The opinion
1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA
3 * * *
4 VERRASO, Case No. 2:24-cv-01885-CDS-EJY
5 Plaintiff,
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
6 v.
7 QUIANA BROWN,
8 Defendant.
9
10 Before the Court is Quiana Brown’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) and
11 Complaint for a Civil Case.1 ECF Nos. 1, 1-1. Brown’s IFP application is complete; however, she
12 fails to allege claims that fall or with amendment could fall within the Court’s jurisdiction and, for
13 this reason, the Court recommends this matter be dismissed without prejudice so that Brown may, if
14 she so chooses, proceed in state court.
15 I. Discussion
16 “Federal district courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, possessing only that power
17 authorized by Constitution and statute.” K2 Am. Corp. v. Roland Oil & Gas, LLC, 653 F.3d 1024,
18 1027 (9th Cir. 2011) (quotation omitted). Federal district courts “have original jurisdiction of all
19 civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
20 Federal district courts also have original jurisdiction over civil actions in diversity cases “where the
21 matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000” and where the matter is between
22 “citizens of different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). “Section 1332 requires complete diversity of
23 citizenship; each of the plaintiffs must be a citizen of a different state than each of the defendants.”
24 Morris v. Princess Cruises, Inc., 236 F.3d 1061, 1067 (9th Cir. 2001). Federal courts have the
25 jurisdiction to determine their own jurisdiction. Special Investments, Inc. v. Aero Air, Inc., 360 F.3d
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1 989, 992 (9th Cir. 2004). A court may raise the question of subject-matter jurisdiction sua sponte,
2 and it must dismiss a case if it determines it lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Id.; Fed. R. Civ. P.
3 12(h)(3).
4 Here, Brown, a Nevada resident, alleges claims against a Nevada entity arising from an
5 eviction proceeding in Nevada. ECF No. 1-1. Brown does not allege any claims arising under
6 federal statutes or the constitution and, therefore, does not invoke the Court’s federal question
7 jurisdiction. In addition, the parties are citizens of the same state, and Brown seeks relief only in the
8 form of postponement of an eviction. Id. See also ECF No. 1-3. As the party seeking to invoke the
9 court’s jurisdiction, Brown bears the burden of establishing jurisdiction exists, which she has not
10 and cannot do based on the allegations in the Complaint. See Naffe v. Frey, 789 F.3d 1030, 1040
11 (9th Cir. 2015).
12 II. Recommendation
13 Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the Complaint (ECF No. 1-
14 1) be dismissed without prejudice, but without leave to amend in federal court as the claims raised
15 are solely between parties who are citizens of the same state based on alleged violations of state or
16 local law.
17 IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that because Quiana Brown cannot state a claim based
18 on an alleged eviction the application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 1) be DENIED.
19 Dated this 11th day of October, 2024.
20
21
ELAYNA J. YOUCHAH
22 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
23
24 NOTICE
25 Pursuant to Local Rule IB 3-2, any objection to this Finding and Recommendation must be
26 in writing and filed with the Clerk of the Court within fourteen (14) days. The Supreme Court has
27 held that the courts of appeal may determine that an appeal has been waived due to the failure to file
1 held that (1) failure to file objections within the specified time and (2) failure to properly address
2 and brief the objectionable issues waives the right to appeal the District Court’s order and/or appeal
3 factual issues from the order of the District Court. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1157 (9th Cir.
4 1991); Britt v. Simi Valley United Sch. Dist., 708 F.2d 452, 454 (9th Cir. 1983).
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