Dennis Cooper v. Martinez Meats Incorporated, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Central District of California orders Plaintiff Dennis Cooper to show cause why the court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over claims under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and related state law. The order discusses 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), California’s restrictions on disability-access litigation, and the interests of fairness and comity. Plaintiff must identify the statutory damages sought and submit declarations addressing whether he and counsel qualify as high-frequency litigants.

Holdings

1. Supplemental jurisdiction is discretionary rather than a right of the plaintiff, and the district court may decline to exercise it under the circumstances identified in 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), while weighing judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's Unruh Civil Rights Act claim and any related state-law claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
2. What information Plaintiff and counsel must provide to permit the court to evaluate whether declining supplemental jurisdiction is appropriate, including the amount of statutory damages sought and whether Plaintiff qualifies as a high-frequency litigant.

Disposition

other