Gossow v. Sportera Events USA, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
SARAH A. GOSSOW,
Plaintiff,
v.
SPORTERA EVENTS USA, INC.,
Defendant.
Case No. 25-cv-01697-JPG
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
In light of Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals admonitions, see Page v. Dem. Nat’l Comm.,
2 F.4th 630, 634 (7th Cir. 2021) (citing Great S. Fire Proof Hotel Co. v. Jones, 177 U.S. 449,
453 (1900)); Foster v. Hill, 497 F.3d 695, 696–97 (7th Cir. 2007), the Court has undertaken a
rigorous initial review of pleadings to ensure that jurisdiction has been properly pled. See Page,
2 F.4th at 634 (federal courts “must make their own inquiry to ensure that all statutory
requirements are met before exercising jurisdiction”); Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 559 U.S. 77, 94
(2010) (noting courts’ “independent obligation to determine whether subject-matter jurisdiction
exists, even when no party challenges it”). The Court has noted the following defect in the
jurisdictional allegations of the Complaint (Doc. 1) filed by Plaintiff Sarah Gossow:
1. 	Failure to allege the citizenship of a corporation. A corporation is a citizen of both the
state of its principal place of business and the state of its incorporation. 28 U.S.C. §
1332(c)(1); Page v. Dem. Nat’l Comm., 2 F.4th 630, 635 (7th Cir. 2021). The complaint
must affirmatively allege the specific states of incorporation and principal place of
business of a corporate party. Dismissal is appropriate if a plaintiff fails to make such
allegations. Indiana Hi-Rail Corp. v. Decatur Junction Ry. Co., 37 F.3d 363, 366 n.3 (7th
Cir. 1994).
The Court hereby ORDERS that Plaintiff shall have up to and including December 4,
2025, to amend the faulty pleading to correct the jurisdictional defect. See 28 U.S.C. § 1653.
Failure to amend the faulty pleading may result in dismissal of this case for lack of subject
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matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff need not seek leave of Court to file the amended pleading.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: 	November 4, 2025
s/ J. Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
United States District Judge
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