Alex Bear v. Republic Bancorp, Inc.
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
I. Background
This action concerns Plaintiff Alex Bear’s employment with Defendants Republic Bancorp, Inc., Republic Bank & Trust Company (CBank and Commercial Industrial Finance, Inc. merged with and into Republic Bank & Trust Company in 2023), and Scott Hawkins (“Defendants”). Notice of Removal Ex. 1, Complaint (Dkt. 1) ¶ 14-24. Plaintiff alleges that Republic Bank verbally abused and terminated him after Plaintiff took medical leave to care for his ailing pregnant wife and young children. See id.
Plaintiff originally filed suit in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, on October 6, 2023. Id. On November 17, 2023, Defendant removed the action to this Court, asserting diversity jurisdiction. Notice of Removal (Notice”) (Dkt. 1).
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
CIVIL MINUTES – GENERAL
Case No. 8:23-cv-02163-DOC-KES Date: November 28, 2023 Page
from state court to federal court is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1441, which provides in relevant part that “any civil action brought in a…