2:16-cv-00862

Case 2:16-cv-00862 Document 1 Filed 02/08/16 Page 1 of 89 Page ID #:95

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NOTICE OF REMOVAL

NOTICE OF REMOVAL

Please take notice that Defendant Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

(“ICANN”) hereby removes the above-captioned action (“Action”) to this Court from the

Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles. As set forth below, ICANN

has complied with the statutory requirements for removal under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441 and 1446, and

this Court has diversity jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).

BACKGROUND

1. On January 20, 2016, Plaintiff DotConnectAfrica Trust (“DCA”) filed a Complaint

(“Complaint”) against ICANN in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los

Angeles, Case Number BC607494. Plaintiff brings claims for: (1) breach of contract;

(2) intentional misrepresentation; (3) negligent misrepresentation; (4) fraud and conspiracy to

commit fraud; (5) unfair competition in violation of California Business & Professions Code

§ 17200, et seq.; and (6) negligence. Plaintiff’s Complaint relates to ICANN’s consideration of

an application that Plaintiff submitted to ICANN to operate the .AFRICA top-level domain.

Among other relief, Plaintiff seeks compensatory, general, and punitive damages. (See Exhibit A

(Complaint).)

2. ICANN received a copy of the Complaint on January 21, 2016 and was served on

February 6, 2016. Consequently, this removal petition is timely filed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)

(requiring removal within 30 days of receipt of initial pleading).

3. Removal to the Central District of California is proper because this District

includes Los Angeles County, California. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a); see also 28 U.S.C. § 84(c)(2)

(providing that the Central District of California, Western Division, includes Los Angeles

County).

4. Defendants will file a copy of this Notice of Removal with the clerk of the

Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, and will serve a copy on

Plaintiff, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1446(d).

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EXHIBIT A

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Redacted - GAC Designated Confidential Information

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