Opinion ID: 2972387
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Attorney fees and expenses

Text: After the case was remanded, Bartholomew moved under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) for an award of attorney fees and expenses incurred in opposing Collierville’s unsuccessful attempt to remove the case. The district court, however, held that Collierville’s attempted removal of the case “was fairly supportable” because [Collierville] argued that [Bartholomew] should not have filed an amended complaint three years ago without leave of the state court because [Collierville] had already filed a responsive pleading. That ‘pleading’ was in fact labeled a motion to dismiss by [Collierville]. [Collierville] provided citations to Tennessee case law that, while inapposite to the instant case, did indicate that, in other situations, Tennessee courts have been willing to view a document labeled a motion to dismiss as a pleading. Thus, [Collierville’s] argument was not wholly lacking in merit. The district court therefore denied Bartholomew’s motion for attorney fees and expenses. This timely appeal followed. No. 04-5501 Bartholomew v. Town of Collierville, Tenn. Page 3