Title: Ex parte 3M Company, Inc., et al. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: CIVIL (In re: Willard Stover v. Synagro-WWT, Inc., et al. ))

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL:02/05/2010 
Notice: T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 
300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1081246 
Ex p a r t e 3M Company, I n c . , 
e t a l . 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : 
W i l l a r d Stover 
v. 
Synagro-WWT, I n c . , 
e t a l . ) 
( F r a n k l i n C i r c u i t Court, CV-09-900005) 
1081254 
Ex p a r t e Toray F l u o r o f i b e r s America, Inc. 
PETITION FOR 
WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : 
W i l l a r d Stover 
v. 
Synagro-WWT, I n c . , 
e t a l . ) 
( F r a n k l i n C i r c u i t Court, CV-09-900005) 
1081265 
Ex p a r t e Synagro South, LLC, 
and 
Synagro-WWT, Inc. 
PETITION FOR 
WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : 
W i l l a r d Stover 
v. 
Synagro-WWT, I n c . , 
e t a l . 
and 
David Gaston 
v. 
Synagro-WWT, I n c . , 
e t a l . ) 
( F r a n k l i n C i r c u i t Court, CV-09-900005 and 
CV-09-900009) 
BOLIN, 
J u s t i c e . 
The f o l l o w i n g p e t i t i o n e r s , d e f e n d a n t s i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
f i l e d 
s e p a r a t e 
p e t i t i o n s 
f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus i n t h i s 
2 
1081246, 1081254, 
1081265 
p r o c e e d i n g 
a r i s i n g 
f r o m 
two 
a c t i o n s 
f i l e d 
and 
t h e n 
c o n s o l i d a t e d i n 
t h e F r a n k l i n C i r c u i t C o u r t : 
3M Company, I n c . , 
D a i k i n 
A m e r i c a , 
I n c . , 
and D y n e o n , 
LLC ( c a s e 
no. 1 0 8 1 2 4 6 ) ; 
T o r a y 
F l u o r o f i b e r s A m e r i c a , 
I n c . ( c a s e 
no. 1 0 8 1 2 5 4 ) ; and 
S y n a g r o S o u t h , L L C , and Synagro-WWT, 
I n c . 
( " S y n a g r o " ) ( c a s e 
no. 
1 0 8 1 2 6 5 ) . 
We h a v e 
c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e p e t i t i o n s f o r 
t h e 
p u r p o s e o f w r i t i n g one o p i n i o n b e c a u s e a l l t h r e e s e e k 
s i m i l a r 
mandamus 
r e l i e f , 
i . e . , 
a c h a n g e o f v e n u e i n t h e u n d e r l y i n g 
a c t i o n s . 
I n c a s e no. 1081246 and c a s e no. 1081254, we 
g r a n t 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n s and i s s u e t h e w r i t s ; i n c a s e no. 1 0 8 1 2 6 5 , we 
g r a n t t h e p e t i t i o n i n p a r t and deny i t 
i n p a r t and i s s u e t h e 
w r i t . 
I . 
F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
On F e b r u a r y 5, 2009, 
W i l l a r d S t o v e r 
f i l e d a 
s t a t e w i d e 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n 
i n t h e 
F r a n k l i n 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s 
i n c a s e 
no. 
1081245 
and 
c a s e 
no. 
1 0 8 1 2 6 5 , 
B i o l o g i c a l P r o c e s s o r s o f A l a b a m a , I n c . , 
a n d f i c t i t i o u s l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
( C V - 0 9 - 9 0 0 0 0 5 - " t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n " ) , a l l e g i n g t h a t 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s h a d n e g l i g e n t l y p o l l u t e d f a r m l a n d , 
g r a s s l a n d s , 
and 
w a t e r s u p p l i e s i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y and o t h e r 
c o u n t i e s i n 
A l a b a m a w i t h p e r f l u o r o o c t a n o i c a c i d ("PFOA"), 
p e r f l u o r o o c t a n e 
3 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
s u l f o n a t e ("PFOS"), and o t h e r p e r f l u o r o c h e m i c a l s ( h e r e i n a f t e r 
s o m e t i m e s 
r e f e r r e d 
t o 
as 
" b i o s o l i d s " ) .
1 
The 
c l a s s 
S t o v e r 
s o u g h t t o r e p r e s e n t was composed o f 
" [ a ] l l p e r s o n s 
w i t h i n t h e 
S t a t e 
o f A l a b a m a who, 
w i t h i n t h e 
p a s t 
s i x y e a r s , have 
had 
PFOA, PFOS, and 
o t h e r p e r f l u o r o c h e m i c a l s r e l e a s e d o r dumped 
o n t o t h e i r p r o p e r t y by t h e d e f e n d a n t s . " 
A t t h e t i m e he 
f i l e d 
t h e c o m p l a i n t , 
S t o v e r r e s i d e d i n L a w r e n c e C o u n t y , and he 
d i d 
n o t own 
p r o p e r t y i n F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y . 
On 
F e b r u a r y 
16, 
2009, 
D a v i d 
G a s t o n , 
a 
r e s i d e n t 
o f 
F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y , 
f i l e d 
a c o m p l a i n t 
i n t h e 
F r a n k l i n 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
a g a i n s t 
o n l y 
S y n a g r o 
and 
o t h e r 
f i c t i t i o u s l y 
named 
p a r t i e s ( C V - 0 9 - 9 0 0 0 0 9 - " t h e G a s t o n a c t i o n " ) , a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
had n e g l i g e n t l y c a u s e d a n d / o r a l l o w e d PFOA and PFOS 
t o 
be 
r e l e a s e d o n t o h i s p r o p e r t y 
i n F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y .
2 
The 
n e x t day, G a s t o n 
f i l e d a m o t i o n , 
p u r s u a n t 
t o R u l e 42, A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
s e e k i n g t o h a v e h i s c a s e c o n s o l i d a t e d w i t h t h e 
S t o v e r 
1 S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
t h e a l l e g a t i o n s s t e m f r o m t h e p r a c t i c e 
o f 
s p r e a d i n g b i o s o l i d s 
(sewage s l u d g e c u l l e d f r o m i n d u s t r i a l 
and 
human w a s t e ) 
on 
f a r m l a n d 
as 
a way 
o f d i s p o s i n g o f 
t h i s 
b y ¬
p r o d u c t 
o f m u n i c i p a l sewage t r e a t m e n t . 
These human-waste 
by¬
p r o d u c t s c o n t a i n , among o t h e r t h i n g s , PFOA and PFOS, w h i c h a r e 
a l l e g e d t o be h i g h l y t o x i c 
s u b s t a n c e s . 
2 S y n a g r o 
a c t u a l l y 
p e r f o r m e d 
t h e 
" s p r e a d i n g " 
o f 
t h e 
b i o s o l i d s o n t o t h e f a r m l a n d s . 
The 
o t h e r p e t i t i o n e r s 
o p e r a t e 
m a n u f a c t u r i n g 
f a c i l i t i e s 
i n M o r g a n C o u n t y . 
4 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
a c t i o n ; t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e c a s e s . 
On 
F e b r u a r y 
19, 2009, F r a n k l i n C o u n t y , by and t h r o u g h t h e F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y 
C o m m i s s i o n , i n t e r v e n e d as a p l a i n t i f f 
i n t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n . 
A l l 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d 
a 
s e c o n d 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
on 
F e b r u a r y 
23, 
2009, 
a d d i n g 
as 
d e f e n d a n t s 
T o r a y 
F l u o r o f i b e r s 
A m e r i c a , 
I n c . , and 
T o r a y 
C a r b o n 
F i b e r s 
A m e r i c a , 
I n c . ,
3 
and 
p u r p o r t i n g t o b r i n g c l a i m s on b e h a l f o f a s t a t e w i d e 
c l a s s . 
The 
d e f e n d a n t s moved t o 
t r a n s f e r 
t h e 
S t o v e r 
a c t i o n 
t o 
M o r g a n C o u n t y , where t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' m a n u f a c t u r i n g 
f a c i l i t i e s 
a r e 
l o c a t e d , 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
R u l e 
8 2 ( d ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
c o n t e n d i n g t h a t v e n u e i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y was 
i m p r o p e r u n d e r § 
6-3-7, A l a . Code 1975, 
and, 
a l t e r n a t i v e l y , 
t h a t , i f v e n u e 
was 
p r o p e r 
i n 
F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y , 
t h e 
c a s e 
s h o u l d n o n e t h e l e s s 
be 
t r a n s f e r r e d t o Morgan C o u n t y , p u r s u a n t t o A l a . Code 1975, § 6¬
3-21.1 ( t h e f o r u m non c o n v e n i e n s 
s t a t u t e ) . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
s t a t e d , 
among 
o t h e r 
t h i n g s , 
t h a t 
S t o v e r 
i s 
a 
r e s i d e n t 
o f L a w r e n c e 
C o u n t y ; 
t h a t 
S t o v e r does 
n o t 
own 
any 
p r o p e r t y 
i n 
F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y ; 
t h a t 
t h e 
p r i n c i p a l 
p l a c e s 
o f 
b u s i n e s s 
i n A l a b a m a 
f o r 
a l l t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
i s 
i n M o r g a n 
C o u n t y ; 
and t h a t r e l e v a n t w i t n e s s e s and d o c u m e n t s 
p e r t a i n i n g 
3 T o r a y C a r b o n F i b e r s A m e r i c a , I n c . , was d i s m i s s e d f r o m t h e 
a c t i o n b e f o r e t h e s e p e t i t i o n s were 
f i l e d . 
5 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
t o 
t h e s t a t e d 
c l a i m s 
a r e l o c a t e d i n Morgan 
C o u n t y . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d a r e s p o n s e , 
r e q u e s t i n g t h a t " s h o u l d t h e C o u r t 
f i n d t h a t a n o t h e r 
c o u n t y w o u l d be a more c o n v e n i e n t 
f o r u m 
f o r 
t h e S t o v e r 
[ a c t i o n ] , t h e a p p r o p r i a t e 
r e l i e f w o u l d be t o s e n d 
t h a t 
c a s e , a n d n o t t h e G a s t o n 
[ a c t i o n ] ... t o L a w r e n c e , n o t 
M o r g a n [ , ] 
C o u n t y . 
T h i s 
i s so b e c a u s e Mr. S t o v e r 
and h i s 
c o n t a m i n a t e d 
p r o p e r t y 
a r e b o t h 
l o c a t e d 
i n L a w r e n c e , n o t 
M o r g a n [ , ] C o u n t y . " 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t c o n d u c t e d an e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g on May 
1, 2009, and e n t e r e d an o r d e r on May 18, 2009, c o n c l u d i n g 
t h a t 
v e n u e f o r t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n was p r o p e r 
i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y 
u n d e r § 6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 
b e c a u s e "many o f t h e a c t s o r 
o m i s s i o n s 
c o m p l a i n e d o f i n t h e S t o v e r 
[ a c t i o n ] t o o k 
p l a c e i n F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y " and "many p a r c e l s o f r e a l p r o p e r t y i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y 
were a f f e c t e d b y t h e c o n d u c t g i v i n g r i s e t o p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c l a i m s 
i n t h e S t o v e r 
[ a c t i o n ] . " 
The t r i a l 
c o u r t f u r t h e r a g r e e d w i t h 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s t h a t a s i g n i f i c a n t l y more c o n v e n i e n t f o r u m t h a n 
F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y was 
a v a i l a b l e . 
However, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d i s a g r e e d 
t h a t M o r g a n C o u n t y was t h e most c o n v e n i e n t 
f o r u m . 
The 
t r i a l c o u r t i n s t e a d " d e c o n s o l i d a t e d " t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n and 
t h e G a s t o n a c t i o n and s u a s p o n t e t r a n s f e r r e d t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n 
6 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
t o L a w r e n c e C o u n t y - - o n t h e b a s e s t h a t S t o v e r was 
a r e s i d e n t 
o f 
L a w r e n c e C o u n t y and t h a t t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h e s p r e a d i n g 
o f 
b i o s o l i d s t o o k p l a c e 
t h e r e .
4 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
f u r t h e r 
o r d e r e d 
t h a t t h e G a s t o n a c t i o n r e m a i n i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y b e c a u s e 
t h a t 
4 T h e s e p a r a t e 
n a t u r e 
and 
i d e n t i t y o f c o n s o l i d a t e d 
a c t i o n s 
was 
d i s c u s s e d i n H.J.T. v. S t a t e ex r e l . 
M.S.M., [Ms. 
2 0 8 0 5 9 5 , 
O c t o b e r 9, 2009] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
2 0 0 9 ) , i n 
w h i c h t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s 
s t a t e d : 
"'[W]hen 
two 
o r 
more 
a c t i o n s 
a r e 
c o n s o l i d a t e d 
u n d e r R u l e 
42, 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
t h e a c t i o n s do n o t 
l o s e t h e i r 
s e p a r a t e 
i d e n t i t i e s . 
L e a g u e v. M c D o n a l d , 355 
So. 
2d 
695, 
697 
( A l a . 
1 9 7 8 ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
" [ a ] n 
o r d e r 
o f c o n s o l i d a t i o n does n o t merge 
t h e 
a c t i o n s i n t o a s i n g l e 
[ a c t i o n ] , c h a n g e 
t h e 
r i g h t s 
o r 
t h e 
p a r t i e s , o r make t h o s e 
who 
a r e 
p a r t i e s 
t o 
one 
[ a c t i o n ] 
p a r t i e s 
t o 
a n o t h e r . " Jerome A. H o f f m a n , A l a b a m a 
C i v i l 
P r o c e d u r e § 5.71 
(2d ed. 2 0 0 1 ) ( c i t i n g E v e r s  
v. 
L i n k 
E n t e r s . , 
I n c . , 
38 6 
So. 
2d 
1177 
( A l a . C i v . A p p . 
1 9 8 0 ) ) . 
F i n a l l y , 
" ' i n 
c o n s o l i d a t e d 
a c t i o n s 
... 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
and 
p l e a d i n g s 
i n 
one 
a c t i o n 
do 
n o t 
become 
p a r t i e s 
and 
p l e a d i n g s 
i n t h e 
o t h e r . ' " 
Ex 
 
p a r t e 
F l e x i b l e 
P r o d s . Co., 
915 
So. 
2d 
34, 
50 
( A l a . 2005) ( q u o t i n g Teague v. M o t e s , 
57 
A l a . 
App. 
609-13, 330 
So. 
2d 434, 
438 
( C i v . 
1 9 7 6 ) ) . ' 
"Solomon v. L i b e r t y N a t ' l L i f e 
I n s . Co., 
953 
So. 
2d 
1211, 
1222 
( A l a . 
200 6) . When 
a c t i o n s 
a r e 
o r d e r e d 
 
c o n s o l i d a t e d , 
'each 
a c t i o n 
r e t a i n s 
i t s 
s e p a r a t e 
 
i d e n t i t y 
and 
t h u s r e q u i r e s 
t h e 
e n t r y 
o f a 
s e p a r a t e 
 
j u d g m e n t . ' L e a g u e v. M c D o n a l d , 
355 
So. 
2d 
695, 
697 
( A l a . 
1 9 7 8 ) . " 
7 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
a c t i o n 
" a r i s e s 
s o l e l y o u t o f i n j u r i e s i n c u r r e d 
i n F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y . " 
S y n a g r o 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f mandamus, 
d i r e c t i n g 
t h e 
F r a n k l i n 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o 
t r a n s f e r 
t h e 
c o n s o l i d a t e d 
a c t i o n -- i . e . , t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n and t h e G a s t o n 
a c t i o n -- t o M o r g a n C o u n t y . 
The r e m a i n i n g named d e f e n d a n t s 
( o t h e r 
t h a n B i o l o g i c a l P r o c e s s o r s o f A l a b a m a , 
I n c . ) , i n two 
s e p a r a t e p e t i t i o n s , s o u g h t a w r i t o f mandamus, d i r e c t i n g t h e 
F r a n k l i n C i r c u i t C o u r t t o t r a n s f e r 
o n l y t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n t o 
M o r g a n C o u n t y . 
I I . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
" T h i s C o u r t 
w i l l 
i s s u e a w r i t o f mandamus 
o n l y 
when t h e p e t i t i o n e r h a s d e m o n s t r a t e d ' " ' ( 1 ) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t i n t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o t h e o r d e r 
s o u g h t ; 
(2) 
an 
i m p e r a t i v e 
d u t y 
upon 
t h e r e s p o n d e n t 
t o 
p e r f o r m , a c c o m p a n i e d b y a r e f u s a l t o do s o ; (3) t h e 
l a c k o f a n o t h e r a d e q u a t e remedy; and (4) 
p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o f t h e 
c o u r t . ' " ' 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
J o r d a n , 779 So. 2d 183, 184 
( A l a . 2000) 
( q u o t i n g Ex  
p a r t e P & H C o n s t r . Co, 723 So. 2d 45, 47 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 8 ) , 
q u o t i n g 
i n 
t u r n 
Ex 
p a r t e 
U n i t e d 
S e r v . 
 
S t a t i o n s , 
I n c . , 628 So. 2d 501 
, 503 ( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) ) ; 
see 
a l s o Ex p a r t e M a s t e r B o a t 
B u i l d e r s , 
I n c . , 779 
So. 
2d 192 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 'A p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f 
mandamus i s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e 
means f o r c h a l l e n g i n g a 
t r i a l c o u r t ' s 
r e f u s a l t o t r a n s f e r an a c t i o n ' b e c a u s e 
o f i m p r o p e r v e n u e . Ex p a r t e A l a b a m a Power Co., 640 
So. 2d 921, 922 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 4 ) . " 
8 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
Ex p a r t e 
A l f a Mut. Gen. I n s . Co., 806 So. 2d 367, 368 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 1 ) . 
I I I . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
A t t h e o u t s e t , we n o t e t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r s p o i n t t o t h e 
f a c t t h a t i n t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t d i d 
n o t e n t e r 
an o r d e r d e t e r m i n i n g 
t h a t t h a t a c t i o n c o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d as 
a 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n and t h a t 
s u c h an 
o r d e r 
i s m a n d a t o r y . 
I n 
B a g l e y v. C i t y o f M o b i l e , 352 So. 2d 1115, 1118 ( A l a . 1 9 7 7 ) , 
t h i s C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
"The 
r e c o r d i s s i l e n t as t o w h e t h e r a 
h e a r i n g 
was h a d on t h e c l a s s a c t i o n q u e s t i o n , a n d a b s e n t an 
o r d e r o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s u i t 
c o u l d 
be 
m a i n t a i n e d 
as a 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n . 
An 
o r d e r 
o f 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
i s m a n d a t o r y . 
3B M o o r e ' s 
F e d e r a l 
P r a c t i c e , 5 2 3 . 5 0 , a t p. 2 3 - 1 1 0 1 . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
has t h e d u t y t o d e t e r m i n e t h e c l a s s a c t i o n q u e s t i o n 
w h e t h e r o r n o t a m o t i o n i s made b y e i t h e r o f t h e 
p a r t i e s . 
R o d r i g u e z v . E a s t T e x a s M o t o r F r e i g h t , 505 
F.2d 40 ( 5 t h . C i r . 1 9 7 4 ) . 
I t 
must d e t e r m i n e , 
b e f o r e 
e n t r y o f j u d g m e n t , t h a t a l l p r e r e q u i s i t e s o f 
[ R u l e ] 
2 3 ( a ) a r e met a n d , i n a d d i t i o n , t h a t a t l e a s t one o f 
t h e 
t h r e e 
r e q u i r e m e n t s 
o f 
[ R u l e ] 
2 3 ( b ) 
a r e 
s a t i s f i e d . 
3B M o o r e ' s F e d e r a l P r a c t i c e , 5 2 3 . 0 3 , a t 
p. 
23-228; 
R u l e 
2 3 ( c ) ( 1 ) . 
T h e s e 
f i n d i n g s and 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n s 
were n o t made, 
t h e r e f o r e 
t h e r e a r e 
b e f o r e us o n l y t h e named p l a i n t i f f s 
" 
B e c a u s e 
t h e r e i s n o t h i n g 
b e f o r e 
t h i s 
C o u r t t o i n d i c a t e 
t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e d w h e t h e r t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n 
9 
1081246, 1081254, 
1081265 
c o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d 
as a c l a s s a c t i o n , o n l y S t o v e r , t h e named 
p l a i n t i f f , 
i s b e f o r e u s . 
S t o v e r c o n t e n d s t h a t v e n u e i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y i s p r o p e r 
u n d e r 
§ 
6-3-7(a) (1) b e c a u s e , 
he 
s a y s , 
t h e 
b i o s o l i d s 
were 
s p r e a d o n t o p r o p e r t y i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y and v e n u e i s t h e r e f o r e 
p r o p e r 
t h e r e u n d e r b o t h t h e " e v e n t s 
o r o m i s s i o n s " 
and 
" r e a l 
p r o p e r t y " p r o n g s o f § 6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , he 
a r g u e s : 
" L i k e w i s e , s u b s e c t i o n (b) [ o f § 6-3-7] d o e s n o t 
l i m i t 
i n any way 
t h e p r o n g 
o f 
s u b s e c t i o n 
( a ) ( 1 ) 
m a k i n g 
v e n u e 
p r o p e r 
i n 
t h e 
c o u n t y 
i n w h i c h 
a 
' s u b s t a n t i a l 
p a r t 
o f 
r e a l 
p r o p e r t y 
t h a t 
i s t h e 
s u b j e c t o f t h e a c t i o n i s s i t u a t e d . ' 
S u b s e c t i o n 
(b) 
d e a l s 
o n l y w i t h t h e r e s i d e n c y o f p l a i n t i f f s . 
The 
w o r d s 
' r e a l 
p r o p e r t y ' 
do 
n o t 
a p p e a r 
a n y w h e r e 
i n 
s u b s e c t i o n 
( b ) . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , when e v a l u a t i n g t h e 
p r o p r i e t y o f v e n u e , i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e t o l o o k a t t h e 
l o c a t i o n o f t h e r e a l p r o p e r t y 
t h a t ' i s t h e s u b j e c t 
o f t h e a c t i o n , ' and s i n c e 
t h i s 
i s a c l a s s a c t i o n ,  
v e n u e 
i s p r o p e r 
where 
s u c h 
p r o p e r t y 
b e l o n g i n g 
t o 
 
p l a i n t i f f s 
and 
t h e 
c l a s s members 
' i s s i t u a t e d . ' 
A l a . 
Code 1975, § 
6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) . " 
( E m p h a s i s 
added.) 
The 
p e t i t i o n e r s , 
on t h e o t h e r 
h a n d , a r g u e 
t h a t § 
6-3-
7 ( a ) ( 1 ) 
c a n n o t be i n t e r p r e t e d t o a l l o w f o r v e n u e i n a c o u n t y 
b a s e d upon n o t h i n g more t h a n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f p r o p e r t y 
t h e r e , 
owned by p a r t i e s n o t b e f o r e 
t h e C o u r t . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
t h e y 
a r g u e t h a t § 6-3-7(b) p r o v i d e s t h a t o n l y t h e r e s i d e n c e o f t h e 
c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i n t h e o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t 
i s c o n s i d e r e d 
10 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
and t h a t t h e r e s i d e n c e o f a c l a s s member o t h e r t h a n t h e named 
c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e may 
n o t be 
c o n s i d e r e d . 
The 
d i s p o s i t i v e 
i s s u e 
i s w h e t h e r 
F r a n k l i n C o u n t y 
i s 
a 
p r o p e r v e n u e f o r t h e 
S t o v e r 
a c t i o n u n d e r § 6-3-7, A l a . Code 
1975, when S t o v e r ' s o n l y c o n n e c t i o n t o F r a n k l i n C o u n t y i s t h a t 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y 
on w h i c h 
t h e 
b i o s o l i d s were s p r e a d 
b e l o n g s 
t o 
o t h e r unnamed c l a s s members. 
I t i s u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t v e n u e i n 
t h e 
G a s t o n 
a c t i o n was 
i n i t i a l l y 
p r o p e r 
i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y ; 
G a s t o n r e s i d e s t h e r e and owns p r o p e r t y t h e r e . 
We w o u l d a l s o 
n o t e 
t h a t 
a l t h o u g h 
S y n a g r o 
s e e k s 
t o 
have 
t h e 
e n t i r e 
c o n s o l i d a t e d 
a c t i o n 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
t o 
M o r g a n 
C o u n t y , 
i t , 
n o n e t h e l e s s , 
f a i l s 
t o show t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e x c e e d e d i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i n l e a v i n g t h e 
G a s t o n 
a c t i o n i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y 
where v e n u e 
i s u n d i s p u t e d l y 
p r o p e r . 
As 
n o t e d 
i n n o t e 
3, 
s u p r a , 
i n c o n s o l i d a t e d a c t i o n s , t h e p a r t i e s and p l e a d i n g s 
i n 
one 
a c t i o n do n o t become p a r t i e s and p l e a d i n g s 
i n t h e 
o t h e r . 
H.J.T. v. S t a t e ex r e l . 
M.S.M., [Ms. 2 0 8 0 5 9 5 , O c t o b e r 9, 2009] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
2 0 0 9 ) . 
S e c t i o n 
6-3-7 
s p e c i f i e s 
t h e 
p r o p e r 
v e n u e 
f o r 
c i v i l 
a c t i o n s b r o u g h t i n A l a b a m a c o u r t s a g a i n s t c o r p o r a t i o n s . 
T h a t 
s e c t i o n 
p r o v i d e s : 
11 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
" ( a ) A l l c i v i l a c t i o n s a g a i n s t c o r p o r a t i o n s may 
be b r o u g h t i n any o f t h e f o l l o w i n g 
c o u n t i e s : 
"(1) 
I n 
t h e 
c o u n t y 
i n 
w h i c h 
a 
s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t o f t h e e v e n t s o r 
o m i s s i o n s 
g i v i n g 
r i s e 
t o t h e c l a i m 
o c c u r r e d , 
o r a 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
p a r t o f r e a l p r o p e r t y 
t h a t i s 
t h e 
s u b j e c t o f t h e a c t i o n i s s i t u a t e d ; o r 
"(2) 
I n 
t h e 
c o u n t y 
o f 
t h e 
c o r p o r a t i o n ' s 
p r i n c i p a l 
o f f i c e 
i n 
t h i s 
s t a t e ; o r 
"(3) 
I n 
t h e 
c o u n t y 
i n w h i c h 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
r e s i d e d , o r i f 
t h e p l a i n t i f f i s 
an 
e n t i t y 
o t h e r 
t h a n an i n d i v i d u a l , 
where 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f h a d i t s p r i n c i p a l 
o f f i c e i n 
t h i s 
s t a t e , a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c r u a l o f 
t h e 
c a u s e o f a c t i o n , i f s u c h 
c o r p o r a t i o n 
d o e s b u s i n e s s by a g e n t i n t h e c o u n t y o f t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
r e s i d e n c e ; o r 
"(4) I f s u b d i v i s i o n s ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) , 
o r (3) 
do n o t a p p l y , 
i n any c o u n t y i n w h i c h t h e 
c o r p o r a t i o n was d o i n g 
b u s i n e s s by a g e n t a t 
t h e 
t i m e o f t h e a c c r u a l o f t h e c a u s e o f 
a c t i o n . 
"(b) The r e s i d e n c e 
o f o n l y any p r o p e r l y 
j o i n e d  
named c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s may be  
c o n s i d e r e d 
i n d e t e r m i n i n g 
p r o p e r v e n u e i n a 
c l a s s  
a c t i o n . 
The 
r e s i d e n c y 
o f any p u t a t i v e 
o r 
a c t u a l  
member o f a c l a s s o t h e r 
t h a n a named 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e  
s h a l l n o t be c o n s i d e r e d 
i n d e t e r m i n i n g 
p r o p e r v e n u e  
f o r a c l a s s a c t i o n . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
S t o v e r , 
a r e s i d e n t 
o f L a w r e n c e C o u n t y , commenced 
t h i s 
a c t i o n 
i n F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y 
on 
b e h a l f 
o f 
h i m s e l f 
and 
a l l 
12 
1081246, 1081254, 
1081265 
p l a i n t i f f s 
s i m i l a r l y 
s i t u a t e d 
who 
h a d h a d PFOA 
and PFOS 
r e l e a s e d 
o r dumped 
o n t o 
t h e i r 
p r o p e r t y b y t h e d e f e n d a n t s . 
S t o v e r d i d 
n o t own p r o p e r t y i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y . 
S u f f i c e i t t o 
s a y , o u r r e s e a r c h h a s f a i l e d t o r e v e a l any c a s e l a w f r o m 
t h i s 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
i n t e r p r e t i n g 
§ 
6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) 
t o 
a l l o w 
a named 
p l a i n t i f f 
a s s e r t i n g 
a 
p u t a t i v e 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n 
(who 
n e i t h e r 
r e s i d e s i n t h e c o u n t y he h a s c h o s e n as f o r u m n o r owns p r o p e r t y 
t h e r e ) t o l a y 
v e n u e i n a c o u n t y where a p u t a t i v e 
c l a s s member 
r e s i d e s o r owns p r o p e r t y . 
A l t h o u g h t h e r e i s no d e c i s i o n on 
p o i n t , we c o n c l u d e t h a t i t i s s e l f - e v i d e n t 
u n d e r § 6-3-7(b) 
t h a t 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
c a n b a s e 
i t s 
v e n u e 
d e c i s i o n 
o n l y 
on t h e 
r e s i d e n c e 
o f 
a 
named 
c l a s s 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e . 
O t h e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n s 
i n a n a l y z i n g 
t h e v e n u e 
i n a 
p u t a t i v e 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n 
f o l l o w 
t h i s 
l o g i c . 
We 
f i n d 
e s p e c i a l l y p e r s u a s i v e t h e 
h o l d i n g 
i n 
M a z z o c k i v. S t a t e 
Farm 
F i r e & C a s u a l t y Co., 170 
M i s c . 2d 70, 7 1 , 649 N.Y.S. 2d 656, 657 (N.Y. Sup. 1 9 9 6 ) , i n 
w h i c h a New Y o r k c o u r t 
a d d r e s s e d an i d e n t i c a l 
i s s u e : 
"The 
q u e s t i o n p o s e d becomes w h e t h e r , 
i n an 
a c t i o n 
t h a t h a s n o t y e t b e e n 
c e r t i f i e d as a c l a s s 
a c t i o n , 
t h e p o s s i b l e 
e x i s t e n c e o f a c l a s s member r e s i d i n g i n 
a c o u n t y i s s u f f i c i e n t t o a l l o w a p l a i n t i f f t o 
l a y 
v e n u e i n t h a t 
c o u n t y . " 
I n r e s o l v i n g t h e i s s u e , t h e New Y o r k c o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
13 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
"At 
t h i s s t a g e t h e a c t i o n h a s n o t b e e n 
c e r t i f i e d 
as a c l a s s a c t i o n a n d , w i t h 
c e r t a i n l i m i t a t i o n s ... 
can 
be 
t r e a t e d 
as an 
a c t i o n 
i n v o l v i n g 
s o l e l y t h e 
named 
p a r t y . 
I t may 
w e l l be 
t h a t 
t h e a c t i o n i s 
d i s m i s s e d w i t h o u t r e a c h i n g t h e m e r i t s o r t h a t 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n 
s t a t u s 
i s i n a p p r o p r i a t e . 
A t t h i s 
j u n c t u r e , 
t h e r e f o r e , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e s t a t u t e s t h e c o u r t 
can 
o n l y b a s e i t s v e n u e d e c i s i o n on t h e r e s i d e n c e o f 
t h e 
i d e n t i f i e d 
p a r t i e s . 
"The 
few F e d e r a l 
c a s e s w h i c h d i s c u s s 
t h e i s s u e 
o f t h e v e n u e o f a c l a s s 
a c t i o n a p p e a r t o f o l l o w t h e 
r u l e a d o p t e d h e r e ; t h e y r e l y s o l e l y on t h e r e s i d e n c e 
o f 
t h e named 
p a r t i e s 
t o d e t e r m i n e 
p r o p e r 
v e n u e 
( A p p l e t o n 
E l e c . Co. v . A d v a n c e - U n i t e d 
E x p r e s s w a y s , 
494 F.2d 126, 140 [ 7 t h 
C i r . 1 9 7 4 ] ; R e s e a r c h C o r p . v .  
P f i s t e r 
A s s o c i a t e d 
G r o w e r s , 301 F. Supp. 497, 501 
[N.D. 
I l l . 1 9 6 9 ] ; 
D a l e 
E l e c t r o n i c s 
v . 
RCL 
 
E l e c t r o n i c s , 53 F.R.D. 5 3 1 , 538 [D.N.H. 1 9 7 1 ] ; c f . 
 
I n r e N o r t h e r n 
D i s t . o f C a l . ' D a l k o n 
S h i e l d ' 
lUD  
P r o d u c t s 
L i a b . 
L i t i g . , 
526 F. Supp. 887, 906, 909¬
910 
[N.D. C a l . 1 9 8 1 ] , r e v d on o t h e r g r o u n d s 693 F. 
2d 847 [ 9 t h C i r . 
1 9 8 2 ] ) . " 
170 
M i s c . 2d a t 73, 649 N.Y.S.2d a t 657. 
I n t h e i n s t a n t 
c a s e , 
S t o v e r , t h e o n l y named 
p l a i n t i f f , 
commenced an a c t i o n i n a c o u n t y , F r a n k l i n C o u n t y , t h a t h a s no 
c o n n e c t i o n t o h i s c l a i m s . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
F r a n k l i n C o u n t y i s 
n o t 
a p r o p e r f o r u m . 
As n o t e d b y t h e p e t i t i o n e r s , t o c o n s t r u e § 
6 - 3 - 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) as S t o v e r s u g g e s t s w o u l d a l l o w v e n u e t o be p r o p e r 
i n any c o u n t y o f t h e s t a t e 
s i m p l y b y v i r t u e o f t h e a s s e r t i o n 
o f s t a t e w i d e c l a s s 
a l l e g a t i o n s i n a c o m p l a i n t . 
14 
1081246, 1081254, 
1081265 
When an a c t i o n i s commenced i n a c o u n t y i n w h i c h v e n u e 
i s n o t p r o p e r u n d e r by § 6-3-7, A l a . 
Code 1 9 7 5 , t h e a c t i o n 
may be t r a n s f e r r e d p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 3 2 ( d ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., 
w h i c h p r o v i d e s , 
i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
" ( 1 ) As o f t h e 
Commencement o f t h e 
A c t i o n . 
When 
an 
a c t i o n i s commenced 
l a y i n g v e n u e i n t h e w r o n g 
c o u n t y , 
t h e 
c o u r t , 
on 
t i m e l y 
m o t i o n 
o f any 
d e f e n d a n t , s h a l l t r a n s f e r t h e a c t i o n t o t h e c o u r t i n 
w h i c h t h e a c t i o n m i g h t h a v e b e e n p r o p e r l y 
f i l e d a n d 
t h e 
c a s e 
s h a l l 
p r o c e e d as t h o u g h 
o r i g i n a l l y 
f i l e d 
t h e r e i n . 
f i 
" ( 3 ) P r o c e d u r e on T r a n s f e r . 
I n t h e e v e n t t h e  
v e n u e o f t h e a c t i o n i s o r h a s become i m p r o p e r a n d 
v e n u e i s a p p r o p r i a t e 
i n more t h a n one o t h e r 
c o u r t , 
a d e f e n d a n t 
s u e d 
a l o n e o r m u l t i p l e 
d e f e n d a n t s , b y 
u n a n i m o u s a g r e e m e n t , s h a l l h a v e t h e r i g h t t o s e l e c t  
s u c h 
o t h e r 
c o u r t 
t o w h i c h 
t h e a c t i o n 
s h a l l 
be 
 
t r a n s f e r r e d a n d , 
where t h e r e a r e 
m u l t i p l e d e f e n d a n t s 
who a r e u n a b l e t o a g r e e upon a t r a n s f e r e e 
c o u r t , t h e 
c o u r t 
may 
t r a n s f e r t h e a c t i o n 
t o any s u c h 
o t h e r 
c o u r t . " 
( E m p h a s i s 
added.) 
F u r t h e r m o r e , 
" [ t ] h e r e i s no p r o v i s i o n i n R u l e 8 2 ( d ) 
b y 
w h i c h a p l a i n t i f f may d e s i g n a t e t h e p r o p e r f o r u m a f t e r h a v i n g 
commenced t h e a c t i o n i n an i m p r o p e r f o r u m . 
I n s u c h a c a s e , 
t h a t 
p r e r o g a t i v e 
l i e s 
s o l e l y 
w i t h t h e d e f e n d a n t . " 
Ex p a r t e 
A l f a M u t . Gen. I n s . 
Co., 806 So. 2d a t 369. I n t h e i n s t a n t 
c a s e , t h e d e f e n d a n t s moved t o t r a n s f e r t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n t o 
15 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
M o r g a n 
C o u n t y . 
I t i s u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t Morgan 
C o u n t y 
i s 
a 
p r o p e r v e n u e f o r t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n . 
The 
p r i n c i p a l p l a c e s 
o f 
b u s i n e s s 
i n A l a b a m a 
f o r 
a l l t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
a r e 
i n M o r g a n 
C o u n t y , and r e l e v a n t w i t n e s s e s and d o c u m e n t s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e 
s t a t e d c l a i m s a r e l o c a t e d i n Morgan C o u n t y . The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
h o w e v e r , 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
t h e 
S t o v e r 
a c t i o n 
t o L a w r e n c e 
C o u n t y - -
a p p a r e n t l y 
a t 
S t o v e r ' s 
r e q u e s t , 
a l s o 
an 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
v e n u e 
b a s e d 
on 
t h e 
f o r u m 
non 
c o n v e n i e n s 
s t a t u t e . 
B e c a u s e 
we 
c o n c l u d e t h a t v e n u e was 
i m p r o p e r 
i n F r a n k l i n C o u n t y , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t was 
w i t h o u t 
a u t h o r i t y t o t r a n s f e r t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n 
t o 
any f o r u m o t h e r t h a n one 
r e q u e s t e d by t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
S t o v e r 
r a i s e s 
an 
a d d i t i o n a l 
a r g u m e n t 
r e g a r d i n g 
R u l e 
8 2 ( d ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , S t o v e r a r g u e s 
t h a t R u l e 
82(d) 
r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' 
m o t i o n 
t o t r a n s f e r be 
by 
u n a n i m o u s 
c o n s e n t 
and 
t h a t , 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
B i o l o g i c a l 
P r o c e s s o r s 
o f 
A l a b a m a , 
I n c . , 
a named 
d e f e n d a n t , 
d i d 
n o t 
c o n s e n t 
t o 
t h e 
t r a n s f e r . 
T h i s 
a r g u m e n t 
i s w i t h o u t 
m e r i t . 
D u r i n g t h e h e a r i n g on t h e m o t i o n s f o r a c h a n g e o f v e n u e , 
t h i s 
i s s u e 
was 
d i s c u s s e d , 
and 
i t was 
r e v e a l e d 
t h a t 
B i o l o g i c a l 
P r o c e s s o r s had n o t b e e n s e r v e d w i t h t h e c o m p l a i n t . 
S t o v e r 
has 
i n c l u d e d 
i n 
h i s 
a n s w e r 
and 
b r i e f 
i n 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o 
t h e 
16 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
p e t i t i o n s f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus a c o p y o f t h e summons a n d 
c o m p l a i n t , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t B i o l o g i c a l P r o c e s s o r s was s e r v e d on 
J u n e 29, 2009. 
However, s e r v i c e o f p r o c e s s was n o t e f f e c t e d 
u n t i l 
a f t e r t h e h e a r i n g on t h e m o t i o n f o r 
a c h a n g e o f v e n u e 
and 
a f t e r t h e e n t r y o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r , d a t e d May 18, 
2009, 
t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n t o L a w r e n c e C o u n t y . 
Our 
r e v i e w i n t h i s c a s e i s l i m i t e d t o o n l y t h o s e 
f a c t s t h a t were 
b e f o r e t h e t r i a l c o u r t . 
Ex p a r t e P i k e F a b r i c a t i o n , I n c . , 859 
So. 2d 1089, 1091 ( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) . 
B e c a u s e i t was o p e n l y 
a d m i t t e d 
d u r i n g t h e h e a r i n g 
t h a t 
B i o l o g i c a l 
P r o c e s s o r s h a d n o t b e e n 
s e r v e d when t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d i t s o r d e r on t h e c h a n g e -
o f - v e n u e m o t i o n s , 
B i o l o g i c a l P r o c e s s o r s was n o t a p a r t y a t 
t h e 
t i m e a n d c o u l d n o t have c o n s e n t e d t o a t r a n s f e r . 
I V . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
We 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r s 
have 
d e m o n s t r a t e d 
a 
c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t t o an o r d e r t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e S t o v e r 
a c t i o n 
t o t h e Morgan C i r c u i t C o u r t . 
We f u r t h e r c o n c l u d e 
t h a t v e n u e 
i n 
t h e 
G a s t o n 
a c t i o n 
i s 
p r o p e r 
i n 
F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , we g r a n t t h e p e t i t i o n s a n d i s s u e a w r i t 
d i r e c t i n g 
t h e 
F r a n k l i n 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t t o v a c a t e 
i t s o r d e r 
t r a n s f e r r i n g 
t h e 
S t o v e r 
a c t i o n t o L a w r e n c e C o u n t y a n d f u r t h e r 
d i r e c t i n g 
17 
1081246, 1081254, 1081265 
t h a t c o u r t t o t r a n s f e r t h e S t o v e r a c t i o n t o M o r g a n C o u n t y , a n d 
we d e n y t h a t 
p a r t o f S y n a g r o ' s 
p e t i t i o n 
r e q u e s t i n g 
t h a t we 
a l s o 
t r a n s f e r t h e G a s t o n a c t i o n t o Morgan C o u n t y . 
1081246 -- P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
1081254 -- P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
1081265 -- P E T I T I O N GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART; 
WRIT ISSUED. 
Cobb, C . J . , 
a n d L y o n s , W o o d a l l , 
S t u a r t , 
S m i t h , 
P a r k e r , 
M u r d o c k , a n d Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
18