Cressler v. Neuenschwander

• Decision Date: 20 June 1996
• Docket Number: Civil Action No. 95-CV-1034-DES.
• Citation: 930 F. Supp. 1458
• Parties: Leroy CRESSLER, Plaintiff, v. John Rapp NEUENSCHWANDER, M.D., and John Rand Neuenschwander, M.D., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Kansas

930 F. Supp. 1458

Leroy CRESSLER, Plaintiff, v. John Rapp NEUENSCHWANDER, M.D., and John Rand Neuenschwander, M.D., Defendants.

Civil Action No. 95-CV-1034-DES.

United States District Court, D. Kansas.

June 20, 1996.

Thomas Clayton Boone, Hays, KS, Gene E. Schroer, Schroer, Rice, P.A., Topeka, KS, for Larry E. Cressler.

Matthew L. Bretz, Gilliland & Hayes, P.A., Hutchinson, KS, for John Rapp Neuenschwander, M.D. and John Rand Neuenschwander, M.D.

Harry M. Bleeker, Watkins, Calcara, Rondeau & Friedeman, P.A., Great Bend, KS, for Ross E. Stadalman, M.D.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

SAFFELS, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on the defendants' Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction (Doc. 71).

I. BACKGROUND

Mr. Cressler filed this action on February 2, 1995. The plaintiff claimed, among other things, that Dr. John Rapp Neuenschwander, Dr. John Rand Neuenschwander, and Dr. Ross E. Stadalman negligently failed to diagnose and treat a malignant melanoma on his right foot. The plaintiff invoked the court's jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, stating that the defendants were residents of the State of Kansas, and that the plaintiff was a resident and citizen of the State of Colorado. On January 29, 1996, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, dismissing Dr. Stadalman as a defendant.

The plaintiff claims that he moved from Kansas to Limon, Colorado, on or about October 1, 1994, and that he was a domiciliary and resident of Colorado when he filed his original complaint in February 1995. Mr. Cressler states that he changed his domicile to Limon in order to be closer to Denver, where he was receiving medical treatment for his melanoma.

The defendants argue that the plaintiff never changed his domicile to Colorado. The defendants assert that because they and the plaintiff are all citizens of Kansas, diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1) is lacking, and the case must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

II. DISCUSSION

28 U.S.C. § 1332(a) provides that "the district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $50,000 ... and is between — (1) citizens of different States...." For purposes of diversity jurisdiction, a person is considered a citizen of the state in which he is domiciled. Crowley v. Glaze, 710 F.2d 676, 678 (10th Cir. 1983). Domicile is established by physical presence in a place accompanied by an intent to remain there. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30, 48, 109 S.Ct. 1597, 1608, 104 L.Ed.2d 29 (1989). A change of domicile is valid even if done for the purpose of creating diversity, Bank One, Texas, N.A. v. Montle, 964 F.2d 48, 53 (1st Cir.1992) (citing 1 James W. Moore, Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 0.743.-4 (2d ed. 1996)), and no minimum period of residence is required. Morris v. Gilmer, 129 U.S. 315, 328, 9 S.Ct. 289, 293, 32 L.Ed. 690 (1889).

Because the federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, however, there is a presumption against the existence of diversity jurisdiction. Basso v. Utah Power & Light Co., 495 F.2d 906, 909 (10th Cir. 1974). Once allegations of diversity have been challenged, the party invoking federal jurisdiction must prove citizenship by a preponderance of the evidence. Mid-Continent Pipe Line Co. v. Whiteley, 116 F.2d 871, 873 (10th Cir.1940). Courts have also recognized a presumption of an established domicile over a newly acquired one. Bair v. Peck, 738 F.Supp. 1354, 1356 (D.Kan.1990). On the other hand, the place where a person lives is assumed to be his domicile unless the evidence establishes the contrary. District of Columbia v. Murphy, 314 U.S. 441, 455, 62 S.Ct. 303, 309-10, 86 L.Ed. 329 (1941); see also State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Dyer, 19 F.3d 514, 520 (10th Cir.1994) (a person's residence is his prima facie domicile).

Mr. Cressler argues that while the defendants may have demonstrated that he maintains residences in both Colorado and Kansas, he has but one domicile, which is located in Limon, Colorado. Where it appears that a party may have more than one residence, the court should use a "totality of evidence" approach to ascertain the party's intended domicile. Hicks v. Brophy, 839 F.Supp. 948, 950-51 (D.Conn.1993). Factors which courts often consider in determining a party's intent include the following:

1. Whether or not an individual votes where he claims domicile;

2. The manner in which an individual lives, taken in connection with his station in life, i.e., whether he rents or buys a home;

3. Whether his family and dependents have moved to the new residence;

4. Whether an individual's belongings have been moved to the new residence;

5. One's relationships with churches, clubs, and investments in the new residence;

6. Whether or not a place of abode is retained in the old state of residence;

7. Whether or not investments in local property or enterprise attach one to the former residence;

8. Whether one retains affiliations with professional, religious and fraternal life of the former community; and

9. What domicile is claimed for tax purposes.

Computer People, Inc. v. Computer Dimensions Int'l, Inc., 638 F.Supp. 1293, 1295 (M.D.La.1986) (citing District of Columbia v. Murphy, 314 U.S. 441, 62 S.Ct. 303, 86 L.Ed. 329 (1941)).

The parties have applied the above factors to reach conflicting conclusions. The court, having examined the pleadings, affidavits, and depositions of record, agrees with the plaintiff that the relevant factors indicate that the plaintiff's domicile lies in Colorado. See 13B Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Edward H. Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure § 3612, at 542 (2d ed. 1984) (noting materials court may consider in determining domicile).

A. Voting

This first factor, considered by many courts to be of special importance, weighs in the plaintiff's favor. See, e.g., Griffin v. Matthews, 310 F.Supp. 341, 343 (M.D.N.C.1969), aff'd, 423 F.2d 272 (4th Cir.1970); Jardine v. Intehar, 213 F.Supp. 598, 600 (S.D.W.Va. 1963) (voter registration raises presumption of citizenship). The plaintiff states in his affidavit that he registered to vote in Colorado in the fall of 1994, and that he has not voted in Kansas since moving to Limon.

B. Manner in which individual lives

Courts often examine the "manner in which an individual lives, taken in connection with his station in life, i.e., whether he rents or buys a home." The defendants point out that while Mr. Cressler owns two houses in Kansas, he rented a mobile home on a month-to-month basis upon his purported move to Colorado. According to the defendants, such a change in lifestyle indicates, at most, a temporary residence in Colorado.

The plaintiff states that when he relocated to Colorado in October 1994, he intended to purchase a conventional residence as soon as he could find a suitable property without steps and with wheelchair access. The plaintiff also represents that in January 1996, he did in fact purchase a home in Limon.

Whether diversity exists is determined at the time an action is commenced. Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. v. K.N. Energy, Inc., 498 U.S. 426, 428, 111 S.Ct. 858, 859-60, 112 L.Ed.2d 951 (1991). The relevant time period for our inquiry is therefore February 1995, at which time the plaintiff still rented a mobile home. Such a "manner of living" would seem inconsistent with the plaintiff's lifestyle in Kansas. Mr. Cressler's claim that it took time to locate an accessible residence, however, seems wholly plausible to the court. The plaintiff's subsequent purchase of a residence in Limon also lends credence to the plaintiff's claim that he intended from the beginning to purchase a home. The court therefore finds that the plaintiffs "manner of living" in Colorado does not contradict his claim of a Colorado domicile.

C. Whether plaintiff and his family have moved to new residence

The defendants assert that the plaintiff continued to provide his Kansas address to various third parties after October 1994, thereby demonstrating that he still resided in Kansas. The defendants also refer the court to the fact that the plaintiff had prescriptions filled in Kansas through February 1995.

Mr. Cressler, however, has provided the court with numerous receipts from businesses in Limon, indicating his physical presence in the community. The plaintiff has also produced documentation of telephone, television cable, and newspaper service in Limon dating from 1994. The court finds that while the defendants have shown that the plaintiff continued to maintain a Kansas residence after February 1995, the plaintiff has proven that he also established a residence in Colorado.

D. Individual's belongings moved to new residence

The defendants refer the court to Mr. Cressler's July 11, 1995, deposition. The plaintiff testified that he maintained utility service at his log cabin in Kansas, that most of his furniture remained there, and that there was food in the refrigerator.

Mr. Cressler also testified, however, that he purchased new furniture for his Limon home, and the plaintiff provided several reasons for leaving many of his personal belongings in Kansas: the inability to move all of his belongings to Colorado before he bought a house there; the desire to divide some of the belongings among his children in Kansas; and the need to maintain a place for himself, his wife, and his daughter to stay when visiting in the area. The plaintiff also states that the Kansas residence is used by crews employed to harvest his crops. Again, the defendants have only shown that the plaintiff maintains a residence in Kansas, which the plaintiff does not dispute.

E. Relationships with churches, clubs, and investments at new residence

The plaintiff established a checking account in Limon in October 1994, and began having his Social Security checks deposited there. As for church and club affiliations, the plaintiff...