Eighth Circuit Holds Release of Opinion in Separate Case Does Not Warrant Recommencement of Thirty-Day Limit for Removal

BNA’s U.S. Law Week Vol. 75, No. 34 (Mar. 13, 2007) recently reported on the case Dahl v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., --- F.3d ----, 2007 WL 601502 (8th Cir. Feb. 28, 2007). Here is an excerpt from that case:

After defendants unsuccessfully attempted to remove the case to federal court on diversity grounds, plaintiffs' claims were dismissed as preempted by federal law. Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. While their appeal was pending, our court decided Watson v. Philip Morris Companies, 420 F.3d 852 (2005), cert. granted, --- U.S. ----, 127 S.Ct. 1055, --- L.Ed.2d ---- (Jan. 12, 2007) (No. 05- 1284), holding in a case also involving the marketing of light cigarettes that there was removal jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a) because Philip Morris had established federal officer jurisdiction. R.J. Reynolds then made a second try at removing this case, this time alleging federal officer jurisdiction under § 1442(a). Plaintiffs moved to remand the case to state court on the ground that the attempted removal was untimely. The district court denied the motion to remand, and plaintiffs appeal. We reverse.

. . .

Receipt of our Watson opinion could only recommence the thirty day limit for removal if Congress intended that receipt of a decision issued in a different case from the one before the court would be covered by the terms: "an amended pleading, motion, order or other paper."
All of the document types listed in § 1446(b) are commonly produced in the course of litigating an individual case of any complexity, and each might introduce a new element into the case which could affect jurisdiction. For example, federal jurisdiction could be created by an amended pleading adding a federal cause of action or an order dismissing a non diverse party. See, e.g. Caterpillar Inc. v. Lewis, 519 U.S. 61, 69, 117 S.Ct. 467, 136 L.Ed.2d 437 (1996). The types of documents mentioned in § 1446(b) are listed in a logical sequence in the development of an individual case. In light of this context, in which the words "order or other paper" follow immediately after amended pleading and motion, it would be an unsupported stretch to interpret "order" to include a decision in a separate case with different parties.

If Congress had intended new developments in the law to trigger the recommencement of the thirty day time limit, it could have easily added language making it clear that § 1446(b) was not only addressing developments within a case.

BNA subscribers can read the full report here.