Procedural defects in a removal, such as untimeliness—i.e., more than 30 days after service if the complaint discloses that it is removable or more than a year after the complaint is filed—are waived unless the plaintiff files a timely motion for remand. The district court lacks authority to remand a removed case sua sponte for a procedural defect. Because the district court exceeded its authority in remanding this case for a procedural defect even though plaintiff failed to move for remand, the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to review and reverse the remand order under 28 USC 1447(d).
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Montgomery, J., sitting by designation); May 26, 2017; 2017 WL 2294764