Case ID: f-supp-3d_383/html/0618-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Warren LESTER, et al. v. EXXON MOBIL CORP., et al.
    CIVIL ACTION NO. 14-1824
    United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana.
    Signed April 5, 2019
    Timothy John Falcon, Jarrett S. Falcon, Jeremiah A. Sprague, Falcon Law Firm, Marrero, LA, Juan C. Obregon, Jackson Lewis, P.C., Kevin David Micale, Michael G. Stag, Stuart Housel Smith, Smith Stag, LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiffs Warren Lester, Alfreda Marshall, David Quinn, Demetria Sterling, Dawn Humphries, Joseph LeBlanc, Sr., Jeffrey Guidry, Eugenio Mallol, Antionette Clark, Wade Bethley, Charles Paine, III, Rebekah Paine, Renee Deris, Kevin Pollard, Harold Singleton, Arthur Russell, Jr., Darlene Roche, Leo Pollard, Ronald Williams, John Williams, Sr., John Gros, III, Jack Roy, Clarence Ross, Richard Meerman, Sr., Earl Williams, Jr., Merlin Williams, Sr., John Hendrix, Jr., Leonardus Meerman, Alan Humphries, Bruce Ingram, An Nguyen, Vi Nguyen, Thoa Vo, Judy Mark, Milton Thompson, Laura Arcement, Robert Arcement, Don Hymel, Clarence Washington, Adam LeBoeuf, Laura LeBoeuf, John Cade, Eric Harrison, Calvin Plaisance, Jr., Mary Favorite, James Autin, Sr., David Hervey, Gregrey Liberta, Jeffrey Liberta, Lyle Ragas, Cedric Watts, Norman Abreo, John Booth, Jr., Louis Brown, Jr., Richard Fritz, Rosetta Williams, Timothy Crowley, Mediamolle Leo, Othe Nash, Raymond Schaeffer, Pierre Orlandez, Sr., Janice Toups, Aquanette Granger, Marylee Calvey, John Oleszkowicz, John Lester, Hermina McCall, Ronald ODonley, Dallas Antoine, Wanda Lester, Warren Lester, Jr., Montreal Matthews, Ronald Watts, Alvin Campbell, Sr., Linda Wickem, Ventress Degree, Antonia Scott, Joseph Scott, Cheryl Nicholas, Janice Lew, Kevin Nicholas, Francis Mends Johnson, Rose Johnson, Charles Green, Sr., Joseph Ruffin, Ernest Sauls, Dolin Calvey, Richard Shrieves, Raymond Hoffmann, Glenda OChery, Robert Ashley, Warren Hock, Roland Fonseca, Kevin Babineaux, J. Lindsey, Wallace Lanasa, Jr., Nola Toups, Kent Arcement, Felix Alexie, Michael Babineaux, George Martinez, Billy King, Ernest Peters, Alexander Raymond, Roger Laviolette, Lloyd Baise, Laura Borders, Kenny Coutee, Oscar Lomax, Calvin Nicholas, Melkile Favorite, Ivy Nash, Louis Banks, Edward Williams, Lawrence Jackson, Leonard Stevenson, James Usin, Alma Loston, Alfrida Loston, Clark Murphy, Dennis Hock, Jr., Vanessa Mitchell, Lawrence Batiste, Clarence George, Roselee Gaston, Rayfield Gaston, Jr., Oscar Jasmine, Sterling Harris, Jeffery Lang, Randy Coleman, Joseph Johnson, Tilman Guidry, Ernest Aguilard, Elvira Aguilard, John Celistan, Jr., Raymond Patin, Barbara Wilson, Margaret Patin, Hakeem Wakeelah, Roland Fleming, Rayfield Gaston, III, Charles Napoleon, Jr., Tannard Darrensburg, Paris Dardar, Joseph Battle, Ernest Mayho, Lionel Gaston, Noble Morton, Jr., Mae Rivet, George Singleton, Barbara Hamilton, Richard Matthews, Jr., Page Girtley, Willis Jackson, Darrel Clarks, Thomas Robinson, Minnie Patterson, Ethel Henry, Antoinette Magee, Louis Orear, Jr., Lionel Helton, Jimmy Lanette, Lois Walker, Timothy Richard, Denise Lew, Arthur Mitchell, Marva Ceasar, David Brown, Sr., George Bowie, Bobby Bolden, Kerry Dixon, Earl Sevin, Morris Bias, Jr., Denise Jones, Jackie Hebert, David Washington, Jerry Chaisson, Wanda LeBlanc, Carlton LeBlanc, Theodore Stamps, III, Wilfred Adams, Arthur Keys, Barry Humphries, William Walker, Sr., Elwood Dixon, Mae Spears, Henry Roussell, Victor McCaskill, Gaynell Smith, Garfield Gaston, Carolyn Levier, Ahrionne Levier, Aldo Hernandez, Shirley Watts-Robinson, Reginald Price, Magee Winston, Warren Pierce, Maxine Stevenson, Artis Buckley, Deidre Allen, Wilbert Allen, III, Lum Davis, Jr., Harper, L.J., Jr., Eula Scott, Murphy Gautreaux, Arlen Whelan, Charles LeBoeuf, Cecilia Cummings, Steven Brignac, Charles Carter, Sr., Wilton Gary, Sr., Darlene Jenkins, Andrew Burnett, Andrew Nason, Jerry Daniels, Jarmaine Seltzer, Willie Hills, Albert Lloyd, Julien Arcement, Jr., James Dufrene, Jr., Raymond Guidry, Grace Guidry, Russell Todaro, Brandy DiMaggio, Pam Todaro, Ella Todaro, Camille Todaro, Melanie Langeau, Kathleen Lavalla, Todd Lavalla, Samuel Lavalla, George Thomas, Jr., Sylvester Johnson, Horace Crappel, Gloria Crappel, Brant Griffin, Kevin Sider, James Jackson, Bryan Bournes, George Tracy, Jimmie McGee, Carla Simmons, Frank Morris, Raymond Schaefer, James Perry, Willis Clofer, Kirbie Hawkins, Darrell Wilson, Johnny Riley, Charles Cross, Hector Martinez, Mark Russell, Avis Russell, Edward Russell, Raymond Hill, Roy Jacks, Edward Dabney, Lercy Dabney, Jr., Percy Burns, Henry Stokes, David Hill, James Lee, Laddies Jones, Jr., Merian Cross, Lonzo Taylor, Kenneth Honora, Samella Addison, Janet Addison, Jimmy Merchant, Michelle Nicholas, Stanley Harris, Sr., Wayne Hill, Steve Ricard, Robert Stokes, Leo Coleman, Freddie Carter, Sr., Henry Thompson, Delores Johnson, Orlandez Pierre, Fred Wilson, Jr., Marion Burks, Richard Schwary, Kenneth Gaines, Joseph Paul, Jr., Earl Williams, III, Jeffery Duckett, Reginald Hadley, Lorraine Davis, Carnel Allen, Charles Hadley, Lawrence Dorsey, Sherman Gaston, Wynesta Gaston, David Snedecor, Monroe Turner, David Lackey, Jr., Barbara Lackey, Donald Johnson, Terral Johnson, Mason Saulsberry, Jr., Jerry Dunlavy, Joseph Baudion, Joseph Hadley, Louis Fulton, Jr., Christopher Ford, Larry Bourg, Albert Lewis, Jr., Genevea Marshall, Joseph Thomas, III, Paul Plaunche, Tyrone Boyd, Roy Rome, Jr., Roland Bougere, Robert Williams, Rose Brown, Clifford Pierre, Winston Whitten, Charles Davis, Jr., James Roussell, Louis Coleman, Jessie Clark, Milton Carter, Jr., Willie Chess, J.D. Frazier, Gerald Hunter, Porter Edwards, Tong Tran, Eddie Fitzgerald, Allan Lepine, Ruth Lepine, Hayes Lepine, Kevin Meredith, Joe Frazier, Donald Hill, Hilton Clark, Fred Adams, Isiah Parker, Thomas Breaux, Jr., Maxine Harris, John Harris, III, Damion Harris, Rosie Page, Ruby Paige, Randy Thortorn, Terry Joseph, Trelldrieke Addison, Dirk Addison, Joann Stevenson, Lawrence Davis, Teresa Davis, Leroyal Hester, Sr., Rod Robin, Carlo Blanda, Russell Champ, Randolph Harris, Edna Semien, Salvador Lebella, Glenn Cuccia, Eddie Fonseca, Herman Fonseca, Sr., Jeanette Houston, Thomas Saylor, Betty Thomas, Edward Jackson, III, Kenneth Walker, Kenneth Lew, Jr., Reynard Mitchell, Rodell Houston, Jr., Rodell Houston, Sr., Selina Tipton, William Clarke, Alex Henry, Kim Walker, King Robinson, Alvin Richardson, Jr., Wiley Dorsey, Jr., Larry Bourg, Jr., Dan Crowley, Sr., Ruby Bowie, Leslie Mead, William Brown, Francis Turner, Yvette Burks, Eugene Young, Robert Goudy, Clarence Harris, Jr., Freddie Harris, Renee Harris, Tina Kreig, Alvin Comeaux, Frank Miller, Shareta Miller, Edward Lee, Lloyd Vercher, Flowers Wilson, Russell Jack, Sr., Claude Dupre, Jr., Lee Pellegrin, Sr., Ronald Allen, Clyde McGill, Joseph Baker, Hanson Theriot, Willie Boldens, Harold Harris, Wayne Townsend, Robert Jacquot, Preston McGee, Jr., Theodore Gatlin, Earl Johnson, Richard Grear, Gillbert Hoffpauir, Derryl Himel, Sr., Billy Lebouef, Jr., Russell Jasmine, Philip Breaux, James Day, Earl Gautreaux, David Williams, Leon Hill, Alvin Beaubouef, Sr., Irving Benoit, Aubrey Smalls, Rufus Jean-Batiste, Walter Lemieux, Jr., Augusta Genorta, Leonard Grace, Henry Mang, Hal Jenkins, Tamika Brown, Nerry Landry, Ion Verret, Gilda Knighton, Roger Coursey, Rene Domangue, Mytaya Semien, John Dupont, Terry Lovern, Andrew Wright, Sr., Ervin Porche, Sr., Roosevelt Scott, Lionel, Junior, Sr., John Barrios, Leeroy Babin, Jr., William Hebert, Herbert Young, Jr., Hayward Bourque, H. Jackson, Harold Quellette, Willis Touchet, Wardell Brignac, James Lewis, Terry Young, Jimmie Gray, Sidney Howard, Margaret Teague, Angela Lawrence, Shala Allen-Miller, Anita Miller, Kim Smith, Edna Raymond, Earl Boullion, Jr., Earnest Wilson, Sr., Eva Wilson, John Julien, Sr., Rodney Wilson, Freddie Credear, Carmen Teague, Keith Duhon, Larry Duhon, Peter Duhon, Byron Mansion, Sr., Lionel Ayo, Andrew Doris, Mary Doris, Yacheka Brown, Marquette Smith, Mickey Chaney, Clarence Gamble, William Cook, Joyce Cook, Isaac Smith, Reginald Raymond, Preston Jack, Sr., Gregory Wilson, Sr., Eugene Thompson, Jr., Sidney Manison, III, Wilson Bowie, Jr., Charlotte Istre, Bert Istre, Laddie Batiste, Don Harris, Herbert Teague, Julia Caldwell, Lionel Singleton, Raoul Toups, Marlon Edwards, Donald Steel, Clinton Mikel, Louis Noel, Barry Mayon, Michael Wilson, David Perry, James Braud, Robin Rodrigue, Karen Rodrigue, Rodney Morehead, Patricia Judy, Curtis Dixon, Houston Slate, Joseph Berry, Jeffrey Harmond, Andrew De Lotte, Melvin Brown, Darryl Elliott, Simon Elliser, Earl Hamilton, Detroit Roy, Evelyn Lirette, Stuart Lirette, Randy Luke, Joseph Batiste, Deborah Desereaux, Judy Perrin, Harris Lanette, Darryl Lirette, Isabella Tinson, Danny Blanchard, Glenn Coulon, Michelle Chauvin, Travis Lirette, Daisy Sylve, Darren McDonald, Thomas Willette, Jr., Cecil Breaux, Cory Paige, Valeria Paige, Vivian Paige, Joseph Page, Carlos Paige, Melanie McMullen, Betty Reed, Lloyd Folse, JoAnn Folse, Alvin Miller, Joseph Palmer, Sean Raymond, Lester Drennan, Gaylen Spencer, Jessie Johnson, Joycelyn Jasmine, Jack Page, Ira Simoneaux, Jr., Richard Benoit, Giles Lanasa, Melanie Scioneaux, Onise Lirette, Janel Edwards, Albert Williams, Victor Bonilla, Henry Parsley, Wilbert Miller, Sidney Maise, Angela Pollard, Earleen Miller, Macey R. Aucoin, Sterling J. Aucoin, III, Armand F. Bellanger, Sr., Jessica Billiot, Darryl Blanchard, Walter T. Bonnie, Jr., Cornelius Bottley, Leroy J. Bottley, Berkline Boudreaux, Sr., Bruce Campbell, Danielle R. Champine, Byron Davis, Sherman Farr, Sr., Sherman R. Farr, Jr., John E. Fleming, Dennis A. Foret, Michael E. Grygo, Alan Williams, Sr., Clarence Hall, Jr., Robert Johnson, Christopher J. Johnson, Isaiah J. Kellup, Jr., Lawrence B. Knight, Herman LeBlanc, Jr., Stella C. Lirette, Deyond Lloyd, Mose Lloyd, Tony L. Louviere, Robert McCall, Stephen C. Niehaus, Garland R. Oldham, Gary I. Price, Michael J. Thomas, Rosalie Williams, Stephen Yancey.
    Jarrett S. Falcon, Jeremiah A. Sprague, Falcon Law Firm, Marrero, LA, Juan C. Obregon, Jackson Lewis, P.C., Kevin David Micale, Michael G. Stag, Stuart Housel Smith, Smith Stag, LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiff Gerald Lyons.
    Glen Marion Pilie, E. Paige Sensenbrenner, Martin Alan Stern, Roland M. Vandenweghe, Jr., Ronald J. Sholes, Valeria M. Sercovich, Adams & Reese, LLP, David M. Stein, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Donald Cole Massey, Couhig Partners, LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant Exxon Mobil Corporation.
    Gladstone N. Jones, III, Eberhard D. Garrison, Kevin Earl Huddell, Jones, Swanson, Huddell & Garrison, LLC, New Orleans, LA, Jacqueline Alexandra Stump, Houston, TX, for Defendants Joseph Grefer, Camille Grefer, Rosemarie Grefer Haase, Henry Grefer.
    Thomas E. Balhoff, Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister, Baton Rouge, LA, Carlton Jones, III, Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant Intracoastal Tubular Services, Inc.
    Jacques Francois Bezou, Bezou Law Firm, Joseph Aiavolasiti Kott, Kott Law Firm, Covington, LA, John William Hite, III, Salley, Hite, Mercer & Resor LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Defendants Rathborne Properties, L.L.C., Rathborne Land Company, L.L.C., Rathborne Companies, L.L.C.
    Caleb H. Didriksen, III, Diane Ried Cosenza, Didriksen Law Firm, Matthew G. Greig, Valor Firm, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant Alpha Technical Services, Inc.
    Deborah DeRoche Kuchler, Etheldreda C. Smith, Janika D. Polk, Michele Hale DeShazo, Skylar B. Rudin, Kuchler Polk Schell Weiner & Richeson, LLC, Joshua Doguet, Mark Edward Best, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, S. Suzanne Mahoney, Johnson, Gray, McNamara, LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Defendants Shell Oil Company, Shell Offshore Inc.
    Michael P. Cash, Wade T. Howard, Liskow & Lewis, Houston, TX, Collin Roy Melancon, Mansfield, Melancon, Cranmer, & Dick, LLC, Lauren Raili Bridges, Mark L. McNamara, Liskow & Lewis, Arthur Mahony Murray, Murray Law Firm, Korey Arthur Nelson, Burns Charest LLP, Glen Marion Pilie, E. Paige Sensenbrenner, Roland M. Vandenweghe, Jr., Ronald J. Sholes, Valeria M. Sercovich, Martin Alan Stern, Adams & Reese, LLP, David M. Stein, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Donald Cole Massey, Couhig Partners, LLC, Bettye Anne Barrios, Gavin H. Guillot, Pusateri, Johnston, Guillot & Greenbaum, LLC, Chadwick J. Mollere, S. Suzanne Mahoney, Johnson, Gray, McNamara, LLC, Deborah DeRoche Kuchler, Etheldreda C. Smith, Janika D. Polk, Michele Hale DeShazo, Skylar B. Rudin, Kuchler Polk Schell Weiner & Richeson, LLC, Joshua Doguet, Mark Edward Best, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, Christoffer C. Friend, Meghan Elizabeth Smith, Virginia Weichert Gundlach, Elizabeth Haecker Ryan, Jones Walker, Barbara L. Bossetta, Duetsch Kerrigan, LLP, Guy Christopher Curry, Curry & Friend, APLC, Walter W. Christy, Fisher & Phillips, LLP, Carlton Jones, III, Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister, New Orleans, LA, Mary S. Johnson, Jill Thompson Losch, Johnson, Gray, McNamara, LLC, Mandeville, LA, Thomas E. Balhoff, Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister, Baton Rouge, LA, for Defendant BP America Production Company.
    Elizabeth Haecker Ryan, Coats Rose, Walter W. Christy, Fisher & Phillips, LLP, New Orleans, LA, Daniel F. Shank, Kilpatrick Townsend & Sockton LLP, Houston, TX, for Defendant Varco, L.P.
    Mary S. Johnson, Jill Thompson Losch, Johnson, Gray, McNamara, LLC, Mandeville, LA, Chadwick J. Mollere, S. Suzanne Mahoney, Johnson, Gray, McNamara, LLC, Ingrid Kemp Laurendine, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Defendants Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corporation, Torch Energy Services, Inc.
    Michael P. Cash, Liskow & Lewis, Houston, TX, Lauren Raili Bridges, Liskow & Lewis, New Orleans, LA, for Defendants BP Exploration & Oil Inc., Amoco Oil Company.
    Christoffer C. Friend, Meghan Elizabeth Smith, Virginia Weichert Gundlach, Jones Walker, Barbara L. Bossetta, Duetsch Kerrigan, LLP, Guy Christopher Curry, Curry & Friend, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Laura Caviness, Curry & Friend, PLC, Covington, LA, for Defendant Placid Oil Company.
    Stephen Porter Hall, Phelps Dunbar, LLP, New Orleans, LA, for Defendants Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, Certain London Market Insurance Companies.
    Georges M. Legrand, Adam P. Sanderson, Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett, LLC, New Orleans, LA, Richard Austin Schwartz, Steven Robert Rech, Schwartz, Junell, Greenberg & Oathout, Houston, TX, for Defendant Hydril Company, Inc.
    James Aristide Holmes, Christovich & Kearney, LLP, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant Bredero Price Company.
    Bettye Anne Barrios, Gavin H. Guillot, Pusateri, Johnston, Guillot & Greenbaum, LLC, Lauren Raili Bridges, Liskow & Lewis, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant Atlantic Richfield Company.
    SECTION "L" (2)
    ORDER & REASONS
    Eldon E. Fallon, U.S. District Court Judge Before the Court are two motions to dismiss without prejudice filed by Plaintiffs Herman LeBlanc, R. Doc. 569, and Donnie Beasley, R. Doc. 572. The motions are opposed. R. Doc. 579. Plaintiffs have filed a reply. R. Doc. 590. Having heard oral argument on the motions on April 3, 2019, R. Doc. 594, considered the applicable law, and the arguments of the parties, the Court is now ready to rule.
    I. BACKGROUND
    Plaintiffs in the instant Lester action were allegedly exposed to naturally occurring radioactive material ("NORM") associated with the cleaning of used oilfield pipe at pipe yards in Harvey, Louisiana, including the "Grefer Tract," nearby tracts of land, and tracts of land in other locations in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. These Plaintiffs are individuals residing in several states who either worked at, or lived near, these facilities. The Lester Plaintiffs, a number of whom allege to have contracted cancer from NORM, seek damages for personal injury, medical monitoring, property damage, and punitive damages.
    Lester has a lengthy procedural history. In 2002, over 600 Plaintiffs filed a single petition (the "Lester petition") seeking damages in Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana. Since 2002, the state court proceedings have disposed of various Plaintiffs' claims through "trial flights," settlements, or other dismissals, such that just over 500 Plaintiffs now remain. The state court has systemically grouped up to twelve Plaintiffs' like-claims together for trial flights. According to Plaintiffs, none of the completed trial flights have had preclusive effect on subsequent trial flights.
    One of the Plaintiffs included in the Lester petition was Cornelius Bottley, who died from esophageal cancer in 2012. On July 16, 2014, three members of his surviving family filed a separate Bottley action, also in Civil District Court in Orleans Parish. On July 31, 2014, with an upcoming trial flight, these Bottley Plaintiffs moved the state court to transfer and consolidate their case with the Lester state action. Based on this motion for consolidation, Bottley Defendant Exxon Mobil Oil removed both Lester and Bottley to this Court under the Class Action Fairness Act ("CAFA"). Plaintiffs moved to remand the cases to state court. This Court, however, denied remand on October 23, 2014, and consolidated Lester and Bottley. R. Docs. 45, 46. The Court explained that Plaintiffs' motion to consolidate in state court constituted a "proposal for joint trial," particularly where over 500 plaintiffs remained at the time the motion to consolidate was filed. Thus, CAFA bestowed federal "mass action" jurisdiction. Plaintiffs appealed this decision, and in June 2018, the Fifth Circuit upheld this Court's denial of the motion to remand. R. Doc. 383. Subsequently, on January 31, 2019, Shell moved for summary judgment; however, after finding there were still significant issues of material fact regarding Shell's contribution to Plaintiffs' injuries, the Court denied Shell's motion. R. Doc. 566.
    The instant motions relate to two Lester Plaintiffs-Donnie Beasley and Herman LeBlanc. These Plaintiffs' claims have been pending in this action since 2005. R. Doc. 569-1 at 1; R. Doc. 572-3 at 1. On December 19, 2016, Beasley was diagnosed with a bone tumor on his spine, which was subsequently determined to be multiple myeloma. R. Doc. 572-3 at 2. On July 30, 2018, LeBlanc was diagnosed with bladder cancer. R. Doc. 569-1 at 2. Rather than amending their claims in the instant matter to include additional defendants, Beasley and LeBlanc filed separate suits in Louisiana State Court. R. Doc. 572-3 at 1. Of the nine defendants in the state court action, seven are also defendants before this Court in Lester.
    II. PENDING MOTION
    Both Beasley and LeBlanc filed motions pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) seeking dismissal of their claims before this Court without prejudice. R. Doc. 569-1 at 1; R Doc. 572-3 at 1. In their motions, Plaintiffs assert they filed their claims in state court to avoid naming additional defendants in the Lester mass action. R. Doc. 569-1 at 1; R Doc. 572-3 at 1. Next, Plaintiffs contend Defendants will not suffer any legal prejudice if the claims currently before this Court are dismissed. Id. Finally, Plaintiffs argue the state forum offers them an opportunity to have their cases tried more quickly in light of the recent developments in their cancers, which they contend could become more severe "quickly[,] without warning." R. Doc. 569-1 at 5; R Doc. 572-3 at 5.
    In opposition, Defendants argue they will suffer legal prejudice should the Court dismiss Plaintiffs and their claims without prejudice. R. Doc. 579 at 4. In support of their argument, Defendants point to two factors the Fifth Circuit has identified as constituting legal prejudice that Defendants contend are present in this case. R. Doc. 579 at 4. First, Defendants argue Plaintiffs' motions to dismiss are a way to escape an adverse ruling from this Court and circumvent to an expected adverse result in state court. R. Doc. 579 at 4-5. Specifically, Defendants submit Plaintiffs merely seek to avoid this Court's denial of the motion to remand Lester , which has been affirmed by the Fifth Circuit. R. Doc. 579 at 4; R. Doc. 383. With respect to their pending claims in state court, Defendants argue Plaintiffs' motions for voluntary dismissal are a means to circumvent a potentially adverse ruling in the state court proceeding-namely, a stay of their state court cases under the exception of lis pendens. R. Doc. 579 at 6. Second, Defendants contend the far stage at which this litigation has reached cautions against dismissal. Defendants assert they have expended substantial amounts of time, money, and effort litigating this case over sixteen years, five of which have been before this Court following removal. R. Doc. 579 at 7. Defendants also argue judicial efficacy supports denial of Plaintiffs' motions. R. Doc. 579 at 8.
    In their reply, Plaintiffs contend Defendants' claim that they will be prejudiced by a dismissal without prejudice is "legally insignificant." R. Doc. 590 at 1. Because granting the motion would not prejudice Defendants as to "some legal interest, some legal claim, some legal argument," such as "the loss of an affirmative defense ... [or a] statute of limitations [defense]," Plaintiffs argue Defendants will not suffer any legal prejudice. Id. at 1-2. Plaintiffs further contend that the discovery undergone so far in the Lester action would be applicable to the case whether Plaintiffs' claims proceed in this Court or in state court. Id. at 2. Thus, Plaintiffs argue, "There will be no additional expense, work or other prejudice if LeBlanc and Beasley are permitted to proceed in state court." Id. at 3.
    III. LEGAL STANDARD
    Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) provides that, in certain circumstances, an action may be voluntarily dismissed without prejudice "at the plaintiff's request only by court order, on terms that the court considers proper." FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(2). In general, motions for voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(2) should be freely granted "unless the defendant will suffer some plain legal prejudice other than the mere prospect of a second lawsuit." Manshack v. Sw. Elec. Power Co. , 915 F.2d 172, 174 (5th Cir. 1990). As the Fifth Circuit has explained, a defendant may suffer plain, legal prejudice from a plaintiff's voluntary dismissal without prejudice if any of the following factors are present: (1) the plaintiff seeks dismissal after an adverse ruling or to circumvent an expected adverse result; (2) the case has proceeded far in the litigation; or (3) dismissal would strip the defendant of an otherwise available defense. Id. The mere fact that a plaintiff "may obtain some tactical advantage over the defendant in future litigation is not ordinarily a bar to dismissal." Ikospentakis v. Thalassic Steamship Agency , 915 F.2d 176, 177 (5th Cir. 1990). Further, the Fifth Circuit has noted "that additional expense will be incurred in relitigating issues in another forum will not generally support a finding of 'plain legal prejudice' and denial of a Rule 41(a)(2) motion to dismiss." Elbaor v. Tripath Imaging, Inc. , 279 F.3d 314, 317 n.3 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing Manshack , 915 F.2d at 174, n.2 ). But see Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co. v. Costa Lines Cargo Services, Inc. , 903 F.2d 352, 360 (5th Cir. 1990) ("Where the plaintiff does not seek dismissal until a late stage and the defendants have exerted significant time and effort, the district court may, in its discretion, refuse to grant a voluntary dismissal.").
    IV. ANALYSIS
    "The purpose of Rule 41(a)(2) is primarily to prevent voluntary dismissals which unfairly affect the other side, and to permit the imposition of curative conditions." 9 Charles Wright & Arthur Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2364 at 165 (1971) (citations omitted). "If the court finds that legal prejudice does not exist, then the motion should be granted." Stephens v. Cap. Cty. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. , No. 09-759, 2009 WL 10707943, at *3 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 23, 2009). Thus, the Court will consider in turn each of Defendants' arguments that they will suffer legal prejudice if the Court grants Plaintiffs' motions.
    a. Avoiding an Adverse Ruling
    Defendants first argue Plaintiffs' motions are an attempt to avoid this Court's order denying Plaintiffs' motion to remand and the Fifth Circuit's ruling affirming that order. Next, Defendants contend granting Plaintiffs' motion would deprive them of their lis pendens defense in Plaintiffs' pending state court actions. Because these two issues are intertwined, the Court considers them together.
    In Phillips v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. , 874 F.2d 984, 987-88 (5th Cir. 1989), after the Texas district court transferred venue to Louisiana, the defendant moved for summary judgment based on Louisiana's one-year prescription period, a defense evident on the face of the plaintiff's complaint. Id. at 985. The plaintiff then moved for dismissal without prejudice seeking to refile his suit in state court, as the prescription period in other possible jurisdictions exceeded the statute applicable in Louisiana, which the district court denied. Id. Faced with an adverse summary judgment on the statute of limitations, the plaintiff appealed the district court's denial of his Rule 41(a)(2) motion. The Fifth Circuit affirmed, holding that a dismissal without prejudice would have legally prejudiced the defendant, as the statute of limitations had not expired in Texas or Mississippi, where the plaintiff intended to refile. Id. at 987. Because allowing the plaintiff to refile his claim in a different venue would strip the defendant of an absolute defense, the circuit court affirmed the district court's denial of the Rule 41(a)(2) motion. Id.
    Contrastingly, in Manshack v. Southwestern Electric Power Co. , 915 F. 2d 172 (5th Cir. 1990), the Fifth Circuit considered the district court's grant of the plaintiffs' motion for dismissal without prejudice. There, the defendant argued the plaintiff sought dismissal solely to avoid the district court's adverse choice-of-law ruling. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal on appeal, distinguishing its holding in Phillips . As the Fifth Circuit explained, regardless of the venue, the defendant would be "governed by exactly the same choice of law principles in Texas federal or state court," and therefore, unlike the defendant in Phillips , the defendant in Manshack would "not be stripped of an absolute defense." Id. at 175.
    In this case, the adverse ruling Defendants point to is this Court's denial of Plaintiffs' motion to remand. The Court notes at the outset that forum shopping is an insufficient basis upon which to establish legal prejudice. Brown v. Schlumberger Tech. Corp. , No. 01-3755, 2002 WL 550986, at *2 (E.D. La. Apr. 11, 2002). The issue before this Court is more akin to the issue presented in Manshack than the issue before the Fifth Circuit in Phillips . As was the case in Manshack , here Plaintiffs' claims will be governed by the same law whether they proceed in state court or in this court. See Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Elec. Mfg. Co. , 313 U.S. 487, 496, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941). Moreover, even assuming Plaintiffs are attempting to avoid this Court's denial of their motion to remand, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of the plaintiffs' motion to dismiss without prejudice in Manshack , despite the district court's having previously denied the plaintiffs' motion to remand. Thus, the Court will not deny Plaintiffs' motion on this basis.
    With respect to Defendants' losing the availability of their lis pendens exception in state court, this defense is not absolute, such as an exception based on the statute of limitations; rather, the exception of lis pendens simply forces the case to proceed in the court in which the case was first filed. Again, the same law would apply to Plaintiffs' claims regardless of whether the case proceeds in state or federal court. Because granting Plaintiffs' motion to dismiss would not "allow [P]laintiff[s] to select a different body of law unfavorable to [D]efendant[s'] position," the Court will not deny Plaintiffs' motion to dismiss on this basis. See Manshack , 915 F.2d at 175.
    b. Timing, Cost, and Other Considerations
    Finally, Defendants argue they will suffer legal prejudice from the dismissal of these two Plaintiffs, as (1) this case has been pending before this Court since August 2014, (2) the parties have undergone extensive motions practice, and (3) allowing both this CAFA mass action and the two prospective individual actions to proceed simultaneously will force Defendants to litigate substantially similar claims in multiple venues. In support of their position, Defendants point to Stephens v. Capitol County Fire Insurance Co. , No. 09-759, 2009 WL 10707943, at *3 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 23, 2009) and Bullard v. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. , No. 07-6883, 2008 WL 4104355 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 29, 2008).
    In Stephens , the plaintiffs initially filed suit in state court, but the defendants subsequently removed the case pursuant to CAFA. 2009 WL 10707943, at *1. After the court denied the plaintiffs' motion to remand, the plaintiffs sought voluntary dismissal of their claims. Id. , at *2. The defendants opposed the motion, arguing they would suffer legal prejudice. Id. The court disagreed, noting (1) that the deadline for dispositive motions was a year away, suggesting "[n]either party ha[d] expended significant effort or expense in preparing for trial"; (2) the plaintiffs were not seeking to return to state court in order to "evade a likely adverse ruling"; and (3) the plaintiffs sought "to dismiss the entire putative class action rather than a portion of Plaintiffs' claims." Id. , at *3-4. Thus, the court concluded the defendants would not suffer any legal prejudice and granted the plaintiffs' 41(a)(2) motion.
    In Bullard , the plaintiffs also initially filed their case in state court, but had their claims removed to federal court pursuant to CAFA. 2008 WL 4104355, at *1. Unlike Stephens , however, following the court's denial of the plaintiffs' motion to remand, 53 out of 144 plaintiffs moved to have their cases dismissed without prejudice. Id. Because the plaintiffs sought dismissal of some, but not all, of their cases, the court denied the plaintiffs' motion, reasoning that "[t]o dismiss fifty-three plaintiffs from this case unconditionally without prejudice would subject defendants to the possibility of litigating suits based on the same claims in both this Court and in state court-a circumstance that would largely defeat the purpose of CAFA and significantly increase the expense and effort required of defendants preparing for and trying at least two trials." Id. , at *10 (footnote omitted).
    In this case, not only are Plaintiffs seeking to dismiss only two of their claims, both LeBlanc and Beasley have refiled their claims in two separate state courts. Thus, allowing dismissal of LeBlanc's and Beasley's claims would require Defendants to defend suits based on substantially similar claims in three different venues. Moreover, unlike the posture of the case in Stephens , which had only been pending for a short time, this case has been pending before this Court since August 2014. See R. Doc. 1. Since removal, the Court has ruled on Plaintiffs' motion to remand, which was affirmed by the Fifth Circuit, and, although the Court found it was filed prematurely, the Court has also considered Defendants' motion for summary judgment. While the Court does not find Plaintiffs filed their motion to dismiss to avoid these rulings, the Court does find the parties have invested substantial time and effort in litigating this case and therefore will suffer legal prejudice should the Court grant Plaintiffs' motions to dismiss. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not offered any curative actions this Court could take to prevent Defendants from suffering legal prejudice. As a result, the Court will deny Plaintiffs' motions to dismiss without prejudice.
    V. CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons;
    IT IS ORDERED that the motions to dismiss without prejudice filed by Plaintiffs Herman LeBlanc, R. Doc. 569, and Donnie Beasley, R. Doc. 572, be and hereby are DENIED .
    
      
      On March 24, 2017, Beasley filed suit in the 24th Judicial District Court for Jefferson Parish; on November 26, 2018, LeBlanc and his wife filed suit in the 16th Judicial Court for the Parish of St. Mary.
    
    
      
      These Defendants include BP Products North America Inc., BP America Production Company, Atlantic Richfield Company, Intracoastal Tubular Services, Inc., Shell Oil Company, Shell Offshore, Inc. and SWEPI LP.
    
    
      
      The exception of lis pendens , Latin for "suit pending," is embodied in Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 531, which provides: "When two or more suits are pending in a Louisiana court or courts on the same transaction or occurrence, between the same parties in the same capacities, the defendant may have all but the first suit dismissed by excepting thereto as provided in Article 925. When the defendant does not so except, the plaintiff may continue the prosecution of any of the suits, but the first final judgment rendered shall be conclusive of all."