United States Ninth Circuit

The forum defendant rule contained in 28 U.S.C. section 1441(b) is procedural, not jurisdictional, and therefore a violation of the rule is a waivable defect in the removal process that cannot form the basis for a district court's sua sponte remand order.

Appellate Information

• Argued 05/04/2006
• Decided 07/27/2006
• Published 07/27/2006

Judges

• PAEZ, Circuit Judge:, Before: HAWKINS and PAEZ, Circuit Judges, and WAKE, District Judge.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Richard M. Koep and James A. Rossi, Crandall Wade & Lowe, Calabasas, CA, for the defendant-appellant., Leonard M. Tavera, Towle, Denison, Smith & Tavera, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for the plaintiff-appellee.