Sharon L. Stevenson v. Employment Security Dept.

FILED IN THE 2 U.S. DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 3 Feb 17, 2026 4 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 5 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON SHARON L. STEVENSON, 9 Plaintiff, No. 2:26-cv-00022-SAB 10 v. EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPT., ORDER OF REMAND 12 Defendant.

14 Before the Court are Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint, ECF No. 7, and Defendant’s Motion to Remand, ECF No. 9. Plaintiff is appearing pro se. Defendant is represented by Marya E. Colignon and Nicholas Quijas. The Motions were considered without oral argument.

18 Plaintiff ostensibly removed this matter from Spokane County Superior Court on January 15, 2026. However, the Ninth Circuit has explicitly held that the right to remove a state case to federal court is limited to defendants. Am. Int'l Underwriters (Philippines), Inc. v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 843 F.2d 1253, 1260 (9th Cir. 1988); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1441. Section 1441(a) (“any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant or the defendants”) (emphasis added).

26 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 27 1. The above-captioned case is REMANDED to Spokane County Superior Court.

1 2. Defendant’s Motion to Remand, ECF No. 9, is GRANTED.

3. Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint, ECF No. 7, DISMISSED AS MOOT.

IT IS SO ORDERED. The District Court Executive is hereby directed to 5|| file this Order, provide copies to counsel, and close the file.

DATED this 17th day of February 2026.

10 Chief United States District Judge