Silvia Alfaro v. Banter by Piercing Pagoda

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

25 Plaintiff Silvia Alfaro initially filed this putative class action against Defendants 26 Zale Delaware, Inc. (“Zale”), Banter by Piercing Pagoda, Piercing Pagoda, Amanda 27 Horn, and unnamed does in Orange County Superior Court. (Dkt. 1 [Notice of Removal,

-1- Case 8:22-cv-00266-CJC-ADS Document Filed 04/29/ Page 2 of Page ID #:317

hereinafter “NOR”] ¶ 1; Dkt. 1-1, Ex. 1 [State Court Complaint, hereinafter “Compl.”].) Plaintiff alleges that Defendants violated several of California’s labor laws and regulations. (See Compl.) On February 8, 2022, Defendant Zale removed the action to this Court pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act or “CAFA.” (NOR ¶ 4.) Defendant maintains that the amount in controversy in this action exceeds CAFA’s threshold of $5,000,000. (Id. ¶¶ 23–75.) Plaintiff now moves to remand the case, arguing that Defendant has failed to show that the amount in controversy satisfies CAFA’s threshold. (Dkt. 12 [Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand, hereinafter “Mot.”].) For the following reasons, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED.1 10 II. LEGAL STANDARD AND DISCUSSION 12 “CAFA…