Opinion ID: 759482
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Remand of Pendent State-law Claims

Text: 16 Next, we turn to NMC's cross-appeal challenging the district court's remand of the Robertson's claims under the LDA. Under the doctrine of pendent jurisdiction, a federal court has the constitutional power to hear a state law claim if it is closely related to another federal claim. See United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966). However, it is clear that a district court has wide discretion to refuse to hear a pendent state law claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); United States v. Capeletti Bros., Inc., 621 F.2d 1309, 1317-18 (5th Cir.1980). We will therefore reverse a district court's decision to remand pendent state law claims after dismissing all remaining federal claims only upon a finding of abuse of this wide discretion. See Parker & Parsley Petroleum Co. v. Dresser Indus., 972 F.2d 580, 585 (5th Cir.1992). The Supreme Court identified certain circumstances that should persuade a court to dismiss a state claim: Certainly, if the federal claims are dismissed before trial, even though not insubstantial in a jurisdictional sense, the state claims should be dismissed as well. United Mine Workers, 383 U.S. at 726, 86 S.Ct. 1130. As such is the situation in this case, we hold that the district court did not abuse its wide discretion in refusing to hear the Robertson's claims under the LDA.