Julio Cruz v. Hang Vo

Summary

The Central District of California ordered Plaintiff Julio Cruz to show cause why the court should not decline supplemental jurisdiction over state-law claims arising alongside an alleged Americans with Disabilities Act violation. The court required Plaintiff to identify the statutory damages sought and provide declarations addressing whether Plaintiff and counsel are high-frequency litigants under California law, warning that failure or an inadequate response could result in dismissal.

Holdings

1. Although supplemental jurisdiction may exist over related state-law claims, the district court has discretion under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c) to decline exercising that jurisdiction after considering the circumstances of the case, the nature and governing character of the state-law claims, and their relationship to the federal claims.
2. Plaintiff must identify the amount of statutory damages sought and provide sworn declarations from Plaintiff and counsel containing facts necessary to determine whether either is a high-frequency litigant.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court should require Plaintiff to show cause why it should not decline supplemental jurisdiction over the Unruh Act, Disabled Persons Act, California Health and Safety Code, and negligence claims.
2. What information Plaintiff must provide concerning statutory damages and the potential high-frequency-litigant status of Plaintiff and counsel.

Disposition

other