Janine Van Vleet v. Southwest Answering Service, Inc.

I. BACKGROUND

On July 8, 2024, Van Vleet filed this putative class action in California Superior Court, County of Los Angeles. Dkt. 1-1. Van Vleet brings claims against SAS for (1) failure to pay minimum wages; (2) failure to pay overtime wages; (3) failure to provide meal periods; (4) failure to provide rest breaks; (5) failure to reimburse business expenses; (6) failure to pay vested vacation; (7) failure to timely pay final wages; (8) failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements; and (9) unfair and unlawful competition. Id. On August 15, 2024, SAS removed this action based on diversity jurisdiction. Dkt. 1 (NOR) ¶ 7. Van Vleet is a citizen of California, and SAS is both incorporated in and has its principal place of business in Nevada. Id. ¶ 11. SAS alleges that “it is evident that this case exceeds the jurisdictional minimum.” Id. ¶ 17.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

“Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction” and “possess only that power authorized by [the] Constitution and statute . . . .” Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). A defendant may remove an action to federal court if the federal court could exercise subject matter…