Document: 522 U.S. 470118 S.Ct. 921139 L.Ed. 2d 913 Mary Anna RIVET, et al., Petitioners,v.REGIONS BANK OF LOUISIANA al. No. 96-1971. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Jan. 21, 1998. Decided Feb. 24, Syllabus* After a partnership mortgaged its interest in Louisiana equivalent leasehold estate to respondent Regions Bank (Bank), granted second mortgage petitioners, and later filed for bankruptcy. The Bankruptcy approved sale Bank. Thereafter, acquired underlying land sold entire property Fountainbleau Storage Associates (FSA). Petitioners then this action state court, alleging that transfer without satisfying their rights under violated law. Respondents removed federal contending federal-question jurisdiction existed because prior orders extinguished petitioners' rights. District denied motion remand, concluding from Fifth Circuit's decision Carpenter v. Wichita Falls Independent School Dist., 44 F.3d 362, removal was properly predicated on preclusive effect orders. court summary judgment to, inter alios, FSA. In affirming, Circuit agreed is proper where plaintiff's cause completely precluded by question. thought 's holding dictated footnote Federated Department Stores, Inc. Moitie, 452 394, 397, n. 2, 101 2424, 2427, 69 L.Ed.2d 103. Held: Claim preclusion reason defensive plea provides no basis removal. Such defense made proceedings, courts' disposition it subject Court's ultimate review. Pp. ___-___. (a) invoked, support removal, district original 28 U.S.C. §1441(b). presence or absence such governed "well-pleaded complaint rule,'' which "federal exists only when question presented face pleaded complaint.'' Caterpillar Williams, 482 386, 392, 107 2425, 2429, 96 318. Because not part statement his her claim, see, e.g., Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. Taylor, 481 58, 63, 1542, 1546, 95 55, case may be defense, Franchise Tax Bd. Cal. Construction Laborers Vacation Trust Southern Cal., 463 1, 14, 103 2841, 2848-2849, 77 420. As corollary well-pleaded rule, "a plaintiff defeat omitting plead necessary questions.'' Id., at 22, S.Ct., 2853. If thus "artfully pleads'' uphold even though appears complaint. artful pleading doctrine allows law preempts an asserted state-law see Co., U.S., 65-66, 1547-1548, claim preempted character is, inception, can arise federal, state, Caterpillar, 393, 2430. P. ___. (b) Removal improper here. preclusion, as Federal Rule Civil Procedure 8(c) makes clear, affirmative defense. A blocked differs statute: does transform claims into but rather extinguishes them altogether. Under remains involving recasting complaint, therefore marginal comment Moitie noted declined, case-specific context, "question . [the Court's] factual finding'' plaintiffs "had attempted avoid artfully casting essentially federal[-]law claims.'' 2 (internal quotation marks omitted). While placed "artful pleading'' category, created exception fundamental currently governing legislation, defendant cannot remove 108 576, reversed remanded. GINSBURG, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. John G. Odom, Savannah, GA, petitioners. Charles L. Stern, Jr., New Orleans, LA, respondents. Justice GINSBURG 1 Congress has provided cases alleges arising authorized based anticipated character. This presents whether defendant's assertion disposed matter bars pursuing state-law-based case. We reaffirm so we clarify confine specific context (1981). emphasize, proceeding, * arose out series mortgages conveyances parcel real Orleans. 1983, owned (Bank).1 One year later, secure further borrowing, petitioners Rivet, Minna Ree Winer, Edmund Miranne, Jr. thereafter bankruptcy, bankruptcy trustee sought permission sell free clear all claims. 3 June August 1986 orders, first application Bank, sole bidder public auction. also directed Recorder Mortgages Orleans Parish cancel liens, mortgages, encumbrances, including held Nonetheless, remained inscribed rolls Parish. Subsequently, 1993, respondents Walter Brown, Perry S. Brown. current owner, 4 On December 29, 1994, court. They alleged 1993 transactions transferred superior mortgage. prayer relief, recognition enforcement or, alternatively, damages. Eastern Louisiana. Federal-question existed, they contended, 5 remand moved judgment. motion. Relying 362 (1995), FSA ground adjudication barred suit. Browns, ruling failed against them. 6 affirmed. 576 (1997). It with could ""where files law.''' F.3d, 586 (quoting Carpenter, 370). holding, Appeals thought, our 2427 2. 7 dissent, Judge Jones maintained appropriate loses "essentially federal'' and, recharacterizing one law, again 594. She concluded here there nothing about claim. 8 circuit courts have adopted differing views regarding propriety removing judgment.2 certiorari, 521 ----, 118 31, 138 1060 (1997), resolve matter. II 9 if qualifies "civil jurisdiction,'' unless expressly otherwise. §1441(a). case, over " [a]ny civil founded right Constitution, treaties laws States.'' §1441(b); §1331. 10 long [t]he rule,' 318 (1987); Louisville & Nashville R. Mottley, 211 149, 152, 29 42, 43, 53 126 (1908). See 55 Gully First Nat. Meridian, 299 109, 112, 57 96, 97, 81 70 (1936) ("To bring within [federal-question removal] statute, immunity Constitution must element, essential one, action.''). Thus, both parties admit truly issue case.'' 2848, 420 (1983). 11 Allied "independent corollary'' rule principle concludes pleaded'' fashion, 1547-1548 (upholding preemptive §502(a)(1)(B) Employee Retirement Income Security Act); Avco Corp. Machinists, 390 557, 560, 88 1235, 1237, 20 (1968) §301 Labor Management Relations Act). Although preemption ordinarily [o]nce area been pre-empted, any purportedly pre-empted considered, arises law.'' B 12 Petitioners' dispute involved only, relied exclusively defended precluded, earlier now explain why improper. 13 [a] final merits precludes privies relitigating issues were raised action.'' 398, 2428; Baker General Motors Corp., 5, 657, 664, 139 580 (1998) ("a valid it''). (res judicata), Rules Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, University Ill. Foundation, 402 313, 350, 91 1434, 1453, 788 (1971) ("Res judicata collateral estoppel [issue preclusion] are defenses pleaded.'') (italics 14 standard statute critical respect: Commissioner Sunnen, 333 591, 597, 68 715, 719, 92 898 (1948) ("The puts end action, brought litigation between upon whatever, absent fraud some other factor invalidating judgment.''). 15 here, footnote-the one-in opinion. alone rest supra. footnote, however, will bear heavy weight lower it. 16 certiorari principally address Ninth "novel res judicata.'' 2427. several actions price-fixing department stores California consolidated dismissed. Most appealed obtained reversal, two chose instead file separate defendants Court, unsuccessfully successfully dismiss grounds. proper, did apply unique circumstances 611 F.2d 1267 (1980). 17 course reversing noted, elaboration, agreement "at least had sufficient removal.'' declined Ibid. 18 "Moitie enigmatic footnote,'' 584, recognize, caused considerable confusion courts. today create 19 sum, review.3 For foregoing reasons, reversed, remanded proceedings consistent 21 ordered. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber Lumber 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499. events leading lawsuit actually predecessors Regions, Secor ease discussion, use name cover three entities. Compare re Brand Name Prescription Drugs, 123 599, 612 (C.A.7 1997) (removal allowed "sole filing suit get around judgment''), cert. pending sub nom. Abbott Labs Huggins, 97-775; Ultramar America, Ltd. Dwelle, 900 1412, 1415-1417 (C.A.9 1990) permitted "where after entered same claims,'' sounds law), Travelers Indemnity Sarkisian, 794 754, 759-761 (C.A.2 1986) elements virtually identical previously elected court). note relitigation Anti-Injunction Act, §2283, enjoin state-court protect effectuate judgments.'' ***

Category: 8