Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 1 of 78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE DIVISION JOHN DOE, v. Plaintiff, Case No. 4:17-cv-516 On removal from the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit, In and for Leon County, Florida, Case No. 2017-CA-002187 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY, an individual, Defendants. / DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF REMOVAL The Defendants FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY an individual, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1441, et seq, and 1446, and Local Rules 3.1(B) and 7.2 of the United States Court for the Northern District of Florida, hereby gives notice of the removal of an action pending in the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit, in and for Leon County, Florida, and in support of the removal, states the following: 1. Defendants desire to exercise their right under the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. 1441, et seq., to remove this action from the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit in and for Leon County, Florida, where it is now pending
Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 2 of 78 under the name and style of John Doe v. Florida State University Board of Trustees; Frank Denenberg, an individual; and Cody Hartley, an individual, Case No. 2017-CA-002187 (hereinafter referred to as the Circuit Court Action). The Circuit Court Action is of a civil nature over which the United States district courts have been given original jurisdiction and which may be promptly removed. See 28 U.S.C. 1331, 1343 and 1441. Specifically, Plaintiff s claims for damages include federal claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and 20 U.S.C. 1681-1688 (Title IX). See Exhibit A, Plaintiff s Complaint at 2, 3, 52 and 60-63. Moreover, this Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and spoliation, which form part of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United States Constitution as the federal claims. See 28 U.S.C. 1367. 2. Under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 1441, et seq., Defendants have the right to remove this cause from the Circuit Court Action to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, the district and division in which the action is currently pending. 3. Plaintiff served the summons and complaint upon Florida State University on October 25, 2017 and upon the individual Defendants on October 23, 2017. In accordance with the requirements of 28 U.S.C. 1446, this petition 2
Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 3 of 78 for removal is filed within 30 days after receipt of the initial pleading by the Defendants through service of the summonses and complaint. 4. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1446(a), Defendants have filed with this Notice of Removal, true and legible copies of Plaintiff s Complaint and all process, pleadings or orders on file in the state court as of the date of this Notice of Removal, including copies of the following documents served upon it or which have been filed in the Circuit Court Action: (a) Plaintiff s Complaint is attached hereto as Exhibit A. (b) The summonses that have been served on the Defendants at the time of this filing are attached hereto as Exhibit B. (c) Notice of Appearance on behalf of the Defendants by Henry Buchanan, P.A. served on November 13, 2017, is attached hereto as Exhibit C. 5. As set forth herein, the Defendants desire and are entitled to have this cause removed from the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit in and for Leon County, Florida, such being the district where suit is currently pending, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division. 6. Written notice of the filing of this petition will be given to the adverse parties as required by law. 3
Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 4 of 78 7. A true copy of this petition will also be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit in and for Leon County, Florida, as required by law. 8. All defendants consent to this removal. WHEREFORE, Defendants FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY, pray that this action be removed to this Court and that this Court accept jurisdiction and, henceforth, that this action be placed on the docket of this Court for further proceedings, the same as though this action had been originally instituted in this Court. Dated this 13th day of November 2017. HENRY BUCHANAN, P.A. s/ Miriam R. Coles J. STEVEN CARTER Florida Bar No. 896152 scarter@henryblaw.com MIRIAM R. COLES Florida Bar No. 58402 mcoles@henryblaw.com JOSEPH V. GARDNER Florida Bar No. 111987 jgardner@henryblaw.com Post Office Drawer 14079 Tallahassee, Florida 32317-4079 (850) 222-2920: Telephone (850) 224-0034: Facsimile 4
Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 5 of 78 Counsel for Defendants: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FRANK DENENBERG and CODY HARTLEY CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been electronically filed via the CM/ECF system and furnished via U.S. Mail to: Michael L. MacNamara (macnamara.law@gmail.com), The MacNamara Law Firm, P.A., Post Office Box 883, Tallahassee, Florida 32302 on this 13th day of November 2017. s/ Miriam R. Coles ATTORNEY 5
Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 6 of 78 Exhibit A to DEFENDANT S NOTICE OF REMOVAL Plaintiff s Complaint JOHN DOE v. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY, an individual USDC CASE NO: 4:17-cv-516
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Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 72 of 78 Exhibit B to DEFENDANT S NOTICE OF REMOVAL Summonses JOHN DOE v. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY, an individual 4:17-cv-516 USDC CASE NO:
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Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 76 of 78 Exhibit C to DEFENDANT S NOTICE OF REMOVAL Notice of Appearance on behalf of the Defendant by Henry Buchanan, P.A. JOHN DOE v. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY, an individual 4:17-cv-516 USDC CASE NO:
Filing # 64121986 Case E-Filed 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS 11/13/2017 04:06:23 Document PM 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 77 of 78 JOHN DOE, IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA v. Plaintiff, CASE NO.: 2017-CA-2187 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES; FRANK DENENBERG, an individual; and CODY HARTLEY, an individual, Defendants. / NOTICE OF APPEARANCE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the undersigned hereby notices the appearance of Henry Buchanan, P.A., J. Steven Carter, Joseph V. Gardner and Miriam R. Coles, as counsel of record on behalf of Defendants, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FRANK DENENBERG and CODY HARTLEY. The undersigned respectfully request inclusion with the party s service list respective to this cause. Dated this 13th day of November 2017. HENRY BUCHANAN, P.A. s/ Miriam R. Coles J. STEVEN CARTER Florida Bar No. 896152 scarter@henryblaw.com MIRIAM R. COLES Florida Bar No. 58402 mcoles@henryblaw.com JOSEPH V. GARDNER Florida Bar No. 111987 jgardner@henryblaw.com Post Office Drawer 14079 Tallahassee, Florida 32317-4079 (850) 222-2920: Telephone (850) 224-0034: Facsimile
Case 4:17-cv-00516-MW-CAS Document 1 Filed 11/13/17 Page 78 of 78 Counsel for Defendants: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FRANK DENENBERG and CODY HARTLEY CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been sent via the Florida Courts E-filing System which will send electronic notification to all counsel of record on this 13th day of November 2017. s/ Miriam R. Coles MIRIAM R. COLES