La. Federal Judge Rejects Fraudulent Joinder Argument and Remands Exxon Suit

NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge has remanded a personal injury suit against Exxon Mobil Corp. and other energy industry defendants to Louisiana state court after determining that claims against a dissolved, in-state corporation were filed within a three-year preemptive period and are, therefore, viable.

U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon declined to address the parties’ dispute over claims against another in-state defendant in his June 4 order, noting that a single forum defendant is enough to defeat diversity jurisdiction.

Plaintiff Riley Hickman contends that his lung cancer diagnosed in December is directly attributable to his exposure to radioactive scale …