UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

ANGELICA WALKER, : : Plaintiff, : Civil Action No.: 24-677 (RC) : v. : Re Document Nos.: 10, 11 : 2100 2nd ST SW, LLC et al., : : Defendants. :

MEMORANDUM OPINION

GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO REMAND

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Angelica Walker, proceeding pro se, sued Defendants 2100 2nd Street SW LLC,

d.b.a. Riverpoint (“2100 LLC”), and Thomas Wilbur in D.C. Superior Court alleging common-

law breach of contract and violations of the D.C. Consumer Protection Act and D.C. Housing

Code related to Walker’s tenancy in Defendants’ Washington, D.C. property. Defendants

removed this case from Superior Court to this Court and then filed a motion to dismiss. Walker

filed a motion to remand, challenging this Court’s jurisdiction. As explained in greater detail

below, because Defendants are citizens of the District of Columbia—where this suit was initially

filed—this Court lacks diversity jurisdiction to hear this case. Accordingly, the Court grants

Walker’s motion for remand and, consequently, does not reach Defendants’ motion to dismiss.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Angelica Walker, a former tenant of 2100 LLC at RiverPoint Apartments, filed suit

against 2100 LLC and Thomas Wilbur in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. See

generally Compl., ECF No. 1-1. She seeks $250,000 for claims arising from alleged common-

law breach of contract and violations of the D.C. Consumer Protection Act and D.C. Housing Code related to her tenancy at RiverPoint Apartments. See id. at 5, 12–13. 1 Defendant Wilbur is

a member of 2100 LLC. See Not. of Removal, ECF No. 1 ¶ 13.

Walker served Wilbur and 2100 LLC by sending two envelopes via USPS certified mail,

one addressed to Wilbur and the other to 2100 LLC, each containing a copy of the Summons,

Complaint, and the Notice of Remote Initial Scheduling Conference, along with a copy of D.C.

Superior Court Civil Form 1-A, Notice and Acknowledgment of Service. See id. ¶ 4; see also

Ex. A, Pl.’s Mot. to Remand at 6, ECF No. 11-1. Plaintiff sent the envelopes to Wilbur’s

registered place of business, where a front desk employee signed for the envelopes and Wilbur

received them on or about February 13th, 2024. See Not. of Removal ¶ 4; Ex. A, Pl.’s Mot. to

Remand at 4.

Defendants removed this action from the Superior Court for the District of Columbia,

where it was pending, to this Court pursuant to the Court’s

(a) diversity

jurisdiction. See Not. of Removal ¶¶ 6, 9. Defendants argue that there is complete diversity in

this case and note that Plaintiff Walker seeks damages of more than $75,000. See

¶¶ 9–17;

see also Compl. at 14. According to her complaint, Walker’s address was 14202 Wolf Creek

Place, Apt. 6, Silver Spring, MD 20906. See Compl. at 2. When Walker filed her complaint,

Wilbur was a resident and citizen of Washington, D.C. See Decl. of Thomas Wilbur ¶ 1, Ex. 5,

Not. of Removal, ECF No. 1-5. Defendant 2100 LLC is a Delaware limited liability company

registered as a foreign limited liability company with the District of Columbia, and through its

member, Wilbur, 2100 LLC is also a citizen of the District of Columbia. See

. Under

what is commonly referred to as the “forum defendant rule,” “[a] civil action otherwise

1 Plaintiff’s Complaint repeats paragraph numbers and does not include page numbers, so the Court refers to the electronically generated ECF page numbers when referencing the complaint.

2 removable solely on the basis of [diversity] jurisdiction . . . may not be removed if any of the

parties in interest properly joined and served as defendants is a citizen of the State in which such

action is brought.”

(b)(2); see Doe v. Daversa Partners, No. 20-cv-3759,

, at *3 (D.D.C. Feb. 25, 2021). Although both Defendants admit they are citizens of

the District of Columbia in which Plaintiff’s action was originally brought, they argue that the

forum defendant rule does not prohibit removal here because neither Wilbur nor 2100 LLC was

“properly joined and served,” and, therefore, that they can remove this case. See Not. of

Removal ¶¶ 18–27.

After removing the case from D.C. Superior Court, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss.

See generally Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss, ECF No. 10. Walker timely filed a motion to remand,

challenging this Court’s jurisdiction and Defendants’ characterization of the propriety of service.

See generally Pl.’s Mot. to Remand (“Mot. to Remand”), ECF No. 11. Defendants oppose

Plaintiff’s motion to remand and urge dismissal. See generally Defs.’ Mem. of P. & A. in Opp’n

to Mot. to Remand (“Defs.’ Opp’n to Remand”), ECF No. 12.

III. LEGAL STANDARD

Defendants “in a civil action brought in state court may remove the action to a federal

district court if the action is one over which the federal district courts have original

jurisdiction”—including diversity jurisdiction. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Wilson, No. 18-cv-

2381,

, at *1 (D.D.C. Jan. 28, 2019). The Superior Court for the District of

Columbia is considered a state court for this purpose. See

(1). Federal courts

may exercise diversity jurisdiction over civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds

$75,000 and the parties are citizens of different states. See

(a)(1). But removal

3 based on diversity jurisdiction is not permitted where one of the defendants “properly joined and

served” is a citizen of the state where the action is brought.

(b)(2).

Cases removed “improvidently” must be remanded to state court. See Wells Fargo Bank,

N.A. v. Grenadier, No. 22-cv-3433,

, at *2 (D.D.C. Mar. 8, 2024). Courts

construe their removal jurisdiction narrowly, see Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets,

(1941), and courts in this circuit “favor[] remand where the propriety of removal is

unclear,” see Newman v. Reese, No. 13-cv-1969,

, at *1 (D.D.C. June 20,

2014) (citation omitted). The D.C. Circuit has explained, “[w]hen it appears that a district court

lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a case that has been removed from a state court, the district

court must remand the case.” Republic of Venez. v. Philip Morris Inc.,

(D.C.

Cir. 2002).

IV. ANALYSIS

Walker makes two arguments in favor of remand. First, she argues that this Court lacks

subject matter jurisdiction because she is a citizen of Washington, D.C., meaning that the case

lacks complete diversity. See Mot. to Remand at 5, 9. Second, Walker argues that her method of

service was proper under D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4) and Defendants are citizens of the

District of Columbia—meaning that Defendants cannot utilize diversity jurisdiction. See

at

6–7, 10–11. For their part, Wilbur and 2201 LLC respond that this Court has subject matter

jurisdiction because (1) Plaintiff is a citizen of Maryland, not Washington, D.C., see Defs.’

Opp’n to Remand at 2–6, and (2) Plaintiff’s service was improper, and because they were not

properly served Defendant’s argue they can utilize the Court’s diversity jurisdiction even as

citizens of D.C., see

at 7–8.

4 As explained below, although the Court agrees with Defendants that Walker is a

Maryland citizen for the purposes of diversity jurisdiction—so there is complete diversity in this

case—the Court concludes that Defendant Wilbur is a D.C. resident, that he was properly served,

and that Defendants cannot utilize the Court’s diversity jurisdiction because of the forum

defendant rule. See

(b)(2).

A. Complete Diversity Under

(a)

Diversity jurisdiction requires “complete diversity between the parties, which is to say

that the plaintiff may not be a citizen of the same state as any defendant.” Bush v. Butler,

(D.D.C. 2007). It is a “well-established rule” that in order for an action to

proceed pursuant to the Court’s diversity jurisdiction, the citizenship requirement must be

“assessed at the time the action is filed.” Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. v. K N Energy, Inc.,

(1991). Additionally, the party seeking the exercise of diversity jurisdiction “bears the

burden of pleading the citizenship of each and every party to the action.” Naartex Consulting

Corp. v. Watt,

(D.C. Cir. 1983). “For purposes of diversity jurisdiction, a

person is a ‘citizen of the State’ in which he is domiciled.” Core VCT Plc v. Hensley,

(D.D.C. 2014) (citing Prakash v. Am. Univ.,

(D.C. Cir.

1984)); see also

(e) (noting that the District of Columbia is considered a “State”

for purposes of diversity jurisdiction). “A person’s ‘[d]omicile is determined by two factors:

physical presence in a state, and intent to remain there for an unspecified or indefinite period of

time.’” Hensley,

(quoting Prakash,

).

Defendants assert that Walker is a citizen of Maryland because when she filed her

Complaint Walker’s address was 14202 Wolf Creek Place, Apt. 6, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

See Not. of Removal ¶¶ 10, 15; Defs.’ Opp’n to Remand at 2–6. In response, Walker argues that

5 her domicile is in Washington, D.C. because she “maintained a place of abode within the District

almost all of last year before being forced to move out by the Defendants,” see Mot. to Remand

at 5, in addition to “paying taxes there, living there, [and] intending to be buried there,” see Ex.

B, Mot. to Remand at 8. Therefore, Walker says, her “address in Maryland . . . is completely

irrelevant to this case.” Mot. to Remand at 5.

A person’s “physical presence” is one of two factors determining her domicile, see

Hensley,

, and Walker does not offer any evidence to support her claim that

she is currently “living [in the District]” rather than at her Maryland address, see Ex. B, Mot. to

Remand at 8. Indeed, Walker admits in her Complaint that she is a “former longtime resident”

of the District. Compl. at 6 (emphasis added). “The place where a [person] lives is properly

taken to be [her] domicile until facts adduced establish the contrary,” D.C. v. Murphy,

(1941), and Walker’s residency in the state of Maryland supports Defendants’ initial

burden of pleading her citizenship there.

Walker attempts to rebut this argument by claiming that her Maryland address is

“temporary.” See Mot. to Remand at 5. It is true that, although “residency is indicative of

domicile,” it is not necessarily “determinative” where indicia indicate the contrary. Naegele v.

Albers,

(D.D.C. 2005); United States v. Williams,

(D.D.C. 2011) (explaining that residence is “[t]he act or fact of living in a given place for

some time, while domicile is a person’s true, fixed, principal, and permanent home, to which that

person intends to return and remain even though currently residing elsewhere” (citation

omitted)). The question of where a party “inten[ds] to remain . . . for an unspecified or indefinite

period of time” is a second factor in assessing that party’s domicile. See Hensley,

. While a sworn statement of domiciliary intent is probative, it is not dispositive, see

6 Hensley,

, and a person’s domiciliary intent “must be supported by

evidence,” see Washington Square Ltd. P’ship, R.L.L.P. v. Lenzo, No. 05-cv-2420,

, at *3 (D.D.C. Sept. 20, 2006). While Walker may not intend to remain in Maryland

permanently, she appears to intend to remain at least for an unspecified and indefinite amount of

time, and she describes no plans to return to the District beyond “intending to be buried there.”

See Ex. B, Mot. to Remand. 2

To bolster her case, Walker argues that she pays taxes in the District, see

and that she

is domiciled in the District because she is a “statutory resident” of it pursuant to local tax laws,

see Mot. to Remand at 4;

(42) (West) (“‘Resident’ means . . . [any]

individual who maintains a place of abode within the District for an aggregate of 183 days or

more during the taxable year, whether or not the individual is domiciled in the District.”). The

D.C. Code makes clear that statutory residency is a separate issue from where one is domiciled.

See

(42). That said, where a party pays taxes can play a role in the

analysis of a party’s domicile. See, e.g., Washington Square Ltd. P’ship, R.L.L.P.,

, at *4 (finding domicile where plaintiff paid taxes on their home). Walker, however,

provides no information about what taxes she has paid in the District. In fact, in an unrelated

case filed by Walker against the Embassy of Sweden, Walker attested that she was unemployed,

had gross pay and wages of zero over the previous twelve months (and thus no income taxes to

2 The Court observes that Walker signs her affidavit in support of her District of Columbia citizenship from her Maryland address. See Ex. B, Mot. to Remand. And Walker has recently litigated before other courts in this jurisdiction from her Maryland address. See, e.g., Walker v. Embassy of Sweden et al., No. 23-cv-1892, ECF No. 22 (D.D.C. Oct. 11, 2023); see also Walker v. National Property Board et al., No. 24-cv-336, ECF No. 1 (D.D.C. Feb. 5, 2024) (plaintiff’s husband litigating from address in Maryland).

7 be paid), and “own[ed] nothing of value” in the District. See Walker v. Embassy of Sweden, et

al., No. 23-cv-1892, ECF No. 32 at 1–2 (D.D.C. Apr. 15, 2024).

When “a party expressly declares [her domiciliary] intent, and the opposing written

submissions do not demonstrate the falsity of the declaration with reasonable certainty . . . the

court cannot rest its decision simply on the paper record, but must hold [an evidentiary] hearing

in order to adequately assess credibility.” Prakash,

. Here, Walker’s affidavit

declares nothing more than that she intends to be buried in the District of Columbia. See

generally Ex. B., Mot. to Remand. Even if Walker’s declaration of intent is considered credible,

she has merely “proffered unsupported allegations” and supplied none of the “generally accepted

indicia of domiciliary status” such as home ownership, ownership of personal property, or

income tax payments to rebut Defendants’ assertion that she is a Maryland citizen. See Naegele,

(citation omitted); see also Murphy,

(“One’s testimony

with regard to [her] intention is of course to be given full and fair consideration, but is subject to

the infirmity of any self-serving declaration, and may frequently lack persuasiveness or even be

contradicted or negatived by other declarations and inconsistent acts.”). Where, as here, the

declarant “has presented no credible evidence” to support her sworn domicile, an evidentiary

hearing to assess her credibility would be “futile.” See Williams v. Washington Post Co., No. 89-

cv-3256,

, at *4 (D.D.C. Aug. 23, 1990); c.f. Middleton v. Pratt, No. 21-cv-

2301,

, at *6 (D.D.C. Aug. 31, 2022) (finding that “conclusory and

unspecific” assertions about diversity were insufficient to challenge jurisdiction). Because

Walker moved to Maryland, absent more, her intent to return to be buried in the District of

Columbia does not undermine the fact that she intends to remain in Maryland for an unspecified

and indefinite period of time. See Murphy,

(“A mere sentimental attachment

8 will not hold the old domicile.”). Accordingly, the Court concludes that Walker is a citizen of

Maryland.

The other side of the citizenship ledger is simple because the parties agree as to the

citizenship of Defendants. When Walker filed her complaint, Wilbur was a resident and citizen

of the District of Columbia. See Decl. of Thomas Wilbur, ¶ 1. Whereas individuals are residents

of only one state, “[u]nincorporated associations, including LLCs, have the citizenship of each of

their members.” CostCommand, LLC v. WH Administrators, Inc.,

(D.C. Cir.

2016). Defendant 2100 LLC, as a Delaware limited liability company, is a Delaware citizen as

well as a citizen of the District of Columbia through its member, Wilbur. See id. ¶¶ 1, 3–4.

For purposes of removal, therefore, Walker is a citizen of Maryland, 2100 LLC is a

citizen of the District of Columbia, and Wilbur is a citizen of the District of Columbia, and there

is complete diversity of citizenship between Plaintiff and Defendants. The amount in

controversy in this case also exceeds $75,000. See Compl. at 14; see also

(a)(1)

(providing that district courts “shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions where the matter

in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs” when the

action “is between . . . citizens of different states”). But finding complete diversity does not

conclude the Court’s analysis here because a “civil action otherwise removable solely on the

basis of” the Court’s diversity jurisdiction “may not be removed if any of the parties in interest

properly joined and served as defendants is a citizen of the State in which such action is

brought.”

(a)(b)(2).

B. Removal is Improper under the Forum-Defendant Rule

Under the forum-defendant rule, removal based on diversity jurisdiction is not available

where one of the defendants “properly joined and served” is a citizen of the state where the

9 action is brought.

(b)(2). Defendants admit they are citizens of the District of

Columbia, the “state” in which Walker originally brought her suit. See Not. of Removal ¶ 20.

Defendants argue, however, that the forum-defendant rule does not preclude them from

removing this case because neither defendant was “properly joined and served.” See

.

They argue that Walker failed to properly serve both Defendants by neglecting to submit proof

that either signed and returned the Notice and Acknowledgment form “pursuant to D.C. Superior

Court Rule 4(c)(4).” See

¶¶ 22–25. In response, Walker argues that her method of service

was proper under D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4) and that Defendants inaccurately cite to D.C.

Superior Court Rule 4(c)(5). See Mot. to Remand at 6–7, 10–11. Walker is correct.

D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4) provides, in relevant part, that defendants “may be

served by mailing a copy of the summons, complaint, Initial Order, any addendum to that order,

and any other order directed by the court to the parties at the time of filing to the person to be

served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.” D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P.

4(c)(4) (emphasis added). Walker served Wilbur in that manner: Wilbur admits that Walker sent

him an envelope via USPS certified mail containing a copy of the Summons, Complaint, and a

Notice of Remote Initial Scheduling Conference, in addition to a Notice and Acknowledgment

Form. See Not. of Removal ¶ 4; see also Ex. A, Mot. to Remand.

Defendants’ argument that Walker’s service was deficient appears to stem from their

reliance on an outdated version of D.C. Superior Court Rule 4 and associated case law, revised in

2017. 3 In that revision, the first-class mail “Rule 4(c)(4)” to which Defendants cite was

reindexed to Rule 4(c)(5). Under the current rules, D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4) refers to the

3 See Rule Promulgation Order 17-02, Amending Super. Ct. Civ. R. 1 to 86-I, https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/Rule-Promulgation-Order%2017-02- AmendingCivilRules1to86-I.pdf.

10 certified mail method by which Walker effectuated service. While D.C. Superior Court Rule

4(c)(5)—using first class mail—requires that a plaintiff obtain a signed and returned Notice and

Acknowledgment form to perfect service, see D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(5); Jefferson v. Am.

Home Mortg. Servicing, Inc., No. 12-cv-911,

, at *1 (D.D.C. Oct. 11, 2012),

D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4)—the certified mail method used by Walker—does not require

a signed and returned notice, see D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(4). Here, Walker opted for the

certified mail option; hence, contrary to Defendant’s argument, it is irrelevant whether they

signed and returned a Notice and Acknowledgement form.

In their opposition to Walker’s motion to remand, Defendants make an unpersuasive

fallback argument. Defendants argue that regardless of whether Walker accomplished service

under D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4) or 4(c)(5), her service could not have been perfected

until she submitted an affidavit of proof of service in D.C. Superior Court. See Defs.’ Opp’n to

Remand at 8. Defendants assert that because Plaintiff did not file an affidavit of service until

March 10, 2024, two days after Defendants filed their Notice of Removal on March 8, 2024, the

forum defendant rule does not apply because neither Defendant was properly joined and served

prior to removal. See

However, the sole authority upon which Defendants rely relates only to the old D.C.

Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4)—the current version of which is D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(5)—

and does not bear on the certified mail method utilized by Walker under the current iteration of

D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4). See Jefferson,

, at *1. Although the D.C.

Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure require proof of service “unless service is

acknowledged,” see D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(l)(1), “failure to prove service does not affect

the validity of service,” see D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(l)(3); see also D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P.

11 5-I(c); Alexander v. Polinger Co.,

(D.C. 1985) (recognizing distinction

between “insufficient proof of service” and “invalid service”). Under Superior Court Civil Rule

4(c)(4) service by certified mail is accomplished when the required documents are delivered to,

and signed by, the defendant by means of “registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.”

D.C. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(4). On its face, the rule does not require that Walker file an

affidavit to complete the service process. See id.; see also Powell v. Batipps,

, 10 (D.C. 2011) (explaining that “when certified mail is used” for service, “service is

accomplished when the return receipt is signed and dated noting receipt”).

Wilbur admits having received the summons and complaint at his address and does not

dispute notice. See Not. of Removal ¶¶ 4–5. Wilbur does not contest the validity of the signed

and dated certified mail receipt, see Ex. A, Mot. to Remand, nor do Defendants challenge the

substantive adequacy of Plaintiff’s proof of service, only its timing, see Defs.’ Opp’n to Remand

at 8. Regardless of the time she filed her affidavits of proof of service, Walker validly served

Wilbur pursuant to D.C. Superior Court Rule 4(c)(4) before Defendants removed this case.

Accordingly, Defendant’s cannot utilize this Court’s diversity jurisdiction because of the forum

defendant rule.

Separately, Defendants argue that Walker’s service on 2100 LLC was defective because

she mailed 2100 LLC’s service package to Wilbur, who is not authorized to accept service on

behalf of 2100 LLC. See Not. of Removal ¶ 26; Decl. of Thomas Wilbur ¶¶ 9–10, Ex. 5, Not. of

Removal; see also Business Registration, Ex. 6, Not. of Removal, ECF No. 1-6. For the

purposes of removal here, however, the validity of service on 2100 LLC is irrelevant. The

forum-defendant rule “bars removal if any of the defendants in interest are . . . properly joined

and served and citizens of the state in which the action is brought.” Doe,

, at *3

12 (emphasis added);

(b)(2). Because at least one of the forum Defendants was

properly joined and served by Walker—here, Wilbur—removal based on diversity jurisdiction is

improper under the forum-defendant rule regardless of whether 2100 LLC was properly joined

and served.

There is no out-of-state defendant here, see Not. of Removal ¶ 20, and this Court follows

the “uniformly accepted” principle that a defendant properly sued and served in their home state

cannot remove if federal jurisdiction rests on diversity of citizenship. See Newman,

, at *2. Therefore, the Court concludes that removal was improper under

(b). 4

V. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion to remand this case (ECF No. 11) is

GRANTED. An order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is separately and

contemporaneously issued.

Dated: August 20, 2024 RUDOLPH CONTRERAS United States District Judge

4 Because the Court remands this case to Superior Court, it does not reach Defendants’ motion to dismiss. But the Court notes that in their motion to dismiss, Defendants have not moved to dismiss on the basis of improper service, thus, perhaps waiving that argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h).

13