Robert Martin v. Citibank, NA
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
I.
BACKGROUND
On February 22, 2024, plaintiff Robert Martin (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se, filed a Complaint against defendant Citibank, NA (“Defendant”) in San Bernardino County Superior Court, alleging Defendant “froze[]” Plaintiff’s bank account and Plaintiff no longer has access to deposited funds. ECF Docket No. (“Dkt.”) 1 at 7-13. Plaintiff seeks $8,600 in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages. Id. at 12-13.
On August 16, 2024, Defendant removed the action to this Court, asserting diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Id. at 1-3.
On August 20, 2024, the Court issued an Order to Show Cause why this action should not be remanded for lack of subject matter jurisdiction on the grounds (1) Defendant fails to adequately allege its citizenship, and (2) Plaintiff’s claim for $10 million in punitive damages is not sufficiently plausible to satisfy the amount in controversy requirement. Dkt. 8. The Court further ordered Defendant to show cause why Defendant and defense counsel should not be sanctioned in the amount of $500.00 each for improper removal. Id.
On August 27, 2024, Defendant filed a Response to the Court’s August 20, 2024 Order to…