Madonna Hanes v. Rosa Washington
Opinion
trial_court Opinion
I. BACKGROUND
On September 9, 2025, Madonna Hanes (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint for unlawful detainer against defendants Rosa Washington, Kenneth Washington, Bernard Augustine, and Yesenia Augustine in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Riverside. (Id. at 5.) On September 9, 2025, Defendant removed the action to this Court pursuant to federal question jurisdiction. (Id. at 2.) Defendant additionally filed a request to proceed in forma pauperis.1 (Dkt. No. 3.)
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1 The Court is in receipt of Plaintiff’s motion to remand (Dkt. No. 4.) However, two of the four pages of the document are illegible in violation of L.R. 11-.3.1 and the document appears to have been filed by Defendant. Accordingly, the Court STRIKES Plaintiff’s motion to remand.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a), a defendant may remove a matter to federal court where the district court would have original jurisdiction. Caterpillar, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987). Federal courts have limited jurisdiction, “possessing only that power authorized by Constitution and statute.” Gunn v. Minton, 568 U.S. 251, 256 (2013).