Opinion ID: 516457
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Colorado River Analysis

Text: 47 We agree with Judge Norgle that abstention was proper in this case under Colorado River. The briefs of both Chrysler and Babcock indicate that the plaintiff raised the identical issues of law in the state court. Thus, piecemeal litigation, at least as to Chrysler and Babcock, will be avoided. The issues in this case are exclusively issues of state law. Perhaps most significant was the lack of progress in the litigation in federal court. The judge stated that the case was hardly off the ground after two years, and that because there had been no movement he would defer to the state court. 48 It should be noted that the state court does not have jurisdiction over all the parties to this case. The silent federal defendant, Koepele, is not a party in the state action. However, we have determined in other cases that complete identity of parties is not necessary in order to invoke Colorado River. Lumen, 780 F.2d at 695-96. In Lumen, as well as here, the state case was more comprehensive than the federal case, and the substantial likelihood that the state case would dispose of all the issues presented in the federal case existed. Moreover, if Koepele could have been named in the state action but the statute of limitations now would bar this, the plaintiff only has himself to blame. Id. 49 Two other factors do not weigh heavily against abstention. The fact that jurisdiction was obtained first in the federal case is not of significance because here the plaintiff is the party who filed both of the suits. Also, neither federal nor state court is more convenient. Chrysler notes in its brief that the relevant courthouses are only a few blocks apart. 50 In summary, we conclude that in balancing all the relevant factors, abstention was clearly proper here under Colorado River.