Knight v. Huntington Ingalls Incorporated (2019)

Our plain-English summary of Knight v. Huntington Ingalls Incorporated (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, May 31, 2019).

The family of Wayne A. Knight sued in Louisiana state court in 2017, naming Huntington Ingalls (formerly Avondale) and others. Plaintiffs allege he developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure while working at Avondale Shipyard from 1967 to 1982. His wife and one son sued first. Two other children later intervened, including a strict liability claim. The Avondale defendants removed the case to federal court under the federal officer removal statute, arguing they built vessels for the federal government and have federal defenses. The plaintiffs moved to sever their claims and remand, and the intervenors moved to remand or for the court to abstain, citing a disclaimer of claims arising from work under federal direction. The court denied both motions without prejudice. It found it premature on the current record to sever or remand. It also found abstention inappropriate, since removing the whole case left no parallel state case. The court said further discovery and possible summary judgment motions would build a better record.

We wrote this summary from the court's opinion with the help of AI. It is not the court's wording, and it is not legal advice. The full opinion is below.

The decision

• Court: U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
• Decided: May 31, 2019
• Docket: Civil Action No. 18-9421
• Stage: Jurisdiction, venue or removal
• State: Louisiana

Outcome. The court denied, without prejudice, the Knight family's motion to sever and remand and the intervenors' motion to remand or abstain, finding them premature and allowing further discovery and possible summary judgment motions; the Avondale defendants' removal stayed in place for now.

What the court held. On the present record it was premature to sever claims, remand, or abstain in a case removed under the federal officer removal statute, and Colorado River abstention appeared inapplicable because removal of the entire case left no parallel state action.

Issues decided: Government Contractor Defense and Removal, Trial Procedure and Discovery, Venue, Removal and Transfer.

The people and their exposure

• Wayne A. Knight: mesothelioma; died

Who	Work	Where	When	Products
Wayne A. Knight	employee at Avondale Shipyard (shipyards and maritime work)	Avondale Shipyard, Louisiana	1967-1982

The defendants

• Huntington Ingalls Incorporated (employer)
• Albert L. Bossier, Jr.
• Lamorak Insurance Company (insurer)

Decisions this opinion cites

Earlier decisions in our library that the court cited:

• Legendre v. Huntington Ingalls, Incorporated (U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2018). The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's order remanding the case to Louisiana state court, ruling that Huntington Ingalls (Avondale) failed to show the causal nexus needed for federal officer removal, so the Legendre brothers prevailed.

The court's opinion

The text below is Google Scholar's copy of the court's opinion, a public record. Numbers in brackets, such as [*921], mark where each page of the printed reporter begins.

JENNIFER E. KNIGHT, ET. AL.,

v.

HUNTINGTON INGALLS INCORPORATED, ET. AL., SECTION: "B" (4).

Civil Action No. 18-9421.

May 31, 2019.

United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana.

Jennifer E. Knight, Plaintiff, represented by Ashley Lynette Page, Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C., Alex S. Dunn, Jr., Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C., Lawrence J. Centola, III, Martzell & Bickford & Roshawn H. Donahue, Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C.

Wayne J. Knight, Erroneously referred to as Wayne A. Knight, Jr., Plaintiff, represented by Alex S. Dunn, Jr., Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C. & Roshawn H. Donahue, Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C.

Michael Knight & Debra Knight Houston, Intervenor Plaintiffs, represented by Scott R. Bickford, Martzell & Bickford, Lawrence J. Centola, III, Martzell & Bickford, Neil Franz Nazareth, Martzell & Bickford & Spencer R. Doody, Martzell & Bickford.

Debra Knight, Intervenor Plaintiff, represented by Lawrence J. Centola, III, Martzell & Bickford.

Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, formerly known as Avondale Industries, Inc., Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc., Avondale Shipyards, Inc., Defendant, represented by Brian C. Bossier, Blue Williams, LLP, Christopher Thomas Grace, III, Blue Williams, LLP, David Wayne O'Quinn, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edwin A. Ellinghausen, III, Blue Williams, LLP, Erin Helen Boyd, Blue Williams, LLP, Jasmine Najee Brown, Blue Williams, LLP, Laura M. Gillen, Blue Williams, LLP, Patrick Kevin Shockey, Blue Williams, LLP & Rhonda Goode Douglas, Blue Williams, LLP.

Arconic, Inc., formerly known as Alcoa Inc., Defendant, represented by Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP. Armstrong Pumps, Inc., Defendant, represented by Forrest Ren Wilkes, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC & Jason K. Elam, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC.

Aurora Pump Company, BWDAC, Inc, formerly known as BWD Automotive Corporation, Pneumo Abex Corporation, CertainTeed Corporation & Western Auto Supply Company, Defendants, represented by William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan & Stiles LLP, Arthur Wendel Stout, III, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP.

AutoZone, Inc., Defendant, represented by Edward T. Hayes, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Craig Michael Cousins, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Lee M. LeBouef, Leake & Andersson, LLP & Marc E. Devenport, Leake & Andersson, LLP. Borg-Warner Morse Tec LLC, As Successor-by-Merger to Borg-Warner Corporation, Defendant, represented by Christopher O. Massenburg, MG+M The Law Firm, Bradley Adam Hays, MG+M The Law Firm, Helen Meredith Buckley, MG+M The Law Firm, Jeanette Seraile-Riggins, MG+M The Law Firm, Meghan B. Senter, MG+M The Law Firm & Quinn Kelcie Brown, Dunlap Fiore LLC.

CBS Corporation, A Delaware Corp., f/k/a Viacom, Inc., Successor-by-Merger to CBS Corp., a Pennsylvania Corp., formerly known as Viacom, Inc., Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C. & Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C.

CP Chem Company LLC, formerly known as Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LLC, Defendant, represented by Kathleen F. Drew, Adams & Reese, LLP.

Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc., Defendant, represented by Michael D. Lonegrass, Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith & Rodger Gregory Green, Jr., Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith.

Dap, Inc., Defendant, represented by Forrest Ren Wilkes, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Kay Barnes Baxter, Foley & Mansfield, Ashley A. Edwards, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Georgia Noble Ainsworth, Kean Miller LLP, Jason K. Elam, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Margaret Adams Casey, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC & Martin James Dempsey, Jr., Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC.

Eagle, Inc., formerly known as Eagle Asbestos & Packing Co., Inc., Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Watson Redfearn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP, Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Nicole M. Loup, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP & Stephen Jared Austin, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

Flowserve Corporation, formerly known as Duriron Company, Inc., Defendant, represented by Christopher O. Massenburg, MG+M The Law Firm, Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Bradley Adam Hays, MG+M The Law Firm, Helen Meredith Buckley, MG+M The Law Firm, James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Jeanette Seraile-Riggins, MG+M The Law Firm, Meghan B. Senter, MG+M The Law Firm & Quinn Kelcie Brown, Dunlap Fiore LLC. Flowserve US Inc, As Successor-in-Interest to Durametallic Corporation, Solely as Successor to Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Edward Valves, Inc., McCanna Corporation, and Nordstrom Valves, Inc., Defendant, represented by Stacey Leigh Strain, Hubbard, Mitchell, Williams & Strain, PLLC.

General Electric Company, Lincoln Electric Company, Mueller Co. LLC, Trane US, Inc., formerly known as American Standard, Inc., Sterling Fluid Systems USA, LLC, formerly known as Peerless Pump Company & Foster Wheeler, LLC, Defendants, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C. & Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Defendant, represented by Robert S. Emmett, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, Gregory E. Bodin, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz & Kimberly C. Delk, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz.

Gould Electronics, Inc., Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to Bulldog & Gould Electronics, Inc., incorrectly named and served as Gould Electronics Inc., Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to Bulldog, Defendants, represented by Derek Robert Cusick, Tindell Symmes Estes & Cusick, PLLC.

Honeywell International, Inc., Defendant, represented by Glenn B. Adams, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, Corey D. Moll, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, Leandro Ryan Area, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, Matthew Edward Simmons, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson & Nancy Lee Cromartie, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson.

Ingersoll-Rand Company, Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to Terry Steam Turbine Company, Defendant, represented by Richard Munice Crump, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC, McNeil James Kemmerly, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC & Shelley K. Napolitano, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC. International Paper Company, Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to U.S. Plywood Corporation, Champion International Corporation, Defendant, represented by Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Daniel S. Roberts, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Jason K. Elam, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Thomas Peyton Smith, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

John Crane Inc, Defendant, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lacey Sarver Goss, Lacey Sarver Goss, Attorney at Law, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Meredith R. Durham, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

Rockwell Automation, Inc., Individually and Successor-in-Interest to Rostone Corporation, Defendant, represented by Richard P. Sulzer, Sulzer & Williams, LLC, Nicole M. Loup, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP & Robert Edward Williams, IV, Sulzer & Williams, LLC.

Taylor-Seidenbach, Inc., Defendant, represented by Christopher Kelly Lightfoot, Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP, Edward J. Lassus, Jr., Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP & Richard J. Garvey, Jr., Hailey,

McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP.

Uniroyal Inc, Defendant, represented by Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Amy Louise Maccherone, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

Viking Pump, Inc., Defendant, represented by Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC & James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

Whitney Automotive Group, Inc, Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to J.C. Whitney & Co., Defendant, represented by Michael R. Barnes, Jude & Jude, PLLC.

Travelers Indemnity Company, Defendant, represented by Kristopher T. Wilson, Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard, Katherine Osborne Hannan, Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard & Patricia Cowen Penton, Lee, Futrell & Perles, LLP.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Defendant, represented by Jay Morton Jalenak, Jr., Kean Miller, LLP & Patrick Dale Roquemore, Kean Miller, LLP.

Lamorak Insurance Company, Erroneously referred to in the original Petition for Damages as OneBeacon America Insurance Company f/k/a Commercial Union Insurance Company, Defendant, represented by Samuel Milton Rosamond, III, Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, APLC, Adam Devlin DeMahy, Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, APLC & Travis Layne Simmons, Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, APLC.

BW/IP, Inc., Defendant, represented by Glenn Lyle Maximilian Swetman, MGM The Law Firm, Adam D. Whitworth, MG+M The Law Firm, Bradley Adam Hays, MG+M The Law Firm, Brandie Mendoza Thibodeaux, MG M The Law Firm, Christopher O. Massenburg, MG+M The Law Firm, David R. Frohn, MGM Law Firm, Helen Meredith Buckley, MG+M The Law Firm, Jeanette Seraile-Riggins, MG+M The Law Firm, Meghan B. Senter, MG+M The Law Firm & Natasha Amber Corb, MG+M The Law Firm.

Industrial Holdings Corporation, formerly known as Carborundum Company, Defendant, represented by Richard Munice Crump, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC, Rebecca Abbott Zotti, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC, Robert E. Dille, Kean Miller, LLP & Shelley K. Napolitano, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC. Sherwin-Williams Company, Defendant, represented by Dwight C. Paulsen, III, Bradley, Murchison, Kelly & Shea, LLC, David Edmund Redmann, Jr., Bradley, Murchison, Kelly & Shea, LLC & David J. Topping, Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea, LLC.

Albert Bossier, As an Executive Officer of Avondale Industries, Inc., Defendant, represented by Gustave A. Fritchie, III, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alex Tyler Robertson, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edward Winter Trapolin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Frances M. Montegut, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Gary Allen Lee, Lee, Futrell & Perles, LLP, Michael Kevin Powell, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Richard Marshall Perles, Lee, Futrell & Perles, LLP & Timothy Farrow Daniels, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC.

Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, Defendant, represented by James R. Logan, IV, Logan & Soileau, LLC. BASF Catalysts, LLC, incorrectly sued as BASF Catalysts LLC individually and as Successor to Bondo, Defendant, represented by Gregory M. Anding, Kean Miller, Alexandra E. Rossi, Kean Miller, Allison N. Benoit, Kean Miller & Anthony M. Williams, Kean Miller LLP.

Texaco Inc, erroneously named as Texaco, Inc, Defendant, represented by Tim D. Gray, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Chelsea Elizabeth Gaudin, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Melissa Desormeaux Fuller, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Michael H. Abraham, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Michelle Miller Roy, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP. Albert L Bossier, Jr, Defendant, represented by Gustave A. Fritchie, III, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alexander R. Saunders, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edward Winter Trapolin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Frances M. Montegut, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC & Timothy Farrow Daniels, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC.

Albert Bossier, Intervenor Defendant, represented by David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC. Armstrong Pumps, Inc., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Forrest Ren Wilkes, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC & Jason K. Elam, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC.

AutoZone, Inc., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Edward T. Hayes, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Craig Michael Cousins, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Lee M. LeBouef, Leake & Andersson, LLP & Marc E. Devenport, Leake & Andersson, LLP. BASF Catalysts, LLC, Individually and as Successor-in-interest to Bondo, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Gregory M. Anding, Kean Miller, Alexandra E. Rossi, Kean Miller, Allison N. Benoit, Kean Miller & Anthony M. Williams, Kean Miller LLP. BWDAC, Inc, formerly known as BWD Automotive Corporation, Certain-Teed Corporation & Pneumo Abex Corporation, Intervenor Defendants, represented by William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan & Stiles LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP. CBS Corporation, Intervenor Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C. & Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C.

Eagle Inc., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP & Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP. Flowserve US Inc, as Successor-in-interest to Durametallic Corporation & Viking Pump, Inc., Intervenor Defendants, represented by Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC & James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

Gould Electronics, Inc., Individuallly and as Successor-in-interest to Bulldog, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Derek Robert Cusick, Tindell Symmes Estes & Cusick, PLLC.

Honeywell International, Inc., in its capacity as Honewell Inc., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Glenn B. Adams, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, Leandro Ryan Area, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson & Matthew Edward Simmons, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson.

Huntington Ingalls, Inc., formerly known as Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc., Avondale Industries, Inc., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Patrick Kevin Shockey, Blue Williams, LLP.

Industrial Holdings Corporation, formerly known as Carborundum Company, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Richard Munice Crump, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC, Rebecca Abbott Zotti, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC, Robert E. Dille, Kean Miller, LLP & Shelley K. Napolitano, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC. International Paper Company, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Daniel S. Roberts, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Thomas Peyton Smith, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

John Crane Inc, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Meredith R. Durham, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Jay Morton Jalenak, Jr., Kean Miller, LLP & Patrick Dale Roquemore, Kean Miller, LLP.

Lamorak Insurance Company, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Adam Devlin DeMahy, Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, APLC.

Texaco, Inc., Intervenor Defendant, represented by Tim D. Gray, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Chelsea Elizabeth Gaudin, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Melissa Desormeaux Fuller, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Michael H. Abraham, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Michelle Miller Roy, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

Travelers Indemnity Company, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Kristopher T. Wilson, Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard, Katherine Osborne Hannan, Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard & Patricia Cowen Penton, Lee, Futrell & Perles, LLP.

Whitney Automotive Group, Inc, Intervenor Defendant, represented by Michael R. Barnes, Jude & Jude, PLLC. John Crane Inc, Third Party Plaintiff, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lacey Sarver Goss, Lacey Sarver Goss, Attorney at Law, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Meredith R. Durham, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

McCarty Corporation, Third Party Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP & Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

AutoZone, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Edward T. Hayes, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Craig Michael Cousins, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Lee M. LeBouef, Leake & Andersson, LLP & Marc E. Devenport, Leake & Andersson, LLP. BWDAC, Inc & Western Auto Supply Company, Cross Defendants, represented by William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan & Stiles LLP, Arthur Wendel Stout, III, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP.

CBS Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C. & Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C.

CertainTeed Corporation & Pneumo Abex LLC, Cross Defendants, represented by William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan & Stiles LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP.

Eagle, Inc. & McCarty Corporation, Successor to McCarty Branton, Inc. and predecessor and successor to McCarty Insulation Sales, Inc. Doc. 66, Cross Defendants, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP & Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

Gould Electronics, Inc., individually and as successor-in-interest to Bulldog, Cross Defendant, represented by Derek Robert Cusick, Tindell Symmes Estes & Cusick, PLLC.

Honeywell International, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Glenn B. Adams, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, Leandro Ryan Area, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson & Matthew Edward Simmons, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson.

International Paper Company, individually and as successor-in-interest to U.S. Plywood Corporation and Champion International Corporation Doc. 66, Cross Defendant, represented by Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Daniel S. Roberts, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Thomas Peyton Smith, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

John Crane Inc, Cross Defendant, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Meredith R. Durham, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

Huntington Ingalls, Inc., Cross Claimant, represented by Brian C. Bossier, Blue Williams, LLP, Christopher Thomas Grace, III, Blue Williams, LLP, Edwin A. Ellinghausen, III, Blue Williams, LLP, Erin Helen Boyd, Blue Williams, LLP, Jasmine Najee Brown, Blue Williams, LLP, Laura M. Gillen, Blue Williams, LLP & Patrick Kevin Shockey, Blue Williams, LLP. Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Cross Claimant, represented by Brian C. Bossier, Blue Williams, LLP, Christopher Thomas Grace, III, Blue Williams, LLP, Edwin A. Ellinghausen, III, Blue Williams, LLP, Erin Helen Boyd, Blue Williams, LLP, Jasmine Najee Brown, Blue Williams, LLP, Laura M. Gillen, Blue Williams, LLP, Patrick Kevin Shockey, Blue Williams, LLP & Rhonda Goode Douglas, Blue Williams, LLP.

ORDER AND REASONS

IVAN L.R. LEMELLE, Senior District Judge.

Before the Court are plaintiffs Jennifer Knight and Wayne Knight's Motion to Sever Claims and Remand (Rec. Doc. 33) and defendants Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Albert L. Bossier, Jr., and Lamorak Insurance Company's ("Avondale Interests" or "Defendants") Memorandum in Opposition (Rec. Doc. 65). Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the motion to sever and remand is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE to allow further discovery and consideration of possible summary judgment motions.

Also before the Court are petitioners-in-intervention Michael Knight and Debra Knight Houston's ("Intervenors") Motion to Remand or, in the Alternative, for Abstention (Rec. Doc. 36) and defendants Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Albert L. Bossier, Jr., and Lamorak Insurance Company's ("Avondale Interests" or "Defendants") Memorandum in Opposition (Rec. Doc. 59). Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the motion to remand or for abstention is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE to allow further discovery and consideration of posssible summary judgment motions.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiffs are relatives of decedent, of Wayne A. Knight. See Rec. Doc. 33-1 at 2. Specifically, Jennifer Knight is the surviving spouse of Wayne A. Knight. See id. Wayne Knight is a surviving child of Wayne A. Knight. See id. Petitioners-in-Intervention, Michael Knight and Debra Knight Houston are also surviving children of Wayne A. Knight. See id. Plaintiffs filed suit against defendants and others on March 30, 2017 in state court. See Rec. Doc. 65 at 9; see also Rec. Doc. 33-1 at 2. Plaintiffs allege that Wayne A. Knight was diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos during his employment at Avondale Shipyard from 1967 to 1982. See Rec. Doc. 65 at 9. Petitioners-in-Intervention filed a petition on August 30, 2018. See Rec. Doc. 33-1 at 2. Defendants filed a notice of removal on October 10, 2018. See id.

On November 9, 2018, plaintiffs filed a motion to sever claims and remand. See Rec. Doc. 33. On December 14, 2018, defendants filed a memorandum in opposition. See Rec. Doc. 65.

On November 9, 2018, intervenors filed a motion to remand or, in the alternative, abstain. See Rec. Doc. 36. On December 7, 2018, defendants filed a memorandum in opposition. See Rec. Doc. 59.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. See Orlean Shoring, LLC v. Patterson, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36105 [*1], [*6] (E.D. La. 2011). A federal district court also has jurisdiction over a removed action if it is a civil action that is commenced in a State court and against the United States or any agency thereof in an official or individual capacity, for or relating to any act under color of such office. See 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1). The removing party has the burden to establish the existence of jurisdiction. See Winters v. Diamond Shamrock Chem. Co., 149 F.3d 387, 397 (5th Cir. 1998). "To determine whether jurisdiction is present for removal, [courts] consider the claims in the state court petition as they existed at the time of removal." Manguno v. Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 276 F.3d 720, 723 (5th Cir. 2002). "Any ambiguities are construed against removal because the removal statute should be strictly construed in favor of remand." Id.

In any civil action of which a district court has original jurisdiction, it shall have supplemental jurisdiction over all other claims that are so related to claims in the action within such original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). "Such supplemental jurisdiction shall include claims that involve the joinder or intervention of additional parties." Id.

In addition to having discretion to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, a district court also has discretion to stay federal actions where there is a parallel suit pending in state court and exceptional circumstances exist. See Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 96 S. Ct 1236 (1976). To establish whether exceptional circumstances exist, a court must analyze six factors:(1) assumption by either court of jurisdiction over a re; (2) relative inconvenience of the forums; (3)

avoidance of piecemeal litigation; (4) the order in which jurisdiction was obtained by the concurrent forums; (5) to what extent federal law provides the rules of decision on the merits; and (6) the adequacy of the state proceedings in protecting the rights of the party invoking federal jurisdiction. See Stewart v. Heritage Ins. Co., 438 F.3d 488, 491 (5th Cir. 2006). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1), the Federal Officer Removal Statute, removal is proper if a defendant can establish four elements. See Legendre v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc., 885 F.3d 398, 400 (5th Cir. 2018) (stating that federal officer removal is unlike other removal doctrines because it is not narrow or limited). Specifically, a removing defendant must show: (1) that it is a person within the meaning of the statute; (2) that it has a colorable federal defense; (3) that it acted pursuant to a federal officer's directions; and (4) that a causal nexus exists between its actions under color of federal office and the plaintiff's claims. See id. There is no dispute as to the first element as both parties agree Avondale is a person within the meaning of the statute. See Rec. Doc. 33-1 at 5; Rec. Doc. 65 at 20.

Defendants argues this case was properly removed under the Federal Officer Removal Statute. See Rec. Doc. 65 at 18. Arguably, Avondale meets each of the four requisite elements. Specifcally, plaintiff concedes that the first element is met; Avondale believes it has colorable federal defenses under Boyle v. United Technologies Corp., 487 U.S. 500 (1988) and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act; that it acted under the color of federal office when building federal vessels; and intervenors' strict liability claim satisfies the causal nexus requirement. See id. at 20-40. In regard to severance, defendants argue there is no legal basis to do so. See id. at 14. Defendants contend that the Court should exercise supplemental jurisdiction over all claims asserted by plaintiffs and Intervenors. See id. at 40. It submits that it is in the best interest of judicial efficiency. See id. at 42.

Plaintiffs argue that Avondale's removal under the the Federal Officer Removal Statute was improper because, in part, the statute is inapplicable to the state law claims. See Rec. Doc. 33-1 at 4. Alternatively, plaintiffs argue Avondale only meets the first element. See id. at 5. As to the other three elements, respectively, plaintiffs contend Avondale cannot show a unique federal interest; cannot present any evidence the Navy limited Avondale's actions in implementing control to reduce exposure to asbestos; or prove a casual nexus between Wayne A. Knight's injuries and Avondale's failure to warn. See id. at 8, 9-11, 14. Plaintiffs ask the Court to sever their claims because they sound completely in state law negligence but fail to analyze relevant substantive law. See Rec. Doc. 33; see also E. Cornell Malone Corp. v. Sisters of the Holy Family, 922 F. Supp. 2d 550, 561 (E. D. La. 2013) (stating that motions to sever are governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 21). Plaintiffs ask the Court to decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the claims here because plaintiffs' state law claims substantially predominate over intervenors' single strict liability claim. See Rec. Doc. 33-1 at 16. Plaintiffs blatantly state they took action to avoid litigation in this forum. See id. at 19.

Despite plaintiffs contention against pursuit of strict liability claims, the Court finds that their pleadings indicate otherwise. There does not appear to be any effort by plaintiffs to formally dismiss or otherwise affirmatively waive rights in that regards, and we are not suggesting any. At this juncture, it appears premature on the present record to find basis for severance or remand. Plaintiff's motion to sever claims and remand is therefore dismissed without prejudice.

In regard to abstention, defendants argue that intervenors offer a broad pre-removal disclaimer that cannot defeat their basis for removal. See Rec. Doc. 59 at 34-37 citing to Siders v. 20th Century Glove Corp. of Texas, No. 15-13278, 2016 WL 1733473, at [*4] (S.D. W. VA. 2016). Intervenors' strict liability claims are clearly expressed in their Petition and support removal. See id. at 40-42 citing to Melancon v. Lamorak Ins. Co., No. 18-30113, 2018 WL 36125434, at [*2] (5th Cir. 2018). Because Avondale removed the entire case, there is no longer a state court action pending, eliminating the possibility of a parallel suit. Therefore, the Colorado River Abstention Doctrine appears inapplicable here.

Intervenors argue they disclaimed any cause of action or recovery for injuries resulting from exposure to asbestos dust caused by a party under direction of an officer of the United States. See Rec. Doc. 36-1 at 3. Accordingly, they seek remand. See id. Intervenors rely mainly on Wilde v. Huntington Ingalls, 616 F. App'x 710, 715 (5th Cir. 2015) which recognizes post-removal disclaimers.

Intervenors contend that without the disclaimer, their allegations do not support federal officer removal. See id. at 6. They argue Avondale failed to use asbestos safely, causing a defective condition at its shipyard. See id. at 7. They argue against a causal nexus between Avondale's handling of asbestos and Wayne A. Knight's contraction of mesothelioma, which is the fourth element necessary to establish proper removal under the Federal Officer Removal Statute. See id. at 8.

In the alternative, intervenors seek remand and abstention because they share an indivisible interest with plaintiffs in the survival action. They conclude the existence of exceptional circumstances as two of the six Colorado River factors weigh in favor of abstention. See id. at 8-11; see also Colorado, 96 S. Ct at 1236; Stewart, 438 F.3d at 491. As found above, remand and severance do not appear warranted at this stage on the present record. For similar reasons, abstention at this stage is unwarranted. Intervenors' motion to remand, or in the alternative, for abstention is dismissed without prejudice. Further discovery and consideration of possible summary judgment motions would allow parties to build a better record for later consideration of above issues.

Sources

• The opinion on Google Scholar
• Louisiana asbestos laws
• Louisiana asbestos exposure sites