Juan Valencia v. Ann Miller Naber

Summary

The United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered Plaintiff Juan Valencia to show cause why the court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over his California Unruh Civil Rights Act and related state-law claims. The order discusses 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), California pleading requirements for construction-related accessibility claims, and the interests of fairness and comity in cases involving potential high-frequency litigants. Plaintiff was directed to identify the statutory damages sought and provide declarations addressing the high-frequency-litigant requirements within 14 days.

Holdings

1. Supplemental jurisdiction is discretionary rather than a plaintiff's right, and a federal district court may decline supplemental jurisdiction when one of the circumstances identified in 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c) exists, while weighing judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity.
2. The court required Plaintiff to show cause in writing why supplemental jurisdiction should be exercised over the Unruh Act claim and related state-law claims, and required Plaintiff and counsel to provide declarations addressing the high-frequency-litigant issue.

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. Whether Plaintiff and counsel must provide information and declarations addressing Plaintiff's claimed statutory damages and potential status as a high-frequency litigant under California law.

Disposition

other