UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

TONY E. BELL, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 24-0392 (UNA) ) SCF INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC., et al., ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION This matter is before the Court on review of Tony E. Bell’s application to proceed in

forma pauperis (Dkt. #2), his emergency motion (Dkt. #4) and pro se complaint (Dkt. #1. The

Court GRANTS the application, DENIES the motion as moot, and DISMISSES the complaint

without prejudice.

Plaintiff, a resident of Sacramento, California, brings this action against two corporations,

both conducting business in San Diego, California. See Compl. at 1-2. His claims appear to

arise from a business relationship gone wrong, see generally id., Ex. (ECF No. 1-1 at 1-3), and

plaintiff demands compensatory and punitive damages, see id., Ex. (ECF No. 1-1 at 3).

The subject matter jurisdiction of the federal district courts is limited and is set forth

generally at

and 1332. Under these statutes, federal jurisdiction is available

when a “federal question” is presented or when the parties are of diverse citizenship and the

amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. “For jurisdiction to exist under

, there

must be 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) (citing Owen Equip. & Erection Co. v. Kroger,

(1978)). A party

1 seeking relief in the district court must at least plead facts that bring the suit within the Court’s

jurisdiction. See FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a).

This case does not present a federal question and plaintiff invokes diversity jurisdiction.

See Compl. at 3. Because all the parties reside or conduct business in California, even though

the amount in controversy exceeds the $75,000 threshold, plaintiff fails to demonstrate complete

diversity between the parties. Therefore, the Court must dismiss the complaint for lack of

subject matter jurisdiction.

A separate order will issue.

DATE: March 18, 2024 RANDOLPH D. MOSS United States District Judge

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