Judge Denies Motion to Remand Putative Statewide Class Action Suit Against Metabolife

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A federal judge refused to remand a putative statewide class action suit involving the companies that manufacture and distribute Metabolife 356 after finding that the amount in damages sought by one of the proposed class representatives exceeded the jurisdictional limit. Larry W. Langston, et al., v. Metabolife International, Inc., et al., No. CV-02-2352-S (N.D. Ala.).

As a result, U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler ruled that the court had supplemental jurisdiction over the claims of the putative class members since it already had original diversity jurisdiction over the claims of lead plaintiff Larry Langston.

According to the …