United States Fifth Circuit

While there may be an issue of fact common to all class members over whether defendant was a valid subscriber to the workers' compensation system, that question does not predominate over the question of whether or not each member of the class suffered a definable injury to justify a class action.

Appellate Information

• Decided 02/05/2001
• Published 02/05/2001

Judges

• PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:, Before HIGGINBOTHAM and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges, and KENT, District Judge.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• David J. Beck (argued), Thomas Edward Ganucheau, Beck, Redden & Secrest, Houston, TX, Jude Thaddeus Heartfield, Heartfield & McGinnis, Beaumont, TX, Mark D. Wegener, Howrey, Simon, Arnold & White, Washington, DC, for Mobil Oil Corp. and Mobil Corp., Harvey Ferguson, Jr., Paul W. Nye, Chaves, Gonzalez & Hoblit, Corpus Christi, TX, James Mayer Harris, Jr., Harris, Lively & Duesler, Beaumont, TX, for Forum Insurance Co., Gerald W. Riedmueller, Lipscomb David Norvell, Jr., Benckenstein, Norvell & Nathan, Beaumont, TX, for Matouse and Gronwaldt., Robert B. Wellenberger, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, Dallas, TX, Walter J. Crawford, Jr., Crawford & Olsen LLP, Beaumont, TX, for National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, AIG National Ins. Co., AIG Risk Management Inc., American Intern. Group Inc., American Home Assurance Co. and Insurance Co. of the State of Pennsylvania.


• For Appellees:
  
• Craig R. Smyser (argued), Larry R. Veselka, Justin M. Waggoner, Asim M. Bhansali, Smyser, Kaplan & Veselka, Houston, TX, Gilbert T. Adams, Jr., Law Offices of Gilbert T. Adams, Beaumont, TX, for Plaintiffs-Appellees.