Prater v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

CENTRAL DIVISION

PAUL PRATER PLAINTIFF No. 4:21-cv-680-DPM

STATE FARM FIRE & CASUALTY

COMPANY and STATE FARM GENERAL

INSURANCE COMPANY DEFENDANTS ORDER

Removed case noted. The Court has an independent obligation to make sure it has subject matter jurisdiction. Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 559 U.S. 77, 95 (2010). On the facts pleaded, Prater has no plausible bad faith claim. Willis v. Shelter Mutual Insurance Co., E.D. Ark. Case No. 5:12-cv-101-DPM, Doc. 27 at 1-3 (15 November 2012) (discussing the Arkansas precedent). That claim is the only potentially solid basis for punitive damages. L.L. Cole & Son, Inc. v. Hickman, 282 Ark. 6, 8-9, 665 S.W.2d 278, 280-81 (1984). Unless Prater files a proposed amended complaint by 13 August 2021, the Court will remand because there is no possible way for the amount in controversy to satisfy the statutory threshold. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).

So Ordered. __ EEN fe

D.P. Marshall Jr.

United States District Judge Avast Adal _ _2-