Busby v. Capital One, N.A. , 841 F. Supp. 2d 49 ( 2012 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WANDA BUSBY, :
:
Plaintiff, : Civil Action No.: 10-1025 (RMU)
:
v. : Re Document No.: 42
:
CAPITAL ONE, N.A. et al., :
:
Defendants. :
MEMORANDUM OPINION
DENYING THE PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO REMAND; GRANTING THE PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION TO DISMISS WITHOUT PREJUDICE
I. INTRODUCTION
This matter is before the court on the pro se plaintiff’s motion to remand, or, in the
alternative, for voluntary dismissal of her claim. The plaintiff initially alleged a variety of
statutory and common law claims against the defendants in connection with a promissory note
and deed of trust that was executed by the plaintiff in 1996. Earlier this year, the court dismissed
all but one of the plaintiff’s claims. The plaintiff now moves to remand or, in the alternative, to
voluntarily dismiss her remaining claim without prejudice. Because the court has subject-matter
jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s remaining claim, the court denies the plaintiff’s motion to
remand. Because the defendants would not be prejudiced by voluntary dismissal, however, the
court grants the plaintiff’s motion to voluntarily dismiss her claim without prejudice.
II. FACTUAL & PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The plaintiff commenced this action in May 2010 in the Superior Court of the District of
Columbia. See generally Compl. She alleges that Capital One, N.A. (“Capital One”) and an
attorney, David Prensky (“Prensky”) engaged in tortious conduct in connection with a
promissory note and deed of trust that was executed by the plaintiff in 1996. See generally id.
In her original complaint, the plaintiff asserted a variety of causes of action against the
defendants under District of Columbia law, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and
conversion. Notice of Removal ¶ 1.
On June 9, 2010, the plaintiff amended her complaint to include additional claims under
the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961 et seq.
See generally Am. Compl.; Notice of Removal ¶ 4. On June 17, 2010, the defendants filed a
notice of removal in this court, asserting that the district court has subject-matter jurisdiction
based on the presence of a federal question, the diversity of the parties and the amount in
controversy. See Notice of Removal ¶¶ 10-12.
In July 2010, the plaintiff moved to remand this case to the Superior Court and for
joinder of Chasen & Chasen, the law firm with which Prensky is associated, as a defendant in
this action. See generally Pl.’s Mot. to Remand (“Pl.’s Mot.”). This court denied both motions
in a January 2011 Memorandum Opinion. See generally Mem. Op. (Jan. 6, 2011). Soon
thereafter, defendant Capital One moved to dismiss all of the claims against it, and defendant
Prensky moved to dismiss all but one of the claims against him. The court granted both motions
in March 2011. See generally Mem. Op. (Mar. 28, 2011). Following the court’s March 2011
decision, the only remaining claim in this action is the plaintiff’s breach of fiduciary duty claim
against defendant Prensky.
The plaintiff filed an appeal, which the Circuit summarily rejected as premature. See
generally Busby v. Capitol One, N.A., Case No. 11-7035 (D.C. Cir. Sep. 19, 2011), Order. In
September 2011, the plaintiff filed a renewed motion for remand or, in the alternative, for
voluntary dismissal. See generally Pl.’s Mot. With the plaintiff’s motion now ripe for
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adjudication, the court turns to the parties’ arguments and the relevant legal standards.
III. ANALYSIS
A. The Court Denies the Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand
1. Legal Standard for Remand
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and, therefore, the law presumes that “a
cause lies outside of [the court’s] limited jurisdiction.” Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of
Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994); St. Paul Mercury Indem. Co. v. Red Cab Co., 303 U.S. 283, 288-
89 (1938). According to the removal statute, a defendant may properly remove to federal court
an action brought in a state court when original subject-matter jurisdiction exists in the form of
diversity. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a); Caterpillar, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987).
Diversity jurisdiction exists when the action involves citizens of different states and the amount
in controversy exceeds $75,000.00 per plaintiff, exclusive of interest and costs. 28 U.S.C. §
1332(a); Carden v. Arkoma Assocs., 494 U.S. 185, 187 (1990).
Courts must strictly construe removal statutes. Williams v. Howard Univ., 984 F. Supp.
27, 29 (D.D.C. 1997) (citing Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 107-09 (1941)).
The court must resolve any ambiguities concerning the propriety of removal in favor of remand.
Univ. of S. Ala. v. Am. Tobacco Co., 168 F.3d 405, 411 (11th Cir. 1999); Nwachukwu v. Karl,
223 F. Supp. 2d 60, 66 (D.D.C. 2002). When the plaintiff makes a motion to remand, the
defendant bears the burden of proving federal jurisdiction. Kokkonen, 511 U.S. at 377; Wilson v.
Republic Iron & Steel Co., 257 U.S. 92, 97 (1921); Nat’l Org. for Women v. Mut. of Omaha Ins.
Co., 612 F. Supp. 100, 101 (D.D.C. 1985).
If a defect in removal procedures or lack of subject-matter jurisdiction becomes apparent
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at any point prior to final judgment, the removal court must remand the case to the state court
from which the defendants originally removed the case. 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). A plaintiff might
waive the right to a remand on the basis of procedural defects by supplementing a complaint,
litigating a summary judgment motion, or proceeding in a trial. Koehnen v. Herald Fire Ins. Co.,
89 F.3d 525, 528 (8th Cir. 1996); Medlin v. Andrew, 113 F.R.D. 650, 652 (M.D.N.C. 1987). In
contrast, merely engaging in offensive or defensive litigation (such as limited discovery)
especially when the plaintiff has already filed a motion for remand, does not forfeit the right to a
remand. Medlin, 113 F.R.D. at 652-55. In the event that the federal court lacks subject-matter
jurisdiction, remand is mandatory. Republic of Venez. v. Philip Morris, Inc., 287 F.3d 192, 196
(D.C. Cir. 2002); Johnson-Brown v. 2200 M St. LLC, 257 F. Supp. 2d 175, 177-78 (D.D.C.
2003).
2. The Plaintiff Has Waived Her Right to Seek Remand on the Basis of Procedural Defects
in the Defendants’ Notice of Removal
The plaintiff argues that the court should remand her action to Superior Court because the
defendants’ notice of default was procedurally defective. Pl.’s Mot. at 7-8. Specifically, the
plaintiff claims that the defendants’ notice of removal does not explicitly allege that the amount
in controversy exceeds $75,000. Id. The defendants respond by arguing that the plaintiff has
waived any procedural challenges to removal by actively litigating in this court. Defs.’ Opp’n at
5.
A plaintiff may waive her objections to any procedural defect in removal by affirmatively
litigating in federal court. Koehnen v. Herald Fire Ins. Co., 89 F.3d 525, 528 (8th Cir. 1996);
Ficken v. Golden, 696 F. Supp. 2d 21, 26-27 (D.D.C. 2010); Moffit v. Balt. Am. Mort., 665 F.
Supp. 2d 515, 517 (D. Md. 2009). Here, the plaintiff has litigated her claim in this court for well
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over a year. The plaintiff has filed several motions, submitted oppositions to the defendants’
motions and pursued an appeal. These acts are sufficient to constitute a waiver of any objections
to procedural defects in the removal process. See, e.g., Riggs v. Plaid Pantries, Inc., 233 F.
Supp. 2d 1260, 1271 (D. Or. 2001) (concluding that the plaintiffs had waived any procedural
objections to remand by filing motions in federal court); see also Dukes v. S.C. Ins. Co., 770 F.2d
545, 547-48 (5th Cir. 1985) (collecting cases).
It is important to note that the plaintiff has waived only her objection to the procedural
defects in the defendants’ notice of removal; objections that are based on a court’s lack of
subject-matter jurisdiction may not be forfeited or waived by any party. Arbaugh v. Y & H.
Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 514 (2006). Accordingly, the court turns to the plaintiff’s assertion that the
court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction to adjudicate the plaintiff’s remaining claim.
3. Diversity Jurisdiction Exists Over the Plaintiff’s Remaining Claim
The plaintiff argues that the court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction because the defendants
have not shown that the prerequisites to diversity jurisdiction have been satisfied. Pl.’s Mot. at
8-9. The plaintiff does not contest the fact that the parties are diverse; instead, she argues that
her case does not meet the amount-in-controversy requirement. Id. The defendants retort that
the amount-in-controversy requirement is satisfied because the plaintiff seeks rescission of a
$207,000 Note and Mortgage. Defs.’ Opp’n at 3-5.
A federal district court has subject-matter jurisdiction over a suit when the amount in
controversy exceeds $75,000 and the parties are diverse in citizenship. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a);
DeBerry v. First Gov’t Mortg. & Investors Corp., 170 F.3d 1105, 1106 n.1 (D.C. Cir. 1999). If a
complaint fails to specify the amount in controversy, a court may independently determine
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whether that amount meets jurisdictional requirements. Wilson v. U.S. Dep’t of Transp., 759 F.
Supp. 2d 55, 62 (D.D.C. 2011). The court may base its determination on the allegations
contained within the complaint and the facts that are subsequently developed in the record. See
e.g., Herbert v. Nat’l Acad. of Scis., 974 F.2d 192, 197 (D.C. Cir. 1992). To justify dismissal on
jurisdictional grounds, it must appear to a legal certainty that the amount in controversy
requirement has not been met. Hartigh v. Latin, 485 F.2d 1068, 1071 (D.C. Cir. 1973).
In cases in which the plaintiff seeks to rescind a loan or prevent foreclosure, the amount
in controversy is equal to the amount of the loan. Davis v. World Savings Bank, FSB, 2011 WL
3796170, at *3 (D.D.C. Aug. 29, 2011); see also Hancock v. HomEq Servicing Corp., 526 F.3d
785, 785 n.2 (D.C. Cir. 2008); Nguyen v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 749 F. Supp. 2d 1022, 1028
(N.D. Cal. 2010). Here, the plaintiff seeks rescission of the transaction underlying her $207,000
Note and Mortgage, and she asks the court to “permanently enjoin Defendants . . . from
foreclosing on the Note.” Am. Compl. at 11. The plaintiff’s complaint includes an attached
copy of the Deed of Trust, which confirms that the plaintiff’s original Note evidenced a debt of
$207,000. See Am. Compl., Ex. B. (Deed of Trust). Because the plaintiff’s complaint and the
materials attached thereto make clear that the plaintiff’s action challenges a legal instrument
valued at $207,000, the court concludes that the amount-in-controversy requirement is satisfied
and subject-matter jurisdiction exists. Accordingly, the court denies the plaintiff’s motion to
remand.
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B. The Court Grants the Plaintiff’s Motion to Voluntarily Dismiss Its Remaining Claim
Without Prejudice
1. Legal Standard to Dismiss Under Rule 41(a)
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a) governs voluntary dismissal of an action. FED. R.
CIV. P. 41(a)(1). Under Rule 41(a)(1), a plaintiff may dismiss a civil action without an order of
the court by filing a notice of dismissal before the adverse party files an answer or motion for
summary judgment, or by filing a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties. Id.; Swift v.
United States, 318 F.3d 250, 252 (D.C. Cir. 2003). Otherwise, under Rule 41(a)(2), “an action
shall not be dismissed at the plaintiff’s instance save upon order of the court and upon such terms
and conditions as the court deems proper.” FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(2); Taragan v. Eli Lilly & Co.,
Inc., 838 F.2d 1337, 1339 (D.C. Cir. 1988). Dismissals under Rule 41(a)(2) “generally [are]
granted in the federal courts unless the defendant would suffer prejudice other than the prospect
of a second lawsuit or some tactical disadvantage.” Conafay v. Wyeth Labs., 793 F.2d 350, 353
(D.C. Cir. 1986); see also 9 FED. PRAC. & PROC. 2d § 2364. A court applying Rule 41(a)(2)
therefore must consider whether the plaintiff seeks the motion for voluntary dismissal in good
faith, and whether the dismissal would cause the defendant “legal prejudice” based on factors
such as the defendant’s trial preparation efforts, any excessive delay or lack of diligence by the
plaintiff in prosecuting the action, an insufficient explanation by the plaintiff for taking nonsuit,
and the filing of motions for summary judgment by the defendant. In re Vitamins Antitrust
Litig., 198 F.R.D. 296, 304 (D.D.C. 2000).
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2. The Court Grants the Plaintiff’s Motion to Voluntarily Dismiss Her Remaining Claim
Under Rule 41(a)
The plaintiff seeks voluntary dismissal of her claim without prejudice, arguing that doing
so would not cause the defendants any legal harm. See Pl.’s Mot. at 4. The defendants counter
that the plaintiff’s motion was not filed in good faith. Defs.’ Opp’n at 1. In addition, the
defendants argue that voluntary dismissal would cause the defendants legal prejudice because
their litigation efforts would have been wasted, and because the defendants face the prospect of
litigating a similar suit in the near future. Id.First, the evidence suggests that the plaintiff’s motion was filed in good faith. The
plaintiff’s motion was filed as a timely reaction to an order from this court which dismissed the
majority of her claims. Cf. In re Vitamins, 198 F.R.D. at 304 (indicating that good faith is
“highly questionable” when there are no new circumstances or changes in the litigation to
necessitate voluntary dismissal). The defendants suggest that the plaintiff has acted in bad faith
by filing a nearly identical lawsuit in Superior Court. Defs.’ Opp’n at 3. The defendants also
claim that this second lawsuit is meritless. Id. The mere fact that the plaintiff may be pursuing
her claims in a separate forum is not indicative of bad faith, however. Hisler v. Gallaudet Univ.,
344 F. Supp. 2d 29, 37 (D.D.C. 2004). If anything, the second lawsuit weighs in favor of
dismissal because court should not be required to “maintain two separate actions and thereby
squander limited judicial resources.” Conafay, 793 F.2d at 353. Accordingly, the court
concludes that the plaintiff’s actions are not indicative of bad faith.
Second, the defendants claim that the prospect of this second lawsuit will cause them
legal prejudice. Defs.’ Opp’n at 1. It is beyond cavil, however, that the prospect of a second
lawsuit does not constitute legal prejudice under Rule 41(a). See, e.g., Cone v. W. Va. Pulp &
Paper Co., 330 U.S. 212, 217 (1947) (holding that a voluntary dismissal should be granted
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“unless the defendant would suffer some plain legal prejudice other than the mere prospect of a
second lawsuit”); Jones v. Sec. Exch. Comm’n, 298 U.S. 1, 19 (1936) (holding that a complainant
should be granted the right to dismiss a claim unless it would “prejudice the defendants in some
other way than by the mere prospect of being harassed and vexed by future litigation of the same
kind”) (emphasis added); Conafay, 793 F.2d at 353 (D.C. Cir. 1986) (“[W]e simply observe that
dismissals have generally been granted in the federal courts unless the defendant would suffer
prejudice other than the prospect of a second lawsuit or some tactical disadvantage.”).
Third, the defendants oppose the plaintiff’s motion on the basis that the plaintiff has
engendered an excessive delay in her prosecution of this case. Defs.’ Opp’n at 1-2. It is true that
the plaintiff delayed the litigation somewhat by filing an untimely appeal. In light of the fact that
the plaintiff is proceeding pro se, however, the plaintiff must be afforded some leeway when
navigating the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Robinson v. England, 216 F.R.D. 17, 18
(D.D.C. 2003). Given the nuances of the rules governing interlocutory appeals, the court cannot
conclude that this single delay is so great as to require denial of her Rule 41(a) motion. See
Hisler, 344 F. Supp. 2d at 38 (concluding that there was no excessive delay even when the
plaintiff’s behavior was “far from praiseworthy,” as long as the plaintiff complied with orders
and her motions were generally timely filed).
Fourth, the plaintiff’s motion comes at a relatively early stage of the litigation. As the
plaintiff notes, no discovery has taken place in this case. Pl.’s Mot. at 8-9. In addition, the
parties have not engaged in pre-trial conferences, and it is highly unlikely that the defendants
have engaged in any trial preparation efforts. See Conafay, 793 F.2d at 352 (noting that
appellants filed their motion to dismiss at a “relatively early stage of the litigation,” namely
“three months before the District Court’s deadline for completion of discovery”); cf. Pace v. S.
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Express Co., 409 F.2d 331, 334 (7th Cir. 1969) (“The defendant’s objections to plaintiff’s
motion to dismiss disclosed that the case had already been pending for one and one-half years,
that considerable discovery had been undertaken at substantial cost to the defendant, and that
defendant had already briefed its motion for summary judgment.”).
In sum, the court concludes that the relevant factors to be considered under Rule 41(a)
weigh towards dismissal of the plaintiff’s remaining claim without prejudice. Accordingly, the
court grants the plaintiff’s motion and dismisses her case without prejudice.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the court denies the plaintiff’s motion to remand and grants the
plaintiff’s alternative motion to voluntarily dismiss its remaining claims without prejudice. An
Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is separately and contemporaneously issued
this 20th day of January, 2012.
RICARDO M. URBINA
United States District Judge
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