Opinion ID: 1839052
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: was purina entitled to a continuance to remove this action to federal court when the trial court granted a directed verdict to farmers milling company?

Text: At the conclusion of the Moaks' case-in-chief, the trial court granted Farmers Milling Company's motion for a directed verdict on grounds that the Moaks failed to put on any evidence showing that Farmers Milling caused or contributed to the contamination of the feed or failed to use due care to prevent the contamination of the feed. Purina Mills then alleged fraudulent joinder because the Moaks had no intention of seeking recovery from Farmers Milling Company and moved for a continuance to remove the action to federal court. The trial court, finding that there was no abuse of discretion by the Moaks in joining Farmers Milling as a defendant, denied the motion. Purina, being the party seeking removal, had the burden of proving fraudulent joinder to the trial judge. Carriere v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 893 F.2d 98, 100 (5th Cir.1990). We will not reverse the lower court's determination unless the trial judge abused his discretion in denying a continuance. Red Enterprises, Inc. v. Peashooter, Inc., 455 So.2d 793, 796 (Miss. 1984); Bay Springs Forest Products, Inc. v. Wade, 435 So.2d 690, 692 (Miss. 1983). Under our law if the Moaks had any possibility of recovery against Farmers Milling Company, then the trial court properly concluded that joinder was not fraudulent. Carriere, 893 F.2d at 100; Laughlin v. Prudential Ins. Co., 882 F.2d 187, 190 (5th Cir.1989) (applying Mississippi law); Moore v. Interstate Fire Ins. Co., 717 F. Supp. 1193, 1196 (S.D.Miss. 1989). While Purina correctly notes that our courts should not sanction devices intended to defeat removal, the court is not mandatorily required to decline from proceeding with the action. Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Van Dolah, 188 Miss. 59, 194 So. 475, 478 (1940). We do encourage courts to refuse to proceed further when the plaintiff makes no attempt to prove the cause of action at trial and when the pleadings filed did not intend to attempt to prove, and could not have proved, the alleged cause of action. Sears, Roebuck, 194 So. at 478. In this case the Moaks failed to put on any evidence to prove that Farmers Milling Company was responsible for the contamination of the feed. Purina, however, produced no evidence indicating that at the time the Moaks filed suit that they had no intention of proceeding against Farmers Milling Company, that the Moaks joined Farmers Milling Company in bad faith, or that the Moaks lacked a bona fide belief that it had a valid cause of action against Farmers Milling Company. At the time the complaint was filed, the Moaks could have believed they had a cause of action for strict liability in tort against Farmers Milling Company, the retailer. See Hall v. Miss. Chemical Exp., Inc., 528 So.2d 796, 799 (Miss. 1988) (citing Restatement (2d) Torts, § 402A); Coca Cola Bottling Co., Inc. v. Reeves, 486 So.2d 374, 379 (Miss. 1986). Moreover, Dr. Herman testified that he investigated Farmers Milling's system and facilities on their premises to determine whether Farmers Milling had the capabilities of manufacturing metal fragments inside the feed pellets. This suggests that at one time action against Farmers Milling Company was contemplated by the Moaks. Based on this evidence we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the continuance and that this assignment of error has no merit.