Court Opinion

ID: 1557429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 06:45:31.967638+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:42:54.605215
License: Public Domain

673 F.Supp.2d 358 (2009)
VARIOUS PLAINTIFFS
v.
VARIOUS DEFENDANTS ("OIL FIELD CASES").
Civil Action No. 09-MC-103.
United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania.
December 10, 2009.
*360 Ryan A. Foster, Houston, TX, pro se.

MEMORANDUM
EDUARDO C. ROBRENO, District Judge.
The instant motion to remand was filed on behalf of 444 plaintiffs ("plaintiffs") arguing that this Court must remand their actions to Mississippi state court for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Defendants[1] have filed timely responses. For the reasons set forth herein, plaintiffs' motion to remand will be granted in part and denied in part.

I. BACKGROUND
These cases originated in Mississippi state court and were removed to federal court by defendants Union Carbide and ConocoPhillips. The basis for removal was the allegedly fraudulent joinder of two non-diverse defendants, Oilfield Service & Supply, Inc. ("Oilfield Service") and Mississippi Mud., Inc. ("Mississippi Mud"). In addition, twenty-five of these cases were removed under the theory that plaintiffs were entitled to assert federal jurisdiction under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ("OCSLA").
After removal, plaintiffs filed motions to remand, on the same grounds considered here, in the Southern District of Mississippi. After considering these motions, United States District Judge Walter Gex remanded five of these cases to Mississippi state court. Before Judge Gex was able to rule on the remaining motions, the cases were transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and consolidated as part of MDL-875 by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The remand motions remaining on the docket at the time of the consolidation with MDL-875 were denied by the MDL court without prejudice. (MDL-875 Administrative Order no. 11 at 3, doc no. 5936, 01-md-875.) Plaintiffs have renewed their request for remand in the 444 cases and this renewed motions is now before the Court.
Based on their procedural histories, these cases fall into three categories. Plaintiffs' motion to remand will be considered under the facts of each category individually.
a.) Category 1: This category consists of 354 plaintiffs whose cases were initiated in 2004. Originally filed as a multi-plaintiff action, these plaintiffs had their cases severed into individual actions in Mississippi state court in 2006. After severance, each plaintiff filed an individual amended complaint. Defendants subsequently removed these cases as a group to federal court on Sept. 26, 2008. (Defs.' Notice of Removal Ex. "D", doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) The basis for removal in these cases is the alleged fraudulent joinder of non-diverse parties Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud.
b.) Category II: This category consists of 65 cases which were filed in 2004, but were dismissed in Mississippi state court because they were filed in an improper venue. Plaintiffs re-filed these cases on Sept. 28, 2007, and defendants removed these cases as a group to federal court on Sept. 26, 2008, within one year of the date of re-filing. (Defs.' Notice of Removal Ex. "D", doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) As in Category I, the basis for removal in these cases is the alleged fraudulent joinder of non-diverse parties Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud. *361 c.) Category III: This category consists of 25 cases which were removed based on federal question jurisdiction. The defendants aver that plaintiffs' claims are governed by OCSLA. As an alternative basis of federal jurisdiction, defendants also assert the fraudulent joinder of Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud.
After removal, the cases in all three categories were grouped by the Court for settlement purposes, pursuant to MDL-875 procedures.[2]See MDL-875 Website, Settlement Conference Procedures, available at www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875.asp. After attending several settlement conferences with defendants and Magistrate Judge Strawbridge, plaintiffs filed the instant motion to remand.

II. LEGAL STANDARD
A district court considering a motion to remand "must focus on the plaintiff's complaint at the time the petition for removal was filed . . . [and] must assume as true all factual allegations of the complaint." In re Briscoe, 448 F.3d 201, 218 (3d Cir.2006). The "party who urges jurisdiction on a federal court bears the burden of proving that jurisdiction exists. . ." Boyer v. Snap-on Tools Corp., 913 F.2d 108, 111 (3d Cir.1990); see also Steel Valley Auth. v. Union Switch & Signal Div., 809 F.2d 1006, 1010 (3d Cir.1987), cert. dismissed sub nom. American Standard v. Steel Valley Auth., 484 U.S. 1021, 108 S.Ct. 739, 98 L.Ed.2d 756 (1988) ("It remains the defendant's burden to show the existence and continuance of federal jurisdiction."). Because the removal of an action from the state court to a federal forum implicates comity and federalism, it is said that "removal statutes are to be strictly construed against removal and all doubts should be resolved in favor of remand." Steel Valley Auth., 809 F.2d at 1010 (citing Abels v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 770 F.2d 26, 29 (3d Cir.1985)); accord Brown v. Francis, 75 F.3d 860, 865 (3d Cir.1996); Boyer, 913 F.2d at 111.
The practical application of this "all doubts" standard is to place upon a defendant "a heavy burden of persuasion" when contending that a non-diverse party has been fraudulently joined. Boyer, 913 F.2d at 111. To prevail, the removing party must show that there is "no reasonable basis in fact or colorable ground supporting the claim against the joined defendant, or no real intention in good faith to prosecute the action against the defendants . . ." In re Briscoe, 448 F.3d at 218.
Title 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b) governs the timing of removal, specifying that "a case may not be removed on the basis of jurisdiction *362 conferred by section 1332 of this title more than 1 year after commencement of the action." Additionally, "notice of removal of a civil action . . . shall be filed within thirty days after the receipt by the defendant . . . of the initial pleading setting forth the claim for relief. . . ." 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b). Where it is not evident from the initial pleading whether the case is removable, "a notice of removal may be filed within thirty days after receipt by the defendant . . . of an amended pleading, motion, order or other paper from which it may first be ascertained that the case is one which is or has become removable. . ." Id.

III. APPLICABLE LAW
As the MDL transferee court, the Court must first determine which jurisdiction's law to apply to the substantive and procedural issues in these cases.

A. Procedural Law

On matters of procedure, the transferee court must apply federal law as interpreted by the court of the district where the transferee court sits. See In re Diet Drugs Prods. Liab. Litig., 294 F.Supp.2d 667, 672 (E.D.Pa.2003). Issues involving the timeliness of remand implicate federal procedural law. See In re Avandia Mktg., Sales Practices and Prods. Liab. Litig., 624 F.Supp.2d 396, 408-9 n. 15 (E.D.Pa.2009).
As noted above, after the cases were removed to federal court but before they were consolidated into MDL-875, the plaintiffs filed motions to remand in 449 individual cases. Judge Gex of the Southern District of Mississippi, in the only rulings that were made prior to the transfer to MDL-875, granted five of these motions. The remaining motions were pending upon transfer to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and consolidation under MDL-875. As to the five motions ruled on by Judge Gex, "there is nothing in the text [of § 1407] that authorizes a transferee judge to vacate or modify an order of a transferor judge," In re Pharmacy Benefit Managers Antitrust Litig., 582 F.3d 432, 440 (3d Cir.2009), unless it is warranted after application of law of the case principles. Id. at 441-42 see also, In re Ford Motor Co., 580 F.3d 308, 312 (5th Cir. 2009). Under the circumstances of this case, the orders entered by Judge Gex on any motions to remand are binding on this Court.
There were, however, 444 motions to remand pending, but not yet acted upon by Judge Gex at the time the cases were transferred and consolidated under MDL-875. As described above, these motions were denied without prejudice after being transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, but have been renewed and are now before the Court. As to these cases, the Court will "adjudicate [these] transferred cases no differently than cases originally filed before it." In re Korean Air Lines Disaster, 829 F.2d 1171, 1178 (D.C.Cir.1987). Therefore, as to the pending motion to remand, the Court will apply federal procedural law, as interpreted by the Third Circuit, the circuit where the transferee court sits.

B. Substantive Law

In applying substantive law, the transferee court must distinguish between matters of federal and state law. In matters requiring the interpretation of the Constitution, a federal law or a federal rule of procedure, a transferee court applies the law of the circuit where it sits. Therefore, in cases where jurisdiction is based on federal question, this Court, as the transferee court, will apply federal law *363 as interpreted by the Third Circuit.[3]
In matters where the Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 based upon diversity of citizenship, the transferee court applies state substantive law as determined by the choice of law analysis required by the state in which the action was filed. Therefore, in the instant cases, this Court will apply the state substantive law as determined by the choice of law rules of Mississippi, the state in which the cases were filed.[4]

IV. DISCUSSION

A. Category I

The Category I cases refer to the 354 plaintiffs who originally filed their cases in Mississippi state court in 2004, yet removal was not effected until 2008. (Pls.' Mot. Remand 1-2, doc. no. 44, 09-mc-103.)
Plaintiffs argue that the Category I cases should be remanded for two reasons. First, because they were removed beyond the time limitations on removal found in § 1446(b); and second because the plaintiffs have valid claims against two non-diverse defendants, Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud, destroying diversity of citizenship and leaving the defendants no basis for invoking federal jurisdiction. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. Mot. Remand 15, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.)
In response, the defendants present a two part argument against remand. First, they contend that they are entitled to an "equitable exception," allowing for effective removal after one year has passed from the commencement of the action. (Defs.' Resp. in Opp'n to Remand 12, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) The defendants contend that, because the plaintiffs engaged in "forum manipulation," equity requires the Court to allow the removal of these cases. (Id. at 13.) Second, if the Court applies an equitable exception, defendants argue that Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud are fraudulently joined, and thus, are not proper forum defendants.

1. Equitable Exception

Section 1446(b) imposes a strict one year limitation on the length of time that a party has available for removal after the commencement of the action. As described above, the petition for removal in the Category I cases was not filed until more than four years after these cases were originally commenced in state court.[5]*364 (Defs.' Resp. in Opp'n Mot. to Remand at Ex. D, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.)
While § 1446(b) does not explicitly detail any exception to the one year limitation, the Third Circuit has held that the one year limit on removal is a procedural bar, not a jurisdictional one. Ariel Land Owners, Inc. v. Dring, 351 F.3d 611, 616 (3d Cir.2003).[6] The practical effect of this holding is to open the door to an examination of equitable considerations in deciding whether to allow exceptions to the one year limitation on removal.
In determining whether the equitable exception applies, courts have looked at the balance of the equities. In balancing the equities, courts have considered three factors: first, how vigorously the plaintiff prosecuted the action in state court; second, whether the defendants were complicit in any delay in removal of the case; and third, whether or not plaintiffs' joining of the non-diverse defendants amounted to "flagrant forum manipulation." See Namey v. Malcolm, 534 F.Supp.2d 494, 498 (M.D.Pa.2008) (holding that because defendants were partly responsible for the delay in state court, application of an equitable exception was inappropriate); Lee v. Carter-Reed Co., 06-1173, 2006 WL 3511160, at *5 (D.N.J. Dec. 5, 2006) (holding that defendants did not allege facts sufficient to show that plaintiff's conduct amounted to forum manipulation); In re Diet Drugs Prods. Liab. Litig., 03-20376, 2004 WL 1535806 at *4 (E.D.Pa. June 18, 2004) (holding that defendants met the burden of showing fraudulent joinder where there was no possibility for recovery against the in-state defendants).
Balancing the equities in the Category I cases, the first two factors are particularly relevant here. In essence, they ask how diligently the parties pursued the litigation in state court prior to the untimely removal. See Lee, 2006 WL 3511160 at *5; see also Namey, 534 F.Supp.2d at 498.
Arguing in favor of the application of an equitable exception, the defendants contend that they diligently pursued the litigation in state court but were frustrated by plaintiffs' forum manipulation. Defendants claim that they participated in all pretrial fact discovery, but that Oilfield Service was purposely never pursued by plaintiffs in an effort to keep them in the case as a nominal forum defendant. (Defs.' Resp. in Opp'n to Mot. Remand Ex. D, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) As a result, defendants claim that they had no way of uncovering plaintiffs' forum manipulation until Oilfield Service filed a motion for summary judgment. (Id.) Having timely filed their notice of removal within thirty days of receipt of Oilfield Service's summary judgment motion, an "other paper" for purposes of § 1446(b), defendants claim they are entitled to an equitable exception which would allow them to satisfy both of the timing requirements found in § 1446. Id. at 16.[7]
Arguing against the application of an equitable exception, plaintiffs counter that *365 while they actively conducted litigation for more than four years in Mississippi state court, defendants were content to let the cases languish. Plaintiffs submit that they completed individual written fact sheets for each defendant and conducted some eighty-eight depositions. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 21, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Although plaintiffs never made any attempt to hide the fact that Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud were the only non-diverse parties to the litigation, defendants never questioned or attempted to investigate the legitimacy of their joinder between 2004 and late 2008. (Id.) Plaintiffs further submit that they were continuing to develop this case against all defendants, including Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud, when the cases were improperly removed to federal court. (See Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 20-22, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.)
The Court concludes that the defendants were content to let the cases languish in state court, failing to "use all procedural devices available to facilitate compliance with the one year requirement of § 1446(b)." 534 F.Supp.2d at 498. First, defendants apparently never sought discovery which would have established that the two non-diverse defendants were fraudulently joined. Second, despite the exchange of written discovery and the taking of numerous depositions, defendants never examined the basis for liability against the non-diverse defendants. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 21, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) In fact, in a case where the defendants argue that Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud are so clearly absolved from liability that their joinder constitutes fraud, neither defendant filed a dispositive motion until August of 2008, four years after the cases were commenced. Under the circumstances, it is clear that, at least through lack of diligence, the defendants are partly responsible for the delay in proceedings in state court. Namey, 534 F.Supp.2d at 498.
On balance, the defendants have failed to show that the equities tilt in their favor, and application of an equitable exception is not appropriate.

2. Fraudulent Joinder

Since the Court will not apply an equitable exception to § 1446(b), an evaluation of whether Oilfield Service and/or Mississippi Mud are fraudulently joined is not necessary in the Category I cases.[8] Therefore, as to the 354 cases in Category I, plaintiffs motion to remand is granted.

B. Category II

The sixty-five plaintiffs in Category II originally filed their cases in 2004 as part of the same multi-plaintiff action as the plaintiffs in Category I. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 2, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Under Mississippi law, however, these sixty-five plaintiffs were dismissed from the action for improper venue. (Id.) These sixty-five cases were then re-filed by plaintiffs in September of 2007, this time in a proper Mississippi venue. The cases were then removed within the one year time limitation after they were refiled. (Id.)
As in Category I, removal under § 1332 was based on an allegation of fraudulent joinder of non-diverse parties. In their motion to remand, the plaintiffs argue that there is no basis for a finding of fraudulent joinder because Oilfield Service and Mississippi Mud are proper forum defendants *366 and plaintiffs have asserted colorable claims against them.

1. Fraudulent Joinder

Whether a party was fraudulently joined to defeat diversity is a procedural issue. Because the issue of fraudulent joinder is a procedural issue, it is a matter of federal law as interpreted by the Third Circuit.
Fraudulent joinder may be found on either factual or legal grounds. In re Avandia, 624 F.Supp.2d at 411. The Third Circuit test for fraudulent joinder requires a finding that "there is no reasonable basis in fact or colorable ground supporting the claim against the joined defendant, or no real intention in good faith to prosecute the action against the defendant or seek a joint judgment." Abels, 770 F.2d at 32 (quotation omitted).
In assessing the factual basis of a claim, a court may engage in a limited piercing of the pleadings to discover any fraudulent joinder. Boyer, 913 F.2d at 112. The extent of a court's inquiry, however, is "less probing than the factual review a district court conducts in deciding a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)." In re Avandia, 624 F.Supp.2d at 412 (citing Batoff v. State Farm Ins. Co., 977 F.2d 848, 852 (3d Cir. 1992). Therefore, a court could remand the case to state court even though "the claim against that party [may] ultimately [be] dismissed [by the state court] for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted." In re Briscoe, 448 F.3d at 217 (quoting Batoff, 977 F.2d at 852).
After piercing the pleadings, the federal court must determine that a claim is colorable if it is not "wholly insubstantial or frivolous." Batoff, 977 F.2d at 852. Here, the Court will address each non-diverse defendant in turn to determine whether each was fraudulently joined solely to avoid federal jurisdiction.

2. Mississippi Mud

In opposition to the instant motion to remand, defendants argue that Mississippi Mud was fraudulently joined because they were never properly served, and therefore, they were intended to be a nominal forum defendant joined solely to defeat federal jurisdiction. (Defs.' Memo. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. Remand 21, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) Additionally, defendants argue that the plaintiffs failed to pursue the proper successor in interest to Mississippi Mud, which is GEO Drilling Fluids, a diverse entity incorporated in Delaware and with a principal place of business in Connecticut. (Id. at 20.)
Plaintiffs admit that they were unable to timely serve Mississippi Mud, but submit that it was due to confusing public records related to Mississippi Mud's corporate history. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 28, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Plaintiffs do not address the fact that GEO Drilling Fluids is the proper successor in interest to Mississippi Mud and would be a diverse defendant. Plaintiffs claim that, once they "learned more about [Mississippi Mud's] corporate history, service was attempted, although it was [attempted] after 120 days." (Id. at 28-9.)
Because service was never effected on Mississippi Mud and never attempted on its successor, plaintiffs have not shown a "real intention in good faith to prosecute the action" against Mississippi Mud or its successor. Abels, 770 F.2d at 32. Therefore, a finding of fraudulent joinder as to Mississippi Mud is appropriate.

3. Oilfield Service

Unlike Mississippi Mud, Oilfield Service was timely served by the plaintiffs. In opposing remand, the defendants argue that the Court should find that Oilfield *367 Service was fraudulently joined for three reasons. First, they contend that plaintiffs never made a good faith effort to pursue claims against Oilfield Service because plaintiffs never deposed the corporate representative, never required Oilfield Service to respond to interrogatories, and never required Oilfield Service to respond to written requests for document production. (Defs.' Memo. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. Remand 18, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) Second, defendants argue that there is no factual basis for plaintiffs' claims against Oilfield Service because Oilfield Service never sold asbestos containing products. (Id.) Third, defendants claim that even if Oilfield Service did sell asbestos products, under Mississippi law, Oilfield Service is absolved of liability by the "innocent seller" doctrine. (Id. at 18.) Under this theory, there would be no legal basis for plaintiffs' claims.[9]

a. Plaintiffs' Good Faith Effort to Pursue Claims

As to the first issue, the Court must determine whether plaintiffs made a good faith effort to pursue their claims against Oilfield Service in these cases. Plaintiffs state that they conducted fact discovery with witnesses and plaintiffs' co-workers regarding Oilfield Service. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 21, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Furthermore, plaintiffs engaged in settlement conferences and significant pre-trial litigation in federal court in front of Magistrate Judge David R. Strawbridge. Plaintiffs also responded to motions for summary judgment filed by Oilfield Service both before and after the cases were removed to federal court. (See Pls.' Resp. Mot. Summ. J., doc. no. 67, 09-mc-103.)
Taking all the circumstances together, it appears that plaintiffs have actively conducted litigation against Oilfield Service. Despite the lack of formal discovery requests, plaintiffs have shown that they attempted to develop their claim against Oilfield Service, at least through informal means. Under these circumstances, defendants have failed to show that the plaintiffs' joinder of Oilfield Service was in bad faith or clearly fraudulent.

b. Factual Basis for Plaintiffs' Claims

As to the second issue, the Court must determine whether there is a factual basis for plaintiffs' claims against Oilfield Service. On this issue, there are competing affidavits going to the nature of Oilfield Service's asbestos business. The defendants have produced affidavits of the owners of Oilfield Service, Mr. Robert Stone, Sr. and Mr. Robert Stone, Jr. These affidavits state that, to their knowledge, Oilfield Service "never operated as a mud company or mud contractor" which would have sold or supplied asbestos containing drilling additives. (Def. Oilfield Service's Memo. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. Remand 7, doc. no. 57, 09-mc-103.) Defendants argue that the Stones' averments negate any factual basis for plaintiffs' claims against Oilfield Service.
In response, the plaintiffs call into question the reliability of these affidavits. Plaintiffs point out that, during the relevant period of potential exposure for all plaintiffs (1966-1980), Mr. Stone, Sr. was not the manager of Oilfield Service; Frank Stone, his uncle, was. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 8-9, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Mr. Stone, Sr. did not take over the day-to-day operations of Oilfield Service *368 until 1980, and had limited knowledge of the business before that. (Id.) Furthermore, plaintiffs state that Mr. Stone, Jr. was between the ages of nine and twenty-two during the relevant time period, and did not even begin full-time work at Oilfield Service until 1981. (Id. at 11.)
Plaintiffs also produced the affidavit of John Lee Brown, who worked for Oilfield Service in 1968 and from 1972-1974. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 3, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Mr. Brown avers that Oilfield Service loaded, unloaded and delivered asbestos-containing products like gaskets, pump packings, and brakes. (Id. at 4.) In refuting the contents of this affidavit, the defendants point out that Mr. Brown is a plaintiff in a pending asbestos personal injury action with Oilfield Service as a defendant. (Def. Oilfield Service's Memo. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. Remand 3, doc. no. 57, 09-mc-103.)
Considering these competing affidavits, the Court finds that they cancel each other out. The burden of proving that there is no factual basis for the plaintiffs' claims remains, however, with the defendants. Given that the proofs offered negate each other, the Court finds that the defendants have failed to carry the burden of showing that there is no factual basis for plaintiffs' claims against Oilfield Service.

c. Legal Basis for Plaintiffs' Claims

As to the third issue, the Court must determine whether, under Mississippi law, there is a legal basis for the claims against Oilfield Service. Under Mississippi products liability law, an "innocent seller" is a company that acts as a mere conduit of a product. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-1-63 (2004).
The plaintiffs in this case assert both failure to warn and design defect claims against numerous defendants in their original complaint. (See Compl. ś V.) With regard to Oilfield Service, as a distributor of the allegedly asbestos-containing mud, the most relevant claims are the failure to warn actions. Mississippi's innocent seller doctrine states that in a products liability claim for failure to warn:
"the manufacturer or seller shall not be liable if the claimant does not prove by the preponderance of the evidence that at the time the product left the control of the manufacturer or seller, the manufacturer or seller knew, or in light of reasonably available knowledge should have known about the danger that caused the damage for which recovery is sought and that the ordinary user or consumer would not realize its dangerous condition."
Miss.Code Ann. § 11-1-63(c)(i) (emphasis added).
Succinctly put, the statute requires the party asserting the defense to show that the manufacturer or seller did not know, and could not have known, about the danger that these asbestos products posed to the consumer. Furthermore, the party asserting the defense must also show that the ordinary consumer or user of these asbestos products would have known that the products contained asbestos, and that the asbestos could have harmful health effects.
The defendants argue that they are immunized from liability by this statute because they did not have actual or constructive knowledge of the dangers posed by asbestos. (Def. Oilfield Service's Opp'n to Mot. Remand 13, doc. no. 57, 09-mc-103.) Therefore, since they had no knowledge, they could not be responsible for warning the user or consumer, regardless of whether such user knew of the dangers or not. (Id.)
To rebut Oilfield Service's assertions, plaintiffs point to contemporary literature showing that knowledge of the dangerous *369 health effects of asbestos was widespread in the 1970s, and that there are even studies on the health consequences of asbestos dating back to 1898. (Pls.' Resp. Mot. Summ. J. Ex. 9, doc. no. 67, 09-mc-103.) Therefore, plaintiffs argue that a company like Oilfield Service, which was involved in an industry that used asbestos heavily, would have known of the negative health effects posed by asbestos. (Id.)
Furthermore, the plaintiffs rely on this same literature to bolster their argument that the average worker did not know the consequences of asbestos exposure during the relevant time period (1968-1980). (Id.) The plaintiffs further state that they are in the process of gathering more information about warnings that were placed on any products delivered by Oilfield Service, as well as plaintiffs' general knowledge of the dangers of asbestos.
Relying on this literature and the testimony of Mr. Brown, plaintiffs aver that it is far from clear that Oilfield Service is entitled to the protections of § 11-1-63 of the Mississippi statutes. According to plaintiffs, under the limited inquiry permitted in a fraudulent joinder analysis, they have produced enough evidence to show that plaintiffs' cause of action against Oilfield Service is not "wholly insubstantial or frivolous." See Batoff, 977 F.2d at 852.
The Court agrees with the plaintiffs. The defendants have failed to show that either the factual or legal basis of plaintiffs claims are "wholly insubstantial or frivolous." See Batoff, 977 F.2d at 852. This Court is permitted to make only a very limited inquiry beyond the four corners of the complaint, and must apply a standard more deferential to the plaintiff than the standard used in deciding a motion to dismiss. In re Briscoe, 448 F.3d at 218. Applying this standard, the Court determines that the plaintiffs have put forward enough evidence to demonstrate that there is some factual and legal basis for their claims against Oilfield Service.
Consequently, the Court finds that the cases in Category II include Oilfield Service as a proper forum defendant. As a result, there is no diversity of citizenship, rendering federal jurisdiction under § 1332 unavailable to defendants. Plaintiffs' motion to remand is granted as to the plaintiffs in Category II.

C. Category III

The twenty-five plaintiffs in Category III were removed based on federal question jurisdiction under OCSLA. In their motion to remand, plaintiffs make two arguments. First, that the only OCSLA-related claims that these plaintiffs have are intertwined with valid Jones Act claims. Therefore, since a Jones Act case that is properly brought in state court is not removable under federal question jurisdiction, these cases must be remanded. (Pls.' Memo. Supp. of Mot. Remand 35, doc. no. 45, 09-mc-103.) Second, plaintiffs contend that the two defendants who originally asserted federal question jurisdiction, Pool Offshore and Nabors, have been dismissed from the case and have withdrawn their removal petitions. (Id.)
As to plaintiffs' first argument, defendants counter that these workers, who worked on oil rigs, do not have valid Jones Act claims and therefore, the cases fall squarely within the grant of federal jurisdiction found in OCSLA. (Defs.' Memo. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. Remand 24, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) Since the cases do not implicate the Jones Act, the grant of federal jurisdiction found in OCSLA entitles defendants to a federal forum.
As to plaintiffs' second argument, defendants argue that federal question jurisdiction is based on plaintiffs' claims, not the status of any defendant, and therefore the *370 fact that Pool Offshore and Nabors have withdrawn their removal petitions is irrelevant. (Id. at 25.) Finally, as an alternative basis for federal jurisdiction, defendants state that even if the Court finds that there is no OCSLA federal question jurisdiction in the Category III cases, there is fraudulent joinder of Mississippi Mud and Oilfield Service, entitling the defendants to § 1332 diversity jurisdiction under the arguments above. (Id. at 25-26.)

1. Applicability of Jones Act to Plaintiffs' Claims

The Court agrees with the defendants that OCSLA grants federal jurisdiction over "all cases and controversies arising out of, or in connection with . . . any operation conducted on the outer Continental Shelf which involves exploration, development, or production of the minerals, of the subsoil and seabed of the outer Continental Shelf." 43 U.S.C. § 1349(b). OCSLA defines the term "outer Continental Shelf" as "all submerged lands lying seaward and outside of the area of lands beneath navigable waters . . ." 43 U.S.C. § 1301(a). Whether these oil rigs were involved in operations governed by OCSLA, and whether these operations are governed by the Jones Act, is a matter of federal substantive law. Since there is no Third Circuit precedent on these issues, the Court will look to other circuits for guidance on this issue.
Plaintiffs' claims seem to fall directly within the grant of authority in OCSLA, since they are based on injuries sustained while working on oil rigs â   exploring, developing or producing oil in the subsoil and seabed of the continental shelf. See 43 U.S.C. § 1349(b). The Fifth Circuit has held that when a case or controversy arises out of activity that occurred on a rig "affixed" to the Outer Continental Shelf, it is within the proper jurisdiction of the federal courts. Tennessee Gas Pipeline v. Houston Casualty Ins. Co., 87 F.3d 150, 154 (5th Cir.1996). The oil rigs in question fit within this definition.
Additionally, workers on fixed drilling rigs are not on vessels, and therefore do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Jones Act. D.C. Thompson v. Crown Petroleum Corp., 418 F.2d 239, 240 (5th Cir.1969). In D.C. Thompson, the Fifth Circuit ruled that "the law is well-settled that a stationary, fixed platform, even though erected in coastal water, is not a vessel, and consequently plaintiff was in no sense of the word a seaman when he was injured." Id. at 240. Therefore, under Fifth Circuit law, which the Court finds persuasive, the activities of these plaintiffs do not qualify them as seamen entitled to the Jones Act protections.

2. Dismissal of Original Removing Defendants

The Court also agrees that federal subject matter jurisdiction is not destroyed because both defendants who initiated removal have since been dismissed. A case arises under federal law if, at the time of removal, the success of the plaintiff's claim depends on the application of federal law. See Smith v. Kansas City Title and Trust, Co., 255 U.S. 180, 199, 41 S.Ct. 243, 65 L.Ed. 577 (1921); see also Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 681-2, 66 S.Ct. 773, 90 L.Ed. 939 (1946).
In this case, each defendant consented to the petition for removal filed by Nabors and Pool Offshore. (Defs.' Memo. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. Remand 24, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) Whether fewer than all the removing defendants are no longer in the case makes no difference, so long as one of the remaining defendants opposes the motion to remand. Therefore, the fact that the removing defendants are no longer parties to the action does not disturb federal *371 jurisdiction over plaintiffs' OCSLA claims in this instance.[10]
This Court finds that plaintiffs' claims properly invoke OCSLA jurisdiction and do not fit within the purview of the Jones Act. Therefore, the motion to remand is denied with respect to the Category III plaintiffs.

V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the motion to remand is granted in the cases in Categories I and II. These cases will be remanded to the appropriate Mississippi state court, because the defendants have failed to show that they are entitled to have their claims adjudicated in a federal forum. The motion to remand in the cases in Category III is denied, as federal question jurisdiction, under OCSLA, is appropriate.
An appropriate order follows.

ORDER
AND NOW, this 10th day of December 2009, it is hereby ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion to remand (doc. no. 45) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. It is GRANTED as to the 354 cases in Category I and as to the 65 cases in Category II listed in Exhibit "B", attached. It is DENIED as to the 25 cases in Category III, listed in Exhibit "C", attached.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

Exhibit "A"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Mississippi
                                            District      Mississippi
                                             Court        State District     Pennsylvania
Last Name                  First Name      County        Court Cause No.    Civil Action No.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron                      Robert E.       Jones          2006-141-CV3       09-cv-63215
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adcock                     Winford L.      Smith          2006-76            09-cv-63581
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexander                  Lloyd G.        Smith          2006-78            09-cv-63582
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allen, Sr.                 Donald          Jones          2006-140-CV3       09-cv-63217
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allred                     Wayne H.        Jones          2006-135-CV3       09-cv-63218
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anderson                   Melvin          Jefferson      2006-18            09-cv-63583
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anding                     Maxie Ray       Jasper         16-0027            09-cv-63584
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ard                        Willie Glean    Jones          2006-511-CV11      09-cv-63220
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrington                  Milton L.       Jasper         16-0029            09-cv-63586
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*372
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrington                  J.C.            Jasper         16-0028            09-cv-63585
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aultman                    Carlton         Smith          2006-182           09-cv-63587
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baggett                    David           Jasper         16-0026            09-cv-63588
                           Wayne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey, Jr.                Lee Owen        Jones          2006-515-CV11      09-cv-63203
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballard                    Jerry D.        Jones          2006-134-CV3       09-cv-63206
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banks                      Daniel M.       Jasper         16-0030            09-cv-63589
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banks                      Johnny C.       Jones          2006-144-CV3       09-cv-63205
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barnes, Jr.                Tommy E.        Smith          2006-221           09-cv-63590
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beard                      Julius R.       Jones          2006-517-CV11      09-cv-63213
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beasley                    Earnest         Smith          2006-104           09-cv-63591
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berry, Individually and    Fredna          Jones          2006-228-CV3       09-cv-63012
as Representative of the
Estate of Fred Berry,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biglan                     Terry Lee       Jones          2006-143-CV3       09-cv-63196
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bishop                     James           Jones          2006-142-CV3       09-cv-63191
                           Johnny
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boler, Jr.                 Cleveland       Jones          2006-373-CV11      09-cv-63214
                           D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bond                       Louis L.        Smith          2006-152           09-cv-63592
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bounds                     George          Jones          2006-102-CV3       09-cv-63194
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boykin                     Bobby G.        Smith          2006-156           09-cv-63593
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boyles                     Buren Dale      Jefferson      2006-13            09-cv-63595
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boyte                      James           Jones          2006-132-CV3       09-cv-63209
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boyte                      George W.       Smith          2006-179           09-cv-63596
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brady, Individually and    Kelly           Jones          2006-424-CV11      09-cv-63013
as Representative of the
Estate of Willie Douglas
Hancock, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breland                    Hiram Jesse     Jones          2006-495-CV11       09-cv-63210
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brewer                     Donnie C.       Smith          2006-129           09-cv-63598
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brister                    David           Smith          2006-115           09-cv-63599

*373
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Broadhead                  Thomas L.       Smith          2006-70            09-cv-63600
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown                      Isaac           Smith          2006-71            09-cv-63291
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown                      James           Jones          2006-146-CV3       09-cv-63211
                           Lavern
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown                      Kenneth M.      Jones          2006-122-CV3       09-cv-63207
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown                      Randy K.        Smith          2006-175           09-cv-63292
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown                      Billy G.        Smith          2006-207           09-cv-63693
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown, Individually and    Estelle         Smith          2006-117           09-cv-63601
as Representative of the   Ruth
Estate of Claude Brown,
Jr., Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown, Jr.                 Thomas          Smith          2006-196           09-cv-63567
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryant                     Harmon J.       Jones          2006-194-CV3       09-cv-63204
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buckley                    Herbert         Jones          2006-80-CV3        09-cv-63195
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burkhalter                 James           Smith          2006-118           09-cv-63568
                           Donald
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burrow                     Daniel G.       Smith          2006-214           09-cv-63570
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bustin                     Michael         Smith          2006-105           09-cv-63571
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Butler                     Dale            Jones          2006-124-CV3       09-cv-63189
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byrd                       Gary R.         Smith          2006-65            09-cv-63572
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byrd                       Randy           Jones          2006-408-CV11      09-cv-63188
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byrd                       Rex B.          Jones          2006-96-CV3        09-cv-63190
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Campbell                   Charles R.      Jefferson      2006-34            09-cv-63573
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Campbell                   Jon             Jones          2006-497-CV11      09-cv-63146
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Campbell                   Douglas E.      Jefferson      2006-15            09-cv-63574
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carney                     Paul            Jones          2006-117-CV3       09-cv-63144
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carr                       Henry S.        Jones          2006-83-CV3        09-cv-63145
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carruth                    John            Smith          2006-119           09-cv-63575
                           Howard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carter                     Audley          Smith          2006-120           09-cv-63576
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*374
Carter, Individually and   Ollie Mae       Smith          2006-121           09-cv-63694
as Representative of
the Estate of Jessie L.
Carter, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cavin                      Jerry W.        Jones          2006-196-CV3       09-cv-63139
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clanan                     Tim             Jones          2006-385-CV11      09-cv-63136
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clark                      Braxton         Smith          2006-69            09-cv-63577
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clark                      Robert W.       Smith          2006-103           09-cv-63579
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clark                      Thomas A.       Smith          2006-208           09-cv-63580
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clark                      Colin R.        Smith          2006-97            09-cv-63578
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collins                    George B.       Jasper         16-0033            09-cv-63278
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collins                    Roderick        Smith          2006-122           09-cv-63279
                           Wayne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conn                       Danny           Jones          2006-184-CV3       09-cv-63131
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooley                     Thomas          Smith          2006-64            09-cv-63280
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooper, Jr.                Henry S.        Jones          2006-524-CV11      09-cv-63134
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cothern                    Jerry L.        Smith          2006-174           09-cv-63281
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coulter                    Charles L.      Jones          2006-148-CV3       09-cv-63133
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cowart                     Robert L.       Jones          2006-422-CV11      09-cv-63137
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crager                     Larry           Smith          2006-142           09-cv-63282
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cummings, Individually     Henrietta       Jasper         16-0034            09-cv-63283
and as Representative
of the Estate of John
Cummings, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cupit                      James           Jones          2006-223-CV3       09-cv-63135
                           Edward
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curtis                     Wilmer E.       Smith          2006-191           09-cv-63284
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curtis, III                Concie          Jones          2006-97-CV3        09-cv-63138
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daley                      David           Jones          2006-224-CV3       09-cv-63173
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darty, Individually and    Teresa          Smith          2006-155           09-cv-63690
as Representative of the
Estate of Charles Edward
Darty, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Davis                      Terry W.        Smith          2006-107           09-cv-63285
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dearman                    James           Jasper         16-0057            09-cv-63286

*375
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dearman                    Kenneth L.      Smith          2006-172           09-cv-63287
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delk                       Garner          Smith          2006-93            09-cv-63288
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doggett                    Willie E.       Smith          2006-123           09-cv-63289
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald                     Newt            Smith          2006-96            09-cv-63264
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald                     Willard         Smith          2006-150           09-cv-63265
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald                     James           Smith          2006-106           09-cv-63290
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donaldson                  Dale            Jones          2006-188-CV3       09-cv-63172
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DuBose                     Kenneth A.      Smith          2006-72            09-cv-63266
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dunigan                    Darrius P.      Smith          2006-44            09-cv-63267
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dunigan                    Jerry L.        Jones          2006-150-CV3       09-cv-63176
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dunn                       James           Smith          2006-124           09-cv-63268
                           Lowrey
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dunn                       Vandiver        Jones          2006-527-CV11      09-cv-63174
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durr                       Helen           Smith          2006-209           09-cv-63686
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dvorak                     Eugene F.       Jones          2006-529-CV11      09-cv-63175
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easterling                 Ernie L.        Smith          2006-128           09-cv-63269
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Echols                     Douglas         Jones          2006-375-CV11      09-cv-63154
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ellzey                     Rickey          Smith          2006-74            09-cv-63270
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emler, Sr.                 Robert W.       Smith          2006-125           09-cv-63271
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eubanks                    John            Smith          2006-151           09-cv-63272
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evans                      Donnie E.       Jones          2006-203-CV3       09-cv-63155
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evans                      Bennie Jake     Jones          2006-151-CV3       09-cv-63156
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evans, Jr.                 Joseph C.       Jefferson      2006-16            09-cv-63273
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ezell, Individually and    Shirley A.      Jones          2006-152-CV3       09-cv-63017
as Representative of the
Estate of Elbert C. Ezell,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairchild                  Kenneth         Jones          2006-98-CV3        09-cv-63160
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairley                    Bill            Jones          2006-153-CV3       09-cv-63159
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farmer                     Lee             Smith          2006-85            09-cv-63274

*376
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fedrick, Sr.               Charles         Smith          2006-43            09-cv-63275
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Floyd                      Kendall         Jasper         16-0036            09-cv-63277
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Floyd                      Turner          Jones          2006-88-CV3        09-cv-63161
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ford, Jr.                  Ernest          Jefferson      2006-25            09-cv-63253
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fountain                   Miles D.        Jones          2006-116-CV3       09-cv-63163
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fountain Sr.               Michael V.      Jones          2006-154-CV3       09-cv-63162
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foxworth                   Sidney R.       Jasper         16-0037            09-cv-63252
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freeman                    Larry M.        Jasper         16-0017            09-cv-63251
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gardner                    Charles         Jones          2006-99-CV3        09-cv-63050
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gardner                    Ralph           Jones          2006-533-CV11      09-cv-63040
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gardner                    Robert          Jasper         16-0038            09-cv-63250
                           Wayne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garner, Individually and   James R.        Jones          2006-235-CV3       09-cv-63008
as Representative of the
Estate of Hubert Garner,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gatlin                     Richard G.      Smith          2006-126           09-cv-63249
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gibson                     Bobby L.        Jones          2006-387-CV11      09-cv-63049
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gilmore                    Authur          Jones          2006-155-CV3       09-cv-63048
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goldman                    Grover          Jones          2006-157-CV3       09-cv-63046
                           Audell
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goldman, Individually      Patricia        Smith          2006-161           09-cv-63687
and as Representative of
the Estate of William
Clarence Goldman,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goode                      Stanley L.      Smith          2006-178           09-cv-63248
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graham                     Kenneth         Jones          2006-114-CV3       09-cv-63045
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grantham                   David           Jones          2006-115-CV3       09-cv-63044
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graves                     Ted Justin      Jones          2006-159-CV3       09-cv-63043
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Green                      Billy R.        Smith          2006-49            09-cv-63247
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Green                      Gregory         Smith          2006-198           09-cv-63246
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Green                      Robert E.       Jasper         16-0039            09-cv-63245

*377
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greene                     Stephen C.      Jasper         16-0040            09-cv-63244
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gregory                    Paul            Smith          2006-177           09-cv-63243
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hall                       Ansler Dale     Jones          2006-192-CV3       09-cv-63069
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hall                       Quincy L.       Smith          2006-165           09-cv-63242
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hargon                     James           Jasper         16-0059            09-cv-63241
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harris                     James E.        Jones          2006-376-CV11      09-cv-63067
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harris                     Ricky           Jones          2006-161-CV3       09-cv-63066
                           Wayne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harris                     Willie          Smith          2006-197           09-cv-63239
                           James
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harris                     Curtis          Smith          2006-159           09-cv-63240
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harvey                     Thad            Jones          2006-534-CV11      09-cv-63064
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hayles                     Jerry W.        Jefferson      2006-26            09-cv-63233
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haynes                     Isaac           Jones          2006-84-CV3        09-cv-63063
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heathcock                  Cecil           Smith          2006-102           09-cv-63232
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heathcock                  Nolan           Smith          2006-199           09-cv-63688
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heidel                     John            Jones          2006-160-CV3       09-cv-63061
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henderson                  George          Jasper         16-0041            09-cv-63231
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herrington                 Don F.          Smith          2006-189           09-cv-63230
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herrington                 James V.        Smith          2006-94            09-cv-63229
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herrington                 Tony            Smith          2006-176           09-cv-63228
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higginbotham               Katie           Jones          2006-113-CV3       09-cv-63062
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hitson                     Thurman R.      Smith          2006-127           09-cv-63263
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hodge                      W.C.            Smith          2006-160           09-cv-63262
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holifield                  Charles         Jones          2006-163-CV3       09-cv-63059
                           Edward
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hollingshead               James           Jasper         16-0042            09-cv-63261
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hollingsworth              Billy R.        Smith          2006-170           09-cv-63260
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hollingsworth              Melvin          Smith          2006-213           09-cv-63259

*378
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hollomon                   George H.       Smith          2006-59            09-cv-63258
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holloway                   William L.      Jones          2006-162-CV3       09-cv-63058
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holmes                     Donald W.       Jones          2006-537-CV11      09-cv-63057
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hoover                     Charles         Smith          2006-171           09-cv-63257
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howse                      Malcolm         Jones          2006-538-CV11      09-cv-63056
                           Paul
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huff                       Douglas         Smith          2006-95            09-cv-63256
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunt                       Randy R.        Jones          2006-539-CV11      09-cv-63053
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hutto                      Ernest          Jones          2006-411-CV11      09-cv-63052
                           Wayne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hutto                      Thomas E.       Smith          2006-73            09-cv-63255
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hutto                      Thomas          Smith          2006-60            09-cv-63254
                           Larry
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jackson                    Larry E.        Smith          2006-210           09-cv-63224
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jackson                    Leroy           Jasper         16-0043            09-cv-63225
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jefcoat                    Jackson P.      Smith          2006-101           09-cv-63226
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jernigan                   Jimmy D.        Jasper         16-0062            09-cv-63227
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson                    Dan Wilson      Smith          2006-111           09-cv-63238
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson                    Paul            Jones          2006-540-CV11      09-cv-63180
                           Bedford
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson, Jr.               Roland          Smith          2006-166           09-cv-63237
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jones                      James B.        Jasper         16-0045            09-cv-63235
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jones                      Anthony E.      Smith          2006-112           09-cv-63236
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan                     James           Jasper         16-0025            09-cv-63234
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan                     Robert E.       Jones          2006-425-CV11      09-cv-63182
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan                     Michael H.      Jasper         16-0046            09-cv-63602
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keyes                      John E.         Smith          2006-157           09-cv-63603
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keyes                      Joe             Jones          2006-165-CV3       09-cv-63202
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kirk                       Jerry           Smith          2006-86            09-cv-63604

*379
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kirkendall, Sr.            Kenneth         Smith          2006-100           09-cv-63605
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kirkley                    Dewayne         Smith          2006-216           09-cv-63606
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kittrell                   Plummer         Jones          2006-498-CV11      09-cv-63179
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knight                     Billy Ray       Smith          2006-173           09-cv-63607
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knotts, Sr.                Tommy J.        Jones          2006-104-CV3       09-cv-63200
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lambert                    Howard          Smith          2006-67            09-cv-63689
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lambert                    Ralph W.        Jefferson      2006-19            09-cv-63608
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Landrum                    Henry E.        Smith          2006-217           09-cv-63609
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Langley                    Willis F.       Jones          2006-168-CV3       09-cv-63165
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee                        Michael R.      Jones          2006-400-CV11      09-cv-63166
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leggett                    Edward J.       Smith          2006-92            09-cv-63610
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leggett                    Kenneth D.      Jones          2006-167-CV3       09-cv-63167
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonard, Jr.               Colon R.        Jones          2006-211-CV3       09-cv-63168
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lewis, Sr.                 William         Jasper         16-0060            09-cv-63611
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lindsey, Individually and  Vanessa         Jasper         16-0047            09-cv-63691
as Representative of the
Estate of Curtis William
Lindsey, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lines                      David W.        Jones          2006-545-CV11      09-cv-63169
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lofton                     Robert          Jones          2006-166-CV3       09-cv-63170
                           Junior
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magee                      James G.        Jones          2006-547-CV11      09-cv-63089
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maples                     Bobby F.        Jefferson      2006-35            09-cv-63613
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mashburn, Jr.              William W.      Smith          2006-116           09-cv-63614
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mason                      Keith           Jones          2006-191-CV3       09-cv-63088
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McAllister                 Ecclus          Jones          2006-551-CV11      09-cv-63085
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McCaffrey                  Lucious         Smith          2006-131           09-cv-63615
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McCaffrey                  Roger W.        Smith          2006-200           09-cv-63616
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McCarty                    Daniel          Smith          2006-42            09-cv-63617
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*380
McDonald                   Alfred          Smith          2006-201           09-cv-63618
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McDonald                   Ben F.          Jones          2006-172-CV3       09-cv-63084
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McFarland                  John W.         Jones          2006-136-CV3       09-cv-63083
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McGee                      Charles         Smith          2006-218           09-cv-63619
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McGill                     Ronnie          Jones          2006-209-CV3       09-cv-63081
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McGraw                     William R.      Jefferson      2006-22            09-cv-63620
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McKenzie                   Thomas A.       Jones          2006-427-CV11      09-cv-63080
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McKinney                   Delton          Jefferson      2006-17            09-cv-63621
                           Alford
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McLain                     Charles         Smith          2006-89            09-cv-63622
                           Irvin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McLain                     Clifford        Jones          2006-553-CV11      09-cv-63079
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McLain                     Jake W.         Jones          2006-125-CV3       09-cv-63109
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McLain                     Robert D.       Jones          2006-171-CV3       09-cv-63078
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McManus                    James Ray       Jefferson      2006-20            09-cv-63623
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miller                     Loranzie        Jones          2006-428-CV11      09-cv-63077
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miller                     Michael D.      Jones          2006-554-CV11      09-cv-63076
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mills                      Bobby R.        Jones          2006-170-CV3       09-cv-63075
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mills                      Owen L.         Smith          2006-149           09-cv-63624
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moak                       Glen            Smith          2006-183           09-cv-63625
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moore                      William         Smith          2006-87            09-cv-63626
                           Leon
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moore                      Willie E.       Jones          2006-190-CV3       09-cv-63072
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan                     Otis L.         Jasper         16-0048            09-cv-63627
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morris                     Robert E.       Jones          2006-110-CV3       09-cv-63110
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mosley, Individually and   Neena           Smith          2006-90            09-cv-63692
as Representative of Lee
George Mosley, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mullins                    Hugh W.         Jones          2006-556-CV11      09-cv-63070
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nations                    Jimmy L.        Jones          2006-558-CV11      09-cv-63183

*381
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neely, Sr.                 Michael K.      Smith          2006-169           09-cv-63629
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nelson                     James           Jones          2006-133-CV3       09-cv-63184
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newell                     Isaac           Jones          2006-560-CV11      09-cv-63185
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nichols                    Billy D.        Smith          2006-188           09-cv-63630
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nickey                     Cecil J.        Jones          2006-173-CV3       09-cv-63186
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nugent                     Shelby          Claiborne      2006-34            09-cv-63631
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odom                       Gary L.         Jones          2006-378-CV11      09-cv-63187
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oliver                     Rickey L.       Smith          2006-180           09-cv-63632
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacey                      Gene W.         Smith          2006-211           09-cv-63633
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Palmer                     Joe L.          Jones          2006-561-CV11      09-cv-63149
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Palmer                     Morgan T.       Jones          2006-200-CV3       09-cv-63148
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parker                     Jeffrey B.      Smith          2006-181           09-cv-63634
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parnell                    Phillip Lynn    Jasper         16-0015            09-cv-63635
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peak                       William H.      Jones          2006-430-CV11      09-cv-63100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perkins                    Clifton A.      Smith          2006-148           09-cv-63636
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillips                   Frazier M.      Jones          2006-121-CV3       09-cv-63099
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pittman                    Alfred J.       Smith          2006-61            09-cv-63637
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitts                      Michael C.      Smith          2006-47            09-cv-63638
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitts                      Luther          Jones          2006-176-CV3       09-cv-63098
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitts                      Sam             Smith          2006-141           09-cv-63639
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitts                      Vandol          Jasper         16-0049            09-cv-63640
                           Wayne
                           "V.W."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitts, Individually and    Patricia        Jones          2006-174-CV3       09-cv-63009
as Representative of the   Gayle
Estate of Homer Earl
Pitts, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plumer                     Ernest          Jones          2006-449-CV11      09-cv-63097
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Porter                     Carl O.         Jasper         16-0050            09-cv-63641
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Powell                     Herbert K.      Jones          2006-108-CV3       09-cv-63096
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*382
Powell                     William         Jones          2006-177-CV3       09-cv-63095
                           Hinton
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Presley, Individually and  Alice           Jones          2006-501-CV11      09-cv-63006
as Representative of the
Estate of William Pressley,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preston                    Albert          Jones          2006-416-CV11      09-cv-63093
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price                      Gary L.         Jefferson      2006-21            09-cv-63642
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price                      George R.       Jones          2006-502-CV11      09-cv-63092
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price                      Mark            Jones          2006-562-CV11      09-cv-63091
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prine                      Charlie W.      Smith          2006-40            09-cv-63696
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick                      Billy           Jones          2006-03-CV11       09-cv-63201
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratliff                    Jason C.        Jones          2006-563-CV11      09-cv-63108
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reed                       William         Jefferson      2006-29            09-cv-63643
                           Steve
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reid                       James D.        Jones          2006-179-CV3       09-cv-63106
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rigney, Jr.                Charles L.      Smith          2006-45            09-cv-63645
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robbins                    Pearl           Jones          2006-418-CV11      09-cv-63105
                           Lavern
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robbins, Sr.               Donald          Smith          2006-185           09-cv-63646
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roberts                    Johnny W.       Jasper         16-0051            09-cv-63648
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodgers                    Julius E.       Jefferson      2006-27            09-cv-63649
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rollins                    David           Jasper         16-0024            09-cv-63650
                           Clinton
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rollins                    Tommy           Jones          2006-565-CV11      09-cv-63103
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Runnels                    Carl A.         Jones          2006-482-CV11      09-cv-63102
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell                    James           Jones          2006-112-CV3       09-cv-63151
                           Lowery
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell                    Larry           Jones          2006-199-CV3       09-cv-63150
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell                    William H.      Smith          2006-140           09-cv-63651
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell                    David P.        Jones          2006-178-CV3       09-cv-63152
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rutland                    Billy Joe       Smith          2006-139           09-cv-63652
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanders                    Charles         Jones          2006-567-CV11      09-cv-63039
                           David
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saul                       J.M.            Jones          2006-181-CV3       09-cv-63037

*383
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saul, Jr.                  Tom M.          Jones          2006-120-CV3       09-cv-63036
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sauls, Individually and    Betty           Jones          2006-419-CV11      09-cv-63004
as Representative of the
Estate of Kenneth L.
Sauls, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scarbrough                 Arthur L.       Jasper         16-0065            09-cv-63653
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short                      Jesse James     Jones          2006-225-CV3       09-cv-63035
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simmons                    Thomas E.       Jones          2006-405-CV11      09-cv-63034
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sims                       Charles R.      Jones          2006-89-CV3        09-cv-63033
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sims                       Gary B.         Jefferson      2006-30            09-cv-63654
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sims, Sr.                  John W.         Jasper         16-0052            09-cv-63655
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Charles         Jones          2006-389-CV11      09-cv-63032
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Ervin           Smith          2006-219           09-cv-63656
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Willis T.       Smith          2006-80            09-cv-63659
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Charles R.      Jones          2006-231-CV3       09-cv-63030
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Elmer H.        Smith          2006-66            09-cv-63697
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Kelcie Dale     Jones          2006-138-CV3       09-cv-63029
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Vince           Jasper         16-0023            09-cv-63658
                           Edward
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith, Jr.                 Joe             Jones          2006-379-CV11      09-cv-63028
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith, Sr.                 Darrell D.      Jones          2006-210-CV3       09-cv-63027
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speights                   James C.        Smith          2006-168           09-cv-63660
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spence                     George          Jones          2006-406-CV11      09-cv-63026
                           Ross
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spiars                     Bobby           Smith          2006-215           09-cv-63661
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spiers                     Joseph          Jones          2006-505-CV11      09-cv-63025
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spradley                   Joseph          Jones          2006-119-CV3       09-cv-63024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spradley                   Stephen V.      Jasper         16-0016            09-cv-63662
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stampley                   Charlie A.      Jefferson      2006-32            09-cv-63663
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stanley                    David           Jefferson      2006-33            09-cv-63664
                           Foster

*384
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stewart, Individually      Frances         Jones          2006-559-CV11      09-cv-63015
and as Representative of
the Estate of Floyd L.
Nettles, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stinson                    Walter E.       Jones          2006-396-CV11       09-cv-63021
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Street                     William J.       Smith         2006-62             09-cv-63665
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strickland                 Melton L.        Smith         2006-138            09-cv-63666
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sullivan                   Corbit           Jones         2006-198-CV3        09-cv-63020
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sykes                      Dodd             Jones         2006-180-CV3        09-cv-63019
                           Mitchell
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tageant                    Louis           Jefferson      2006-09             09-cv-63667
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tanner                     Daryl Ray       Jones          2006-506-CV11       09-cv-63116
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tanner, Jr.                Edward          Smith          2006-195            09-cv-63668
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tatum                      William A.      Jones          2006-380-CV11       09-cv-63117
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taylor, Individually and   Lisa            Jones          2006-543-CV11       09-cv-63014
as Representative of the
Estate of Clarence Kelly,
Sr., Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teachey                    Jerry L.        Jones          2006-571-CV11      09-cv-63115
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrell                    Leroy           Jones          2006-572-CV11      09-cv-63114
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thompson                   Joe R.          Jones          2006-489-CV11      09-cv-63113
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thompson, Individually     Dimple I.       Jones          2006-381-CV11      09-cv-63003
and as Representative of
the Estate of Marvin
Thompson, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toney                      Lester          Jones          2006-577-CV11      09-cv-63112
                           Leroy
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Townsend                   Larry W.        Smith          2006-130           09-cv-63670
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tucker                     William         Smith          2006-79            09-cv-63671
                           Clyde
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turner                     James M.        Jones          2006-197-CV3       09-cv-63111
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upshaw                     Dewey           Smith          2006-99            09-cv-63672
                           Wayne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upshaw                     Jerry           Smith          2006-98            09-cv-63673
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upton                      Joel P.         Jones          2006-578-CV11      09-cv-63199
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wade                       Robert Earl     Smith          2006-110           09-cv-63674

*385
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wagley                     Billy J.        Smith          2006-109           09-cv-63675
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wallace                    James C.        Jones          2006-86-CV3        09-cv-63129
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waller                     Pauline         Jones          2006-397-CV11      09-cv-63128
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walley                     James R.        Jones          2006-91-CV3        09-cv-63126
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ward, Jr.                  Henry           Jones          2006-382-CV11      09-cv-63127
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watts                      James E.        Jones          2006-508-CV11      09-cv-63123
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weeks                      Johnny R.       Jasper         16-0055            09-cv-63676
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weir, Jr.                  Freddie         Smith          2006-220           09-cv-63677
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wells, Sr.                 Bobby G.        Smith          2006-137           09-cv-63678
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West                       Charlie E.      Jasper         16-0053            09-cv-63679
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West                       Dalton L.       Smith          2006-41            09-cv-63680
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West                       Phillip         Jones          2006-383-CV11      09-cv-63122
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West                       Thomas E.       Jasper         16-0054            09-cv-63681
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westerfield                Earl            Jasper         16-0022            09-cv-63682
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White                      Larry           Smith          2006-108           09-cv-63683
                           James
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White                      Randy J.        Jones          2006-390-CV11      09-cv-63121
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White, Jr.                 J.B.            Jones          2006-92-CV3        09-cv-63120
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White, Sr.                 James E.        Smith          2006-136           09-cv-69684
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilkinson                  Reba N.         Smith          2006-158           09-cv-69685
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Williams                   David           Jones          2006-579-CV11      09-cv-63119
                           Griffin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Williams                   Mathyngale      Jones          2006-26-CV3        09-cv-63118
                           "Buck"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wise                       Peter           Smith          2006-82            09-cv-63698
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yelverton, Jr.             John D.         Jones          2006-93-CV3        09-cv-63197
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exhibit "B"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Mississippi
                                            District      Mississippi
                                             Court        State District     Pennsylvania
Last Name                  First Name      County        Court Cause No.    Civil Action No.

*386
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adcock                     David           Jones          2007-102-CV9       09-cv-63216
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ard                        Robert E.       Jones          2007-104-CV9       09-cv-63219
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atwood                     Gene B.         Jones          2007-105-CV9       09-cv-63221
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aultman, Sr.               Mozell          Jones          2007-106-CV9       09-cv-63222
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bacon                      Edward          Jones          2007-110-CV9       09-cv-63223
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beard                      William M.      Jones          2007-115-CV9       09-cv-63208
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bevis                      Jimmie L.       Jones          2007-116-CV9       09-cv-63193
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boleware                   David           Jones          2007-117-CV9       09-cv-63192
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boykin                     C.N.            Jefferson      2007-101           09-cv-63594
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brent                      Fred            Jefferson      2007-98            09-cv-63597
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brownell                   William E.      Jones          2007-119-CV9       09-cv-63011
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burrell                    Vernon          Smith          2007-259           09-cv-63569
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapman                    Alford B.       Jones          2007-125-CV9       09-cv-63141
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chipmon                    David           Jones          2007-126-CV9       09-cv-63140
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collins                    Herman          Jones          2007-129-CV9       09-cv-63143
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collins                    Larry           Jones          2007-130-CV9       09-cv-63130
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cook                       Charles T.      Jones          2007-131-CV9       09-cv-63132
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Davis, Individually and    Stephanie       Jones          2007-136-CV9       09-cv-63016
as Representative of the
Estate of Don M. Davis,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easterling                 Sherman         Jones          2007-140-CV9       09-cv-63153
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Echols                     Charles         Jones          2007-141-CV9       09-cv-63157
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evans                      Jacob           Jones          2007-142-CV9       09-cv-63158
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feduccia                   Joe             Jones          2007-144-CV9       09-cv-63276
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Butler, Individually and   Krysten         Jones          2007-145-CV9       09-cv-63018
as Representative of the   Lambert
Estate of Bennie Floyd,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foster                     Leonard W.      Jones          2007-146-CV9       09-cv-63164
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaines, Jr.                Eddie Lee       Jones          2007-147-CV9       09-cv-63051

*387
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glass                      Melvin R.       Jones          2007-149-CV9       09-cv-63047
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gregory                    Rudolph         Jones          2007-151-CV9       09-cv-63042
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gunter                     Jerrell J.      Jones          2007-152-CV9       09-cv-63041
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamrick, Sr.               Charles         Jones          2007-155-CV9       09-cv-63068
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harrison                   Ex Earl         Jones          2007-157-CV9       09-cv-63065
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hodges                     Richard         Jones          2007-161-CV9       09-cv-63060
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard                     Johnny          Jones          2007-162-CV9       09-cv-63055
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hudson, III                Ompy L.         Jones          2007-163-CV9       09-cv-63054
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ingle, Individually and    Audrey Nell     Jefferson      2007-100           09-cv-63695
as Representative of the
Estate of W.C. Ingle,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richardson, Individually   Judith          Jones          2007-165-CV9       09-cv-63005
and as Representative of
the Estate of Troyce
Johnson, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan                     Johnny          Jones          2007-166-CV9       09-cv-63181
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kennedy                    Ross A.         Jones          2007-167-CV9       09-cv-63177
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kerben, Jr.                Sidney L.       Jones          2007-168-CV9       09-cv-63178
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lofton                     Robert          Jasper         17-0065            09-cv-63612
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madison                    Winston         Jones          2007-171-CV9       09-cv-63090
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mahaffey, Jr.              Alton J.        Jones          2007-172-CV9       09-cv-63087
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayhugh, Jr.               Kenneth         Jones          2007-175-CV9       09-cv-63086
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McFarland                  Mark            Jones          2007-177-CV9       09-cv-63082
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McNair, Individually and   Betty           Jones          2007-178-CV9       09-cv-63010
as Representative of the
Estate of L.B. McNair,
Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mire, Sr.                  Bobby W.        Jones          2007-179-CV9       09-cv-63074
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moak                       Dennis G.       Jones          2007-180-CV9       09-cv-63073
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motley                     Vincent         Jones          2007-184-CV9       09-cv-63071
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murray, Sr.                Bobby           Claiborne      2007-165           09-cv-63628
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patton                     J.E.            Jones          2007-188-CV9       09-cv-63147

*388
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pevey, Individually and    Chrystelle      Jones          2007-189-CV9       09-cv-63007
as Representative of the
Estate of James E.
Pevey, Deceased
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prather                    Daniel L.       Jones          2007-192-CV9       09-cv-63094
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ramage                     Jackie D.       Jones          2007-197-CV9       09-cv-63107
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revette, Jr.               Harvey          Smith          2007-260           09-cv-63644
                           Richard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roberts                    Jimmy           Jasper         17-0064            09-cv-63647
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rollins                    Larry Jessie    Jones          2007-200-CV9       09-cv-63104
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rushing                    Mitchell R.     Jones          2007-201-CV9       09-cv-63101
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sasser, Jr.                Aaron           Jones          2007-203-CV9       09-cv-63038
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Charles C.      Jones          2007-205-CV9       09-cv-63031
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith                      Mark            Jefferson      2007-104           09-cv-63657
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephens                   Joe             Jones          2007-209-CV9       09-cv-63023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stewart                    Timothy L.      Jones          2007-210-CV9       09-cv-63022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornton                   Harold D.       Jefferson      2007-103           09-cv-63669
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Usry                       Kenneth         Jones          2007-217-CV9       09-cv-63198
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warnock                    Jerry L.        Jones          2007-219-CV9       09-cv-63125
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watkins                    Ted             Jones          2007-220-CV9       09-cv-63124
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exhibit "C"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Mississippi
                                            District      Mississippi
                                             Court        State District     Pennsylvania
Last Name                  First Name      County        Court Cause No.    Civil Action No.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brady                      Clinton L.      Jones          2006-407-CV11      5:08-cv-87071-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Broom                      Harvey E.       Jones          2006-519-CV11      5:08-cv-87069-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bullock                    Deloice         Jones          2006-520-CV11      5:08-cv-87072-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crawford                   Joseph          Jones          2006-394-CV11      5:08-cv-87080-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curd                       Patrick         Jones          2006-525-CV11      5:08-cv-87083-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniels                    Willie Lee      Jones          2006-409-CV11      5:08-cv-87068-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daughdrill                 Dan Mack        Jones          2006-526-CV11      5:08-cv-87081-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dearman                    Rolland         Jones          2006-410-CV11      5:08-cv-87070-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dixon                      George D.       Jones          2006-374-CV11      5:08-cv-87077-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emler                      Louie T.        Jones          2006-464-CV11      5:08-cv-87084-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faust                      Johnny W.       Jones          2006-90-CV3        5:08-cv-85894-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herring (deceased)         Henry A.        Jones          2006-468-CV11      5:08-cv-87079-ER

*389
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Livingston                 Daniel          Jones          2006-94-CV3        5:08-cv-85987-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord, Sr.                  Archie A.       Smith          16-0056            5:08-cv-87030-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McPhail                    Ralph T.        Jones          2006-345-CV9       5:08-cv-87048-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mounteer, Sr.              Eliel K.        Jones          2006-555-CV11      5:08-cv-87073-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsom                     Joseph          Jones          16-0018            5:08-cv-87076-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsom                     Lonnie          Jones          2006-414-CV11      5:08-cv-87031-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Piner                      Ted L.          Jones          2006-415-CV11      5:08-cv-87078-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polk                       Brandon         Jones          2006-206-CV3       5:08-cv-85986-ER
                           Kaye
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polk                       Dale F.         Jones          2006-85-CV3        5:08-cv-85985-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rawls                      Ray C.          Jones          2006-417-CV11      5:08-cv-87075-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith (deceased)           Cleophus        Jones          2006-75            5:08-cv-87032-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas                     Tony N.         Jones          2006-573-CV11      5:08-cv-87082-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wallace                    Terry           Jones          2006-491-CV11      5:08-cv-87074-ER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTES
[1]  Union Carbide Corp. filed a response in opposition to this motion to remand, which was joined by co-defendants ConocoPhillips and Montello, Inc. Oilfield Service & Supply, Inc. filed an individual response opposing the motion.
[2]  Defendants, in their response, note that the Court has discouraged the filing of mass motions that apply to many plaintiffs in MDL-875. While this point is noted, plaintiffs affected by the instant motion have been referred to Magistrate Judge David R. Strawbridge as a group. Additionally, each of the plaintiffs in each of the four categories is identified by name in exhibit "A" of the motion to remand. Denying plaintiffs' motion on the grounds of MDL-875 policy would simply result in the filing of an identical motion in each of 444 cases.

The defendants' argument takes the Court's policy too far in this instance. Previous opinions of the Court have discouraged motions attempting to change case-wide policy (i.e., mass dismissals for failure to comply with administrative orders or mass remands because the MDL is "not working"). See In re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig., 614 F.Supp.2d 550, 554 (E.D.Pa.2009); In re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig., 254 F.R.D. 266, 268 (E.D.Pa. 2008). The instant motion is based on fairly specific facts with regard to a discrete set of plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are represented by one law firm and fall neatly into three categories. The utility of dealing with these cases as one group outweighs the policy considerations of an overly strict "one-plaintiff, one-motion" program.
[3]  See, e.g., In re New England Mut. Life Ins. Co. Sales Practices Litig., 324 F.Supp.2d 288, 297 (D.Mass.2004) ("In the ordinary course, questions of federal law in MDL-transferred cases are governed by the law of the transferee circuit."); In re Nat'l Century Fin. Enters., Inc., Inv. Litig. 323 F.Supp.2d 861, 876 (S.D.Ohio 2004) ("Thus, the rule in multidistrict litigation is that the transferee court, in interpreting federal law, should apply the law of its own circuit rather than the law of the transferor court's circuit"); In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether ("MTBE") Prods. Liab. Litig., No. 1:00-1898, 2005 WL 106936, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 18, 2005) (holding that in interpreting and applying "the federal constitution, any federal statute, or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure" the court was bound "only by the opinions of the Supreme Court and Second Circuit.").
[4]  See Van Dusen v. Barrack, 376 U.S. 612, 639, 84 S.Ct. 805, 11 L.Ed.2d 945 (1964) (evaluating applicable law after change of venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a)); see also In re Dow Sarabond Prods. Liab. Litig., 666 F.Supp. 1466, 1468 (D.Colo.1987) (citing In re Agent Orange Prod. Liab. Litig., 580 F.Supp. 690, 695 (E.D.N.Y.1984)) (evaluating applicable law after change of venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1407).
[5]  The Court notes that the actions commenced in 2004 were massive multi-plaintiff actions. The Mississippi state court severed these plaintiffs and required each to file amended complaints. Each plaintiff filed an amended complaint in 2006. Even if the Court calculates the one year time period from the date that each amended complaint was filed, the petition for removal was not filed until well after the one year limitation had passed. (Pls.' Mot. Remand 15, doc. no. 44, 09-mc-103.)
[6]  In support of this holding, the Third Circuit cited to Tedford v. Warner-Lambert Co., 327 F.3d 423, 426-7 (5th Cir.2003), which is the case most heavily relied on by defendants in support of an equitable exception.
[7]  Although the plaintiffs assert that Oilfield Service's motion for summary judgment is not an "other paper" that would trigger the 30 day window for removal in § 1446(b), they do not make the argument in their motion to remand that removal was not effected within the statutorily mandated 30 days. See (Defs.' Resp. in Opp'n to Remand 16 n. 10, doc. no. 58, 09-mc-103.) The Court, therefore, will treat this issue as uncontested.
[8]  Given that the Court has found that Oilfield Service is not fraudulently joined, see infra, even if the defendants could show diligence, they would be unable to show "flagrant forum manipulation" by plaintiffs. See Namey, 534 F.Supp.2d at 498; see also Lee, 2006 WL 3511160, at *5.
[9]  Judge Gex, in the five motions to remand that were ruled on before transfer to the MDL, rejected defendants fraudulent joinder argument. While the instant plaintiffs' cases were not expressly considered by Judge Gex, it is notable that Judge Gex found that Oilfield Service was not fraudulently joined in five similar cases.
[10]  See Growth Horizons, Inc. v. Delaware County, 983 F.2d 1277, 1281 (3d Cir.1993) ("A district court has federal question jurisdiction in any case where a plaintiff with standing makes a non-frivolous allegation that he or she is entitled to relief because the defendant's conduct violated a federal statute."). Therefore, federal subject matter jurisdiction is not based on which parties remain in the case, rather, it is based on the claims asserted by a plaintiff. Since the claims of the 25 plaintiffs in Category III fall squarely within the grant of jurisdiction conveyed in OCSLA, and the defendants timely opposed plaintiffs' motion to remand, the exercise of federal jurisdiction is appropriate.