Court Denies Former Homeowner's Motion to Intervene in Insurance Case

MILWAUKEE - A federal judge has rejected an effort by the former owner of a mold-contaminated house to consolidate the present owners' insurance suit with their state court lawsuit over the real estate purchase, citing jurisdictional barriers. Miller v. Safeco Insurance Company of America, No. 06-C-1021 (E.D. Wis.).

In his July 30 order denying the motion by Margo Manning, Judge William E. Callahan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said "federal courts have 'no authority to consolidate an action of which it has jurisdiction with one it does not'" (Appalachian Power Co. v. Region Props., …