Goretzke v. Target Corporation
Plaintiff: Ashton Goretzke
Defendant: Target Corporation
Case Number: 4:2023cv02902
Filed: June 21, 2023
Court: US District Court for the District of South Carolina
Presiding Judge: R Bryan Harwell
Nature of Suit: P.I.: Other
Cause of Action: 28 U.S.C. ยง 1332 Diversity-Personal Injury
Jury Demanded By: Both
Docket Report

This docket was last retrieved on August 14, 2023. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER.

Date Filed Document Text
August 14, 2023 Opinion or Order Filing 19 CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 8/14/2024. (hcic, )
August 14, 2023 Opinion or Order Filing 18 TEXT ORDER granting #17 Motion for Confidentiality Order. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 8/14/2023. (hcic, )
August 11, 2023 Filing 17 MOTION for Confidentiality Order by Target Corporation. Response to Motion due by 8/25/2023. Add an additional 3 days only if served by mail or otherwise allowed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 45. Proposed order is being emailed to chambers with copy to opposing counsel.(Brown, Grace)
July 24, 2023 Filing 16 Local Rule 26.01 Answers to Interrogatories by Ashton Goretzke.(Evans, Scott)
July 24, 2023 Filing 15 DELETION OF DOCKET ENTRY NUMBER 14. Reason: 26(a)(1) Initial disclosures should be exchanged between parties only and not filed with the Court. (hcic, )
July 11, 2023 Opinion or Order Filing 13 CONSENT AMENDED CONFERENCE AND SCHEDULING ORDER: Motions to Amend Pleadings due by 12/20/2023, Plaintiffs ID of Expert Witness due by 1/20/2024, Defendants ID of Expert Witnesses Due by 2/20/2024, Records Custodian Affidavit due by 2/20/2024, Discovery due by 4/18/2024, Motions due by 5/2/2024, Rule 26(a)(3) Disclosures due by 6/19/2024, ADR Statement due by 5/5/2024, Mediation Due by 6/4/2024. Motions in limine must be filed at least three weeks prior to the date set for jury selection. Responses to motions in limine shall be filed within seven (7) days after the motion is filed. Parties shall furnish the Court pretrial briefs seven (7) days prior to the date set for jury selection. This case is subject to being called for jury selection and/or trial on or after 8/2/2024. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 7/10/2023. (hcic, )
July 10, 2023 Filing 12 Joint Rule 26 Outline of Discovery Plan by Target Corporation. (Brown, Grace) Modified on 7/11/2023 to remove proposed order (hcic, ).
July 6, 2023 Opinion or Order Filing 11 TEXT ORDER: Having reviewed the parties' responses to the Court's TEXT SUA SPONTE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE, the Court is satisfied that the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional amount and it has diversity jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1332. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 7/6/2023. (tmcb, )
July 5, 2023 Filing 9 RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE by Ashton Goretzke. (Evans, Scott)
June 30, 2023 Filing 8 RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE by Target Corporation. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit Email from Plaintiff counsel re stipulation regarding damages)(Brown, Grace)
June 26, 2023 Opinion or Order Filing 6 SUA SPONTE TEXT ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: The Defendant removed this case from state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1441 and 1446. Under 1441(a), a defendant is permitted to remove a case to federal court if the court would have had original jurisdiction over the matter. District courts have original jurisdiction "where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between... citizens of different States." 28 U.S.C. 1332(a)(1). In the instant case, the Defendant bases federal jurisdiction upon diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 1332. However, the Plaintiff did not specify any monetary amount of damages or clearly allege the jurisdictional amount in the Complaint, and the Defendant's notice of removal fails to allege facts adequate to establish that the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional amount. Thus, the amount in controversy is unclear, and this Court may lack diversity jurisdiction. Removal statutes are strictly construed against removal, and any doubts concerning the propriety of removal must be resolved in favor of retained state court jurisdiction. Marshall v. Manville Sales Corp., 6 F.3d 229, 232 (4th Cir. 1993). In addition,"[t]he party seeking removal bears the burden of demonstrating that removal jurisdiction is proper." In Re Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC, 460 F.3d 576, 583 (4th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). This includes establishing compliance with the removal statute requirements. See Marler v. Amoco Oil Co., 793 F. Supp. 656, 658-59 (E.D.N.C. 1992). Courts must narrowly interpret removal jurisdiction because of the significant federalism concerns that are raised by removing proceedings from state court. Id. Thus, all doubts are resolved in favor of remand. See Shamrock Oil & Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 313 U.S. 100, 108-09 (1941); see also Mulcahey v. Columbia Organic Chems. Co., Inc., 29 F.3d 148, 151 (4th Cir. 1994). THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that, not later than five calendar days from the filing of this Order, Defendant shall brief the Court and SHOW CAUSE why this case should not be remanded to the State court for the foregoing reasons. Plaintiff shall file a response not later than five calendar days thereafter and, in that response, include a clarification as to whether Plaintiff intended to pursue, at the time of filing the original complaint, damages in excess of the jurisdictional amount of $75,000. If Plaintiff did not intend to pursue damages adequate to satisfy the jurisdictional threshold at the time of filing and if Plaintiff stipulates to such limitation having a binding effect, the Court will remand this matter to state court. Failure to comply with this order may result in dismissal without prejudice of Plaintiff's case. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 6/26/2023. (tmcb, )
June 22, 2023 Opinion or Order Filing 5 CONFERENCE AND SCHEDULING ORDER: Rule 26(f) Conference Deadline 7/12/2023, 26(a) Initial Disclosures due by 7/26/2023, Rule 26 Report due by 7/26/2023, Motions to Amend Pleadings due by 9/20/2023, Plaintiffs ID of Expert Witness due by 10/20/2023, Defendants ID of Expert Witnesses Due by 11/20/2023, Records Custodian Affidavit due by 11/20/2023, Discovery due by 1/18/2024, Motions due by 2/2/2024, Rule 26(a)(3) Disclosures due by 3/19/2024, ADR Statement due by 2/3/2024, Mediation Due by 3/4/2024. Motions in limine must be filed at least three weeks prior to the date set for jury selection. Responses to motions in limine shall be filed within seven (7) days after the motion is filed. Parties shall furnish the Court pretrial briefs seven (7) days prior to the date set for jury selection. This case is subject to being called for jury selection and/or trial on or after 5/2/2024. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 6/22/2023. (hcic, )
June 21, 2023 Filing 4 ANSWER to Complaint (Notice of Removal) by Target Corporation. (hcic, )
June 21, 2023 Filing 3 Local Rule 26.01 Answers to Interrogatories by Target Corporation.(hcic, )
June 21, 2023 Filing 1 NOTICE OF REMOVAL from Horry County Court of Common Pleas, case number 2023-CP-26-03097 (filing fee $402 receipt number ASCDC-11169110), filed by Target Corporation. (Attachments: #1 State Court Documents)(hcic, )

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Plaintiff: Ashton Goretzke
Represented By: James Bernice Moore, III
Represented By: Scott Christopher Evans
Represented By: George Waller Bryan, III
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Defendant: Target Corporation
Represented By: Grace Gardner Brown
Represented By: Mark Steven Barrow
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