Michael Freeman v. Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, LLC
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
I. Background
This action arises from Defendant’s alleged discrimination and wrongful termination of Plaintiff during Plaintiff’s approximate year-long employment with Defendant. See generally Complaint, Freeman v. Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC., et al., No. 30-2023-0305162--CU-OE-NJC (Cal. Sup. Ct. filed Jan. 30, 2023) (“State Court Complaint”) (Dkt. 1-2). Plaintiff alleges that he was employed by Defendant for Case 8:23-cv-00441-DOC-JDE Document Filed 03/16/ Page 2 of Page ID #:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES – GENERAL
Case No. 8:23-cv-00441-DOC-JDE Date: March 16, 2023
Page
approximately one year between March 2021 to March 2022. Id. ¶¶ 2, 5, 7. According to Plaintiff, he earned an hourly wage of $15.00 and was a full-time, non-exempt employee and worked approximately 40 hours a week. Id. ¶¶ 5, 23, 24, 36.
II. Legal Standard
“If at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case shall be remanded.” 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). Removal of a case from state court to federal court is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1441, which provides in…