Opinion ID: 212425
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Principles of federal preemption

Text: A plaintiff is the master of his complaint and may allege only state law causes of action, even when federal remedies might also exist. Bernhard v. Whitney Nat'l Bank, 523 F.3d 546, 551 (5th Cir.2008). Under the well-pleaded complaint rule, a federal court does not have federal question jurisdiction unless a federal question appears on the face of the plaintiff's well-pleaded complaint. Id. Accordingly, there is no federal [question] jurisdiction if the plaintiff properly pleads only a state law cause of action. Gutierrez v. Flores, 543 F.3d 248, 252 (5th Cir. 2008) (quoting Bernhard, 523 F.3d at 551). That federal law might provide a defense to a state law cause of action does not create federal question jurisdiction. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc. v. Thompson, 478 U.S. 804, 808, 106 S.Ct. 3229, 92 L.Ed.2d 650 (1986). An exception to the well-pleaded complaint rule arises when Congress so completely preempt[s] a particular area that any civil complaint raising this select group of claims is necessarily federal in character. Gutierrez, 543 F.3d at 252 (quoting Johnson v. Baylor Univ., 214 F.3d 630, 632 (5th Cir.2000)). Under the complete preemption doctrine, what otherwise appears as merely a state law claim is converted to a claim `arising under' federal law for jurisdictional purposes because the federal statute so forcibly and completely displaces state law that the plaintiff's cause of action is either wholly federal or nothing at all. New Orleans & Gulf Coast Ry. Co. v. Barrois, 533 F.3d 321, 330 (5th Cir.2008) (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted); see also Franks, 593 F.3d at 407. The question in complete preemption analysis is whether Congress intended the federal cause of action to be the exclusive cause of action for the particular claims asserted under state law. Barrois, 533 F.3d at 331; see also Beneficial Nat'l Bank v. Anderson, 539 U.S. 1, 8, 123 S.Ct. 2058, 156 L.Ed.2d 1 (2003). Complete preemption must be distinguished from defensive preemption (i.e., conflict preemption or ordinary preemption). Barrois, 533 F.3d at 331. Defensive preemption does not create federal jurisdiction and simply declares the primacy of federal law, regardless of the forum or the claim. Id. As a general matter, complete preemption is less common and more extraordinary than defensive or ordinary preemption. Id. Indeed, complete preemption is a narrow exception to the well-pleaded complaint rule. Beneficial, 539 U.S. at 5, 123 S.Ct. 2058. In determining the nature and reach of federal preemption, Congress's intent is the ultimate touchstone. Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr, 518 U.S. 470, 485, 116 S.Ct. 2240, 135 L.Ed.2d 700 (1996). Congress can indicate its preemptive intent either expressly through a statute's plain language, or impliedly through a statute's structure and purpose. Altria Group, Inc. v. Good, 555 U.S. 70, 129 S.Ct. 538, 543, 172 L.Ed.2d 398 (2008). Regardless of how Congress indicates its intent, we begin with the assumption that the historic police powers of the States are not to be superseded by the Federal Act unless that was the clear and manifest purpose of Congress. Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); Franks, 593 F.3d at 407. This assumption applies with particular force when Congress legislates in a field traditionally occupied by state law. Altria, 129 S.Ct. at 543. On the other hand, the assumption applies with less force when Congress legislates in a field with a history of significant federal presence. United States v. Locke, 529 U.S. 89, 108, 120 S.Ct. 1135, 146 L.Ed.2d 69 (2000). Historically, federal regulation of railroads has been extensive. . . . Fayard v. Ne. Vehicle Servs., LLC, 533 F.3d 42, 46 (1st Cir.2008). The Elams' well-pleaded complaint asserts only state law claims of negligence and negligence per se. Ordinarily, these state law claims would not support original federal question jurisdiction. The issue is whether any of these claims is completely preempted by federal law.