Rene Tonelli v. Anheuser Busch Commercial Strategy, LLC

Case 2:23-cv-00051-SB-KS Document Filed 03/13/ Page 1 of Page ID #:364

JS-

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RENE TONELLI, Case No. 2:23-cv-00051-SB-KS Plaintiff, v. ORDER GRANTING

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO

ANHEUSER-BUSCH REMAND [DKT. NO. 14]

COMMERCIAL STRATEGY, LLC et al., Defendants. Plaintiff Rene Tonelli, a citizen of California, filed this action in state court against Defendants Anheuser-Busch Commercial Strategy, LLC, Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Anheuser-Busch, LLC, and Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC (together, AB Defendants),1 and Margaret Drust alleging state law employment claims following his termination. Defendants removed on the basis of diversity jurisdiction, alleging that Plaintiff is a citizen of California and the AB Defendants are citizens of Missouri, Delaware, and New York. Dkt. No. 1. Although Drust is a California citizen, which means that there is not complete diversity between the parties as required to invoke diversity jurisdiction, Defendants argue that Drust is a sham defendant who was fraudulently joined. Id. ¶¶ 27–30. Plaintiff…