United States Fifth Circuit

In consolidated 28 U.S.C. section 1292(b) interlocutory appeals from remand-denials where diversity-jurisdiction removal was based on fraudulent joinder, there is not a reasonable basis for predicting the non-diverse defendants could be liable under Mississippi law and, therefore, fraudulently joined.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/29/2003
• Published 08/29/2003

Judges

• RHESA HAWKINS BARKSDALE, Circuit Judge:, Before SMITH, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Joe Nathan Tatum,Tatum & Wade, Jackson, MS, for Plaintiffs-Appellants., Richard H. Sinkfield and Christopher J. Willis (argued), Rogers & Hardin, Atlanta, GA, Fred H. Krutz, III, Roland M. Slover, Forman, Perry, Watkins, Krutz & Tardy, Jackson, MS, for Citifinancial Inc., Citifinancial Services Inc., Mitchell, Farmer and Smith., Walter D. Willson (argued), Kenna L. Mansfield, Jr., Wells, Marble & Hurst, Jackson, MS, for Union Sec. Life Ins. Co. and American Sec. Ins. Co., Emerson Barney Robinson, III, Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada, Jackson, MS, for Mississippi Bankers Ass'n.