Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_06-cv-00293/USCOURTS-alnd-2_06-cv-00293-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Insurance Contract

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

HAROLD CRUMBLEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL

SERVICES GROUP, et al.,

Defendants.

}

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}

}

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CIVIL ACTION NO.

06-AR-0293-S

MEMORANDUM OPINION

The above-entitled case was removed to this court from the

Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, by all defendants

except Walter G. Barnes (“Barnes”) upon the allegation that Barnes,

the only non-diverse defendant, was fraudulently joined, thus

creating complete diversity of citizenship and jurisdiction in this

court under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Plaintiff’s motion to remand was

heard at this court’s regular motion docket on February 17, 2006.

The said motion will be granted by separate order despite

defendants’ insistence that, if limited discovery were allowed,

defendants would be able to demonstrate that plaintiff has no

viable claim against Barnes. 

Indulging, as it must, the presumption in favor of

jurisdiction in the forum chosen by plaintiff, the court points out

that the state court should be in charge of the discovery being

sought by defendants. Only if it is clear that a claim does not

survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion because it does not and cannot

FILED

 2006 Feb-21 PM 02:19

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:06-cv-00293-WMA Document 13 Filed 02/21/06 Page 1 of 2
arguably state a viable cause of action, or if there is active

misrepresentation by a plaintiff for the very purpose of

interfering with removability, can the federal court to which a

case is removed find “fraudulent joinder” and keep the case.

Without presuming to guess how the state court will rule on

Barnes’s 12(b)(6) motion, this court cannot reach the conclusion

that no colorable claim has been stated against Barnes. 

DONE this 21 day of February, 2006. st

_____________________________

WILLIAM M. ACKER, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-00293-WMA Document 13 Filed 02/21/06 Page 2 of 2