Stephen M. Farmer v. Foot Locker Retail, Inc. et al

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

On August 7, 2025, Stephen M. Farmer (“Plaintiff”) initiated this action in California state court against Foot Locker Retail, Inc. (“Foot Locker”) and “Employee Doe” (collectively, “Defendants”), asserting state law claims. (ECF No. 1-1.) On October 9, 2025, Foot Locker removed the action to this Court based on diversity jurisdiction. (ECF No. 1.) On November 7, 2025, Plaintiff filed the operative Corrected First Amended Complaint (“FAC”), identifying “Employee Doe” as “Employee Sam.” (ECF No. 16.) In the FAC, Plaintiff asserts that he is a citizen of California, Foot Locker is a citizen of New York, and “Employee Sam,” who at one of Foot Locker’s California stores, is a citizen of California. Plaintiff has not brought any claims under federal law. Presently before the Court is Plaintiff's Motion to Remand the Case to Los Angeles Superior Court. (ECF No. 24.) For the following reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiff's Motion.

IL. JUDICIAL STANDARD

Defendants may remove when a case originally filed in state court presents a federal question or is between citizens of different states and involves an amount in controversy that exceeds…