Ali Jabbari v. Parviz Omidvar, Oliver Omidvar, Lurie, Zepeda, Schmalz, Hogan & Martin LLP, Steven P. Hogan, M. Damien Holcomb, Rachel Kartin, Bodman PLC, Stephen P. Dunn, and John Does 1-50

Summary

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana sets briefing deadlines for Plaintiff Ali Jabbari's motion to remand and Defendants' motion to dismiss. The Court also orders the removing defendants to submit a supplemental jurisdictional statement addressing the citizenship of certain entities and the participation of other defendants in removal, and directs defense counsel to file an amended notice of appearance.

Holdings

1. The amended notice of removal was insufficient because it did not identify the partners or members of Hogan & Martin LLP and Bodman PLC and their citizenships, preventing the court from determining whether complete diversity existed.
2. The removing defendants were required to explain the absence of Hogan & Martin LLP, Steven Hogan, M. Damien Holcomb, Rachel Kartin, and Stephen Dunn from the amended notice of removal and state whether properly joined and served defendants consented to or joined in removal.
3. The court has an independent responsibility to ensure that subject-matter jurisdiction exists and cannot rely on the parties' agreement or stipulation that jurisdiction exists.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the amended notice of removal sufficiently alleged the citizenship of the unincorporated entities Hogan & Martin LLP and Bodman PLC to establish diversity jurisdiction.
2. Whether the removing defendants were required to explain the absence of other named defendants from the notice of removal and identify whether those defendants consented to or joined in removal.
3. What briefing and jurisdictional disclosures were required before the court could address the pending motion to remand and motion to dismiss.

Disposition

other