Finnell, et al. v. Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited, et al.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
Sharon Finnell, 	Case No. 3:26-cv-196
an individual, on behalf of herself and all
statutory beneficiaries of Douglas Finnell, deceased,
Plaintiff,
v. 	ORDER
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, et al.,
Defendants.
On January 23, 2026, Plaintiff Sharon Finnell filed this action, invoking the court’s original
diversity jurisdiction to assert Ohio law claims against the Defendants. (Doc. Nos. 1 and 3).
For a district court to have original diversity jurisdiction over a case, complete diversity must
exist between the parties to the dispute. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). To satisfy the diversity jurisdiction
requirements, the dispute must be between citizens of different states. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). The
citizenship of an individual is determined by the domicile of an individual. See Certain Interested
Underwriters at Llyod’s, London, England v. Layne, 26 F.3d 39, 41 (6th Cir. 1994) (citing Von Dunser v.
Aronoff, 915 F.2d 1071, 1072 (6th Cir. 1990)). And “a corporation shall be deemed to be a citizen of
every State and foreign state by which it has been incorporated and of the State or foreign state
where it has its principal place of business.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1).
In the Complaint, Plaintiff states she “is an individual and resident of Muskingum County,
Ohio,” (Doc. No. 1 at 2), and states nothing to suggest her residency is not also her domicile.
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Plaintiff also states, “Defendant Terry Henricks Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep, Inc. is an Ohio
Corporation doing business in Archbold, Ohio in the County of Fulton.” (Id. at 5).
Based on these facts stated in the Complaint, I conclude both Plaintiff and Defendant Terry
Henricks Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep, Inc. are citizens of Ohio. And because complete diversity
does not exist, I dismiss this case without prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
So Ordered.
s/ Jeffrey J. Helmick
United States District Judge
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