservative assumptions and workforce evidence. The court rejected plaintiff’s Sonner argument because the
Judge Dale S. Fischer remanded a FEHA whistleblower-retaliation suit against U.S. Bank, holding that Bogaski’s self-serving denial declaration could not establish fraudulent joinder where the plaintiff could possibly amend to allege the FEHA aiding-and-abetting elements (knowledge plus substan