Opinion
3:09-cv-00754-LRH-VPC.
January 25, 2010
ORDER
Before the court is plaintiff Ronald E. Freeto's ("Freeto") motion to remand filed on December 30, 2009. Doc. #12. Also before the court is Freeto's motion to stay filed on December 30, 2009. Doc. #13.
Refers to the court's docket entry number.
I. Facts and Procedural History
In April 2005, Freeto purchased real property through a mortgage and note executed by defendant Lime Financial Services. He eventually defaulted on his mortgage and defendants initiated foreclosure proceedings.
Subsequently, on November 17, 2009, Freeto filed a complaint in state court alleging fourteen separate causes of action against defendants. Doc. #1, Exhibit 1. Defendants removed the matter to federal court on federal question grounds. Doc. #1. Thereafter, Freeto filed the present motion to remand. Doc. #12.
II. Legal Standard
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441, "any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant or the defendants, to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where such action is pending." 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a).
Removal of a case to a United States district court may be challenged by motion. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(c). A federal court must remand a matter if there is a lack of jurisdiction. Id. Removal statutes are construed restrictively and in favor of remanding a case to state court. See Shamrock Oil Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 108-09 (1941); Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). On a motion to remand, the removing defendant faces a strong presumption against removal, and bears the burden of establishing that removal is proper. Gaus, 980 F.2d at 566-67; Sanchez v. Monumental Life Ins. Co., 102 F.3d 398, 403-04 (9th Cir. 1996).
III. Discussion
A case may be removed to federal court if the action arises under federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 1331; 28 U.S.C. § 1441. A case arises under federal law if the complaint establishes either that federal law created the cause of action, or that the plaintiff's right to relief "requires resolution of a substantial question of federal law." Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal v. Constr. Laborers Vacation Trust for S. Cal., 463 U.S. 1, 13 (1983); see also, Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 382 (1987).
Here, Freeto argues that there is no federal question because all of his claims are rooted in either state law or common law. Thus, according to Freeto, there are no federal causes of action supporting removal.
However, federal question jurisdiction will lie over state law claims that implicate significant federal issues. Grable Sons Metal Prod. v. Darue Engineering MFG., 545 U.S 308, 312 (2005). In his complaint, Freeto repeatedly references defendants' violations of federal laws including defendants' concealment of information in violation of federal securities and banking laws. Further, his thirteenth cause of action for conspiracy directly references the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Home Ownership Protection Act. See Doc. #1, Exhibit 1.
Freeto argues that these are "incidental" references to federal laws referred to only as a compilation to the state violations. See Doc. #17. However, the court finds that his references are not incidental; they are part of the requisite framework for his claims. Freeto's conspiracy claim necessarily depends on the resolution of federal law because in order to have conspired to violate his rights defendants must have first violated the federal statutes at issue. Thus, on the face of the complaint, there are questions of federal law establishing federal question jurisdiction. See e.g., California ex. Rel Lockyer v. Dynergy, Inc., 375 F.3d 831, 841 (9th Cir. 2004) (finding that removal was proper because the state causes of action turned on the defendant's compliance with federal regulations).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to remand (Doc. #12) is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to stay pending the motion to remand (Doc. #13) is DENIED as moot.
IT IS SO ORDERED.