Opinion ID: 38981
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appeal of the Remand Order

Text: An order denying a motion to remand is not appealable as a final decision within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1291; standing alone, such a ruling cannot be appealed unless certified by the district court under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b).3 PCI nevertheless contends that we have jurisdiction to consider its appeal of the 3 Poirrier v. Nicklos Drilling Co., 648 F.2d 1063, 1064-65 (5th Cir. 1981); Lewis v. E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co., 183 F.2d 29, 31 (5th Cir. 1950). 5 remand order, citing the Ninth Circuit’s decision in O’Halloran v. University of Washington.4 The court in O’Halloran held that an appeal from an order denying a motion to remand is reviewable prior to final judgment when joined with an interlocutory appeal from an order granting or denying an injunction.5 Several other circuits have held the same, either expressly or implicitly.6 We have not previously addressed the question whether the denial of a remand order becomes reviewable when it is coupled with an interlocutory appeal of an injunction order under 28 U.S.C. 1292(a)(1). We did conclude in Texas v. Real Parties in Interest, however, that the denial of a remand order can be reviewed in conjunction with the interlocutory appeal of an order denying a claim of Eleventh Amendment immunity, the latter order being appealable under the collateral order doctrine.7 In deciding that 4 856 F.2d 1375 (9th Cir. 1988). 5 Id. at 1378. 6 See James v. Bellotti, 733 F.2d 989, 992 (1st Cir. 1984) (“The denial of an injunction is an appealable interlocutory order under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1), and the refusal to remand to the state court, though not directly appealable by itself, is reviewable in conjunction with the interlocutory appeal.”); Beech-Nut, Inc. v. Warner-Lambert Co., 480 F.2d 801, 803 (2d Cir. 1973) (considering interlocutory appeal of denial of remand order along with denial of injunctive relief without discussion of why consideration of remand was proper); Kysor Indus. Corp. v. Pet, Inc., 459 F.2d 1010, 1011 (6th Cir. 1972) (holding that because the case was properly before the court on interlocutory appeal of the denial of a motion for a preliminary injunction, and the remand issue was jurisdictional, the remand issue must be reached). 7 259 F.3d 387, 391 (5th Cir. 2001). 6 we could consider the order denying remand, we looked solely to whether the Eleventh Amendment immunity issue was non-frivolous and properly before us on appeal.8 Implicit in that decision is the conclusion that, once appellate jurisdiction has been established, we are compelled to address questions of federal jurisdiction. In the context of the collateral order doctrine, we perceive no difference in the distinction between Eleventh Amendment immunity and remand. We thus conclude that PCI’s appeal of the denial of its motion for a preliminary injunction is both nonfrivolous and properly before us. Consonant with our holding in Real Parties in Interest, we first consider the jurisdictional question whether the district court erred in denying PCI’s motion to remand the case to state court.