Maureen Harrold v. Cindy Rodriguez

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL MINUTES —- GENERAL Case No. 2:25-cv-04056-CAS-KESx Date May 21, 2025 Title Maureen Harrold v. Cindy Rodriguez et al Present: The Honorable CHRISTINA A. SNYDER Catherine Jeang Not Present N/A Deputy Clerk Court Reporter / Recorder Tape No. Attorneys Present for Plaintiffs: Attorneys Present for Defendants: Not Present Not Present Proceedings: (IN CHAMBERS) - ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE: SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION On April 1, 2025, plaintiff Maureen Harrold (“plaintiff”) filed this unlawful detainer action against defendants Cindy Rodriguez, Robert Villegas, and Does 1-10 (“defendants’’) in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Dkt. 1 at 14. On May 6, 2025, defendant Cindy Rodriguez, proceeding pro se, removed the case to this Court. Id. at 1.

On the same day, she filed a request to proceed in forma pauperis. Dkt. 3. Defendant Cindy Rodriguez asserts that this Court has jurisdiction on the basis of diversity of citizenship and on the basis of a federal question. Dkt. 1 at 2.

It appears that this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this action. The law is clear that “[u|nlawful detainer actions are strictly within the province of state court.”

Federal Nat’] Mort. Assoc. v. Suarez, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82300, *6 (E.D. Cal. Jul.

27, 2011); Deutsche Bank Nat’ Trust Co. v. Leonardo, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83854, *2 Cal. Aug. 1, 2011) (‘[T]he complaint only asserts a claim for unlawful detainer, a cause of action that is purely a matter of state law.”).

Here, the only claim asserted by plaintiff is for unlawful detainer against defendants. See dkt. 1 at 14. Accordingly, defendants are hereby ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE, in writing, on or before June 4, 2025, why this case should not be remanded to Los Angeles County Superior Court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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