31 Louisiana Cases Remanded From MDL, Lone Plaintiff's Remand Motion Denied

CLEVELAND -- In the second of three remand orders issued in recent days, Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley remanded 31 Louisiana welding rod lawsuits after rejecting the defendants' fraudulent joinder arguments. In re: Welding Rod Products Liability Litigation, MDL Docket No. 1535 (N.D. Ohio).

In the Jan. 13 order, Judge O'Malley of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, opined that the plaintiffs' allegations against the one Louisiana-based defendant named in the lawsuits were explicit and colorable. Judge O'Malley did, however, deny remand of plaintiff Harry Buteaux's claims, after finding that both federal officer and enclave statutes were …