UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION

GECKO DEVELPMENT CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No: 2:21-cv-463-SPC-NPM

RALPH BENJAMIN O’NEAL, JR. ,

Defendant. / OPINION AND ORDER1 Before the Court is a sua sponte review of the file. Plaintiff Gecko Development Corporation brings this diversity action against Defendant Ralph O’Neal, Jr. Since Gecko Development is proceeding in federal court, it must show the parties are completely diverse with an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000.

(a); Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Servs., Inc.,

(2005). And district courts are “obligated to inquire into subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte whenever it may be lacking.” Univ. of S. Ala. v. Am. Tobacco Co.,

(11th Cir. 1999).

1 Disclaimer: Documents hyperlinked to CM/ECF are subject to PACER fees. By using hyperlinks, the Court does not endorse, recommend, approve, or guarantee any third parties or the services or products they provide, nor does it have any agreements with them. The Court is also not responsible for a hyperlink’s availability and functionality, and a failed hyperlink does not affect this Order. The Complaint only alleges O’Neal is an individual residing in Alabama. This is not enough to establish his state citizenship for purposes of diversity

jurisdiction. “Citizenship, not residence, is the key fact that must be alleged in the complaint to establish diversity for a natural person.” Taylor v. Appleton,

(11th Cir. 1994). A party’s residence in a state—without more—is not enough to show citizenship. E.g., Travaglio v. Am. Express Co.,

(11th Cir. 2013). Rather, “[c]itizenship is equivalent to domicile for purposes of diversity jurisdiction.”

(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The Complaint, therefore, fails to correctly plead the citizenship of O’Neal. Because the Court cannot conclude it has jurisdiction,

the Court dismisses the complaint without prejudice. Gecko Development may file an amended complaint that adequately pleads subject-matter jurisdiction. See

. Accordingly, it is now

ORDERED: 1. Plaintiff’s Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice. 2. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint consistent with this Order on or before July 6, 2021. The failure to file a timely amended

complaint will result in the case being closed without further notice. DONE AND ORDERED in Fort Myers, FL on June 21, 2021.

tite POLSTER otal UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies: All Parties of Record