F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
JAN 31 2002
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
MICHAEL SANCHEZ,
Plaintiff - Counter-Defendant - No. 01-2239
Appellant,
v. (D.C. No. CIV-00-1747-M/LFG)
BEATRICE SANCHEZ; MARK (D. New Mexico)
GARCIA; LUANNA GARCIA; ROSS
CHAVEZ, doing business as Hog
Heaven; CLIFF MCINTYRE;
SAMUEL BEHAR; YVETTE
GARDUNO-RODARTE; and RAY
DURAN,
Defendants - Appellees,
TOM GORDON,
Defendant - Counter-Claimant -
Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before SEYMOUR and McKAY, Circuit Judges, and BRORBY, Senior Circuit
Judge.
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this panel has
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G).
The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Mr. Sanchez filed state law tort claims against Defendants in federal
district court asserting diversity jurisdiction. When Mr. Sanchez filed his
complaint, all Defendants were residents of New Mexico. Mr. Sanchez was a
resident of New Mexico prior to his incarceration. Mr. Sanchez is currently
incarcerated at La Tuna Federal Prison which is located partially in New Mexico
and partially in Texas. Because of this, Mr. Sanchez claimed that he was a citizen
of Texas when he filed his complaint. The district court concluded that Mr.
Sanchez was a citizen of New Mexico because he resided in New Mexico prior to
his incarceration and dismissed Mr. Sanchez’s action without prejudice for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction.
We agree with the district court that Mr. Sanchez is a citizen of New
Mexico. His current incarceration at La Tuna and his assertion that he intends to
stay in Texas after his incarceration are not enough to change Mr. Sanchez’s legal
residency. Additionally, we cannot find error in the district court’s denial of Mr.
Sanchez’s Motion to Reconsider and Amend Judgment and Motion for Leave to
File Amendment.
After a thorough review of the briefs and the record, and for substantially
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the same reasons set forth in the district court’s well-reasoned June 29, 2001
Order, we hold that no relief is available to Mr. Sanchez.
Appellant’s complaint is DISMISSED.
Entered for the Court:
Monroe G. McKay
Circuit Judge
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