Calif. Court Remands Asbestos Action, Notes Dismissal of Removing Defendant

OAKLAND, Calif. –– A California federal court has remanded an asbestos action, noting that the removing defendant has since been dismissed from the case.

In the Sept. 9 order, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said that as the allegations in the complaint are predicated on state law, jurisdiction in federal court was not proper.

Elwood Mellis filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court, contending that his injuries arose from asbestos exposure.

Crane Co. removed the action, citing the federal officer removal statute.

On July 29, however, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Crane Co. …