United States Fifth Circuit

When a nonresident defendant's showing that there is no reasonable basis for predicting that state law would allow recovery against an in-state defendant equally disposes of all defendants, there is no improper joinder of the in-state defendant, and the entire suit must be remanded.

Appellate Information

• Decided 09/24/2004
• Published 09/24/2004

Judges

• PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:, Before KING, Chief Judge, and JOLLY, HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, JONES, SMITH, WIENER, BARKSDALE, EMILIO M. GARZA, DeMOSS, BENAVIDES, STEWART, DENNIS, CLEMENT, PRADO and PICKERING, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Cynthia H. Speetjens, Frazer & Davidson, Jackson, MS, Derek A. Wyatt, Pat M. Barrett, Jr., Barrett Law Office, Lexington, MS, Jeffrey Howard Schultz, Schultz & Murphy, Belleville, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellant., Emerson Barney Robinson, III, Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada, Charles Clark, Watkins & Eager, Jackson, MS, Dan K Webb, Winston & Strawn, Chicago, IL, Charles E. Griffin, Griffin & Associates, James William Craig, Phelps Dunbar, David W. Clark, Billy Berryhill, Bradley, Arant, Rose & White, William C. Brabec, Adams & Reese, Walter D Willson, Wells, Marble & Hurst, Jackson, MS, for Amicus Curiae.


• For Appellees:
  
• Charles T. Ozier, George Howard Ritter, William B. Lovett, Jr., Wise, Carter, Child & Caraway, Susan L. Runnels, Kelly Dunleath Simpkins, Wells, Marble & Hurst, Jackson, MS, for Defendant-Appellee.