Krebs v. Meyers ( 2007 )

Opinions of the United
2007 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
3-6-2007
Krebs v. Meyers
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 06-4873
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Recommended Citation
"Krebs v. Meyers" (2007). 2007 Decisions. Paper 1523.
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ALD-135 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
NO. 06-4873
________________
STEVEN KREBS, d/b/a Kreative Gardens Center
v.
PATRICIA A. MEYERS; DENNIS LEE SMITH
Patricia A. Meyers
Appellant
____________________________________
On Appeal From the United States District Court
For the District of Delaware
(D. Del. Civ. No. 06-cv-00455)
District Judge: Honorable Kent A. Jordan
_______________________________________
Submitted for Possible Dismissal due to a Jurisdictional Defect and for Possible Summary
Action Under LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
February 23, 2007
Before: Sloviter, Chagares and Nygaard, Circuit Judges
(Filed: March 6, 2007)
_______________________
OPINION
_______________________
PER CURIAM
Patricia Meyers, proceeding pro se, appeals an order of the United States District
Court for the District of Delaware remanding an action filed against her to state court.
We will affirm.
Steven Krebs filed a complaint against Meyers in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware. Krebs sought a determination that a lease he had entered into with
Meyers was a binding contract, and that he was entitled to quiet enjoyment of the leased
premises. Meyers filed an answer to the complaint, which was also signed by Dennis
Smith, her “attorney-in-fact.” Because Smith was not a licensed attorney, the Chancellor
of the Court of Chancery notified Meyers that Smith may not represent her.
Meyers then removed the case to District Court. Meyers invoked 28 U.S.C.
§ 1443, and alleged that the Court of Chancery precluded Smith from representing her
because he is African-American. Meyers stated that she could not receive a fair trial in
state court without Smith’s representation. Meyers’ notice of removal also may be
construed as asserting that the District Court had original jurisdiction over claims that the
Chancellor violated her civil rights under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, and 1985(3). Finally,
Meyers cited 28 U.S.C. § 1441(c), which permits removal when a separate and
independent claim or cause of action within the jurisdiction conferred by 28 U.S.C.
§ 1331 is joined with other non-removable claims or causes of action.
Krebs filed a motion to remand the case to state court, and argued that Meyers’
notice of removal was untimely. In granting the motion to remand, the District Court
stated that, even if Meyers met the procedural requirements for removal, she did not
satisfy the substantive requirements of § 1443. The District Court further held that it
lacked original jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1343 because Meyers did not allege a
violation of a right secured by the Constitution or federal law that protects civil rights.
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Finally, the District Court determined that Meyers could not remove the case under
§ 1441(c).
This appeal followed. Although appellate review of remand orders is somewhat
restricted, we have jurisdiction to review the District Court’s order under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1447(d), which provides that “an order remanding a case to the State court from which
it was removed pursuant to section 1443 of this title shall be reviewable[.]” We also have
jurisdiction to the extent Meyers sought to invoke the District Court’s original jurisdiction
over a civil rights claim. See Borough of West Mifflin v. Lancaster, 45 F.3d 780, 784 (3d
Cir. 1995) (noting the Court’s jurisdiction to review a remand order under § 1447(d) in a
case with a civil rights claim brought under § 1331 and § 1343).
We agree with the District Court that Meyers may not remove Krebs’ complaint
under § 1443. As recognized by the District Court, § 1443 allows removal of a state law
action “[a]gainst any person who is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of such State a
right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United States, or
of all persons within the jurisdiction thereof[.]” 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1). Here, the
Chancellor of the Court of Chancery required Meyers to represent herself or proceed
through a licensed attorney. Meyers was not denied a right under any law providing for
equal civil rights based upon the determination that Smith, who is not an attorney, may
not represent her. The District Court correctly noted that Meyers does not contend that
the Court of Chancery applied this requirement in a discriminatory manner. In addition,
because Meyers was not denied a right under any law providing for equal civil rights,
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removal was not warranted based upon the original jurisdiction of the District Court, and
§ 1441(c) is inapplicable.
Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s order.
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