20 F.2d 142 | D. Idaho | 1927
On petition of defendant, based on diversity of citizenship, the state court ordered the eause removed to the federal court. After removal, plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case on two grounds: That the petition for removal was not presented to the state court, and no order authorizing such removal was made; that this court is without jurisdiction to determine the cause, for the reason that the amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and eosts, does not exceed $3,000. The transcript of the proceedings contains an order of removal made by the state court. Defendant asked leave to file .an amended petition for removal, which was not contested by the plaintiffs, and alleged therein, in general terms, after setting forth the usual allegations as to diversity of citizenship and jurisdictional amount, that the plaintiffs were not entitled to recover, for the reason that there was no partnership existing between the defendant and one Fred F. Hertz at the time the notes sued upon in plaintiffs’ complaint were executed, as it has been held by this court in another action that no such partnership existed, and that the complaint did not state a eause of action. It will be seen that the real question at issue is one of fact, to be determined from the complaint and petition. In determining whether the amount of recovery sought is sufficient to give this court jurisdiction, the court will look to the face of the complaint, and upon the facts as there disclosed decide jvhat the actual demand of recovery is.
The specific amount of the demand, and the amount prayed for, is $2,652.29, and under the facts set forth this is the only amount plaintiffs would be entitled to recover under the prayer. It further appears in the complaint that the defendant and his copartner,
It would seem that the plaintiffs would have the right to waive their right of demand upon the defendant, a copartner of Hertz, for the full amount of the balance of the partnership debt, and sne one of the partners for one-half thereof. This is what the plaintiffs have done in this action. It is urged by defendant that, should this case be remanded back to the state court, the plaintiffs conld then amend the prayer of their complaint for the full amount of the balance of tbe partnership debt. Should such a contingency happen, then the defendant conld, after having taken steps in these removal proceedings, proceed again to remove the ease to this court, which would then have jurisdiction. It is universally established by the authorities that the question of removability, unless fraud is shown, must be determined by the complaint. The principal question presented here is not on the merits of the ease, bnt is one of jurisdiction only. That was first acquired by the state court, and cannot be taken from it, unless it clearly appears that this court has jurisdiction.
As to the further contention of petitioner that the plaintiffs are not entitled to recover for the reason that the complaint does not state a good canse of action, and that no partnership as alleged therein ever existed between the defendant and the said Hertz at the time the notes in question were executed; decree having been entered that no such partnership existed, it is thought that “the court will not inquire, on a motion to remand a case to the state court, either as to the truth of the allegations in the pleadings, or the sufficiency of the complaint or bill as such, or whether it states a good cause of action. These matters are for the decision of the court which finally tries the ease.” Hax et al. v. Caspar et al. (C. C.) 31 F. 499; 34 Cyc. 1342.
The cause must he remanded, because there is not the jurisdictional amount involved.