Bernard Taruc v. Mount Olive Storage, LLC

Summary

The court issued an order to show cause concerning whether it should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s claims under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and other state laws. The order requires the plaintiff to provide the amount of Unruh Act statutory damages sought and facts concerning whether the plaintiff or counsel qualifies as a high-frequency litigant under California law, with a response due March 11, 2025.

Holdings

1. A federal court may raise and examine subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte at any time during the pendency of the action.
2. The court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the Unruh Act and other state-law claims for reasons identified in 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), including concerns about federal-state comity.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over Plaintiff's Unruh Civil Rights Act claim and other state-law claims.
2. What information Plaintiff must provide concerning the amount of Unruh Act statutory damages and whether Plaintiff or counsel qualifies as a high-frequency litigant.

Disposition

other