United States Fifth Circuit

The mandatory abstention provisions of 28 U.S.C. section 1369(b) are not an independent bar to the exercise of jurisdiction over a case removed pursuant to the Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act (MMTJA).

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/03/2006
• Published 04/03/2006

Judges

• EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judge:, Before SMITH, GARZA and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Randall L. Kleinman, Roger Douglas Marlow, Hulse & Wanek, New Orleans, LA, for ANPAC Louisiana Ins. Co., Harry Alston Johnson, III, Phelps Dunbar, Baton Rouge, LA, Andrew L. Plauche, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Landry & Parkerson, New Orleans, LA, for Louisiana Farm Bureau Cas. Ins. Co. and Louisiana Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., John W. Waters, Jr., Bienvenu, Foster, Ryan & O'Bannon, New Orleans, LA, for Louisiana Citizens Property Ins. Corp.


• For Appellees:
  
• Allan B. Berger, Allan Berger & Associates, Randy Jay Ungar, Ungar & Byrne, Bruce L. Feingerts, Feingerts & Kelly, Patrick G. Kehoe, Jr., New Orleans, LA, Philip Francis Cossich, Jr., Cossich, Sumich & Parsiola, Belle Chasse, LA, Terrence J. Lestelle, Andrea S. Lestelle, Lestelle & Lestelle, William Peter Connick, Sr., Connick & Connick, Metairie, LA, J. Van Robichaux, Jr., Covington, LA, for Plaintiffs-Respondents.