United States Fifth Circuit

In this products liability suit involving flexible thermoplastic pipe used at gas stations, district court erred by declining supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims under 28 U.S.C. section 1367(c), where: 1) the district court had already invested a significant amount of judicial resources in the litigation; 2) the state law issues involved were not novel or complex; and 3) there is a significant risk that the state court rulings made by the district court will be re-litigated, causing Defendants substantial prejudice.

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/06/2009
• Published 01/06/2009

Judges

• BENAVIDES, Circuit Judge:, Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BENAVIDES and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Deborah D. Kuchler, Charles Henderson Abbott, McGready Lewis Richeson, Laura E. Kraemer, Abbott, Simses & Kuchler, New Orleans, LA, for Dayco Products, Inc. and Mark IV Industries Ltd., Paula W. Hinton, Lewis Cooper Sutherland, Vinson & Elkins, Houston, TX, Sandra Garza Rodriquez, Jennifer B. Poppe, Vinson & Elkins, Austin, TX, for Shell Chemical LP., Paul M. O'Connor (argued), Seth Alan Moskowitz, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, New York City, Charles Michael Pisano, Barkley & Thompson, New Orleans, LA, for Ticona Polymers, Inc., John F. Olinde (argued), Robert S. Rooth, Charles Donald Marshall, III, Chaffe, McCall, Phillips, Toler & Sarpy, New Orleans, LA, for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.


• For Appellees:
  
• John A. Jeansonne, Jr. (argued), Jeansonne & Remondet, Lafayette, LA, Michael H. Schwartzberg, Vamvoras & Schwartzberg, Lake Charles, LA, for Plaintiffs-Appellees.