OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiffs Entela Macuka and Vasil Macuka filed this action on July 2, 2018 against defendants Le Creuset of America, Inc. (“Le Creuset”) and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (“Williams-Sonoma”). The complaint alleges a variety of claims resulting from plaintiffs’ purchase of six items of Le Creuset cookware, at least some of which were purchased at Williams-Sonoma. According to plaintiffs, the cookware was defective in that it contained “blemishes and/or discoloration […] in the form of rust and/or nickel,” (Complaint, Dkt. No. 1, at 31), and plaintiffs fear these defects may “cause dangerous side effects and injuries due to exposure to corrosive rust and/or nickel deposits.” (Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Support of Motion, Dkt. No. 21, at 2). On September 27, 2018, defendant Williams-Sonoma, Inc. filed a pre-motion conference letter in anticipation of a motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6) based on an alleged lack of personal jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. At the subsequent pre-motion conference on November 15, 2018, I sua sponte ordered plaintiffs to show cause how this court has subject matter jurisdiction based on my concerns that the allegations in the complaint do not appear to satisfy the amount in controversy requirement for diversity jurisdiction. (Transcript of November 15, 2018 Pre-Motion Conference at 20:2-4).FACTUAL BACKGROUNDPlaintiffs allege that they purchased a Le Creuset 9 1/2 Quart Signature Cast-Iron Matte Oval Dutch Oven from Williams-Sonoma in or about May 2016. (Compl. at 26). Over a year later, in or about July 2017, plaintiffs noticed some discoloration, which they believed to be deterioration in the form of rust and/or nickel. (Compl. at
30-31). As a result of this observation, plaintiffs stopped using the cookware. (Compl. at 32). Seven months later, in or about February 2018, plaintiffs purchased a Le Creuset 7 1/4 Quart Signature Cast-Iron Matte Round Dutch Oven from Williams-Sonoma. (Compl. at 33). According to plaintiffs, before using this cookware, they noticed similar discoloration in the form of “blotches of brownish stain.” (Compl. at 36). Based on these observations, plaintiffs never attempted to use the cookware. (Compl. at 38). The following month, plaintiffs purchased a Le Creuset 3 Quart Casserole with Lid, a Le Creuset 1.75 Quart Saucepan with Lid, a Le Creuset 2 Quart Heart saucepan with Lid, and a Le Creuset 1.25 Quart Saucepan with Lid. (Compl. at 39). Plaintiffs claim that they noticed the same “blotches of brownish stain” on the new items of cookware upon removing them from the box, and therefore never used any of them. (Compl. at
