James Powers v. Cottrell, Inc.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 13a0450n.06
No. 12-5923
FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
May 06, 2013
DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
JAMES POWERS; and )
LINDA POWERS, )
)
Plaintiffs-Appellees, )
) ON APPEAL FROM THE
v. ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT
) COURT FOR THE MIDDLE
COTTRELL, INC., ) DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
)
Defendant-Appellant. )
BEFORE: MERRITT, SUHRHEINRICH, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.
SUHRHEINRICH, Circuit Judge.
BACKGROUND
On September 18, 2006, Plaintiffs James and Linda Powers (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed
this product-liability case in the Circuit Court for Rutherford County, Tennessee (the “state court”)
against Cottrell, arising from a shoulder injury sustained by James Powers (“Powers”). The injury
occurred in the course and scope of Powers’ employment by Jack Cooper Transport Company, Inc.
(“JCTC”),1 while he was tying down a Nissan vehicle to an auto transport rig manufactured by
Defendant Cottrell, Inc. (“Cottrell”). Plaintiffs, citizens of Tennessee, sued (1) Cottrell, a citizen of
Georgia, (2) Nissan, a citizen of Tennessee, and (3) WWL Vehicle Services America, Inc. f/k/a
1
Powers is the driver of a car-hauling truck. JCTC, Powers’ employer, is not a party in the
case.
1
Distribution and Auto Service, Inc., a citizen of California and New Jersey. Powers alleged state law
claims for product-liability, negligence, and breach of warranty, and Linda Powers alleged a claim
for loss of consortium. The complaint asserted that the chain and ratchet system2 of the auto
transport rig was defectively designed and manufactured, and that Cottrell was negligent in its failure
to analyze injury data or warn users. As part of their argument, Plaintiffs assert that Cottrell had a
multitude of different options besides the chain and ratchet system, including but not limited to
straps and non-manual securement systems.
On November 8, 2006, Cottrell removed the case to the United States District Court for the
Middle District of Tennessee (the “district court”) on the grounds that Plaintiffs fraudulently joined
non-diverse defendant Nissan. The district court determined that Nissan was not fraudulently joined,
and remanded the case back to the state court on January 17, 2007. Powers v. Cottrell, No. 3:06-cv-
01094 (M.D. Tenn. 2007). The state court later granted summary judgment in favor of the only non-
diverse defendant, Nissan.
On November 21, 2011, Cottrell apparently became aware of the argument3 that removal was
appropriate because resolution of Plaintiffs’ claims would require interpretation of a collective
bargaining agreement (“CBA”) made between Powers, JCTC, and Powers’ union. This meant that
2
The auto transport rig was equipped with a mechanical system used to tie down vehicles
during the loading process by utilizing a ratchet and chain design. According to the complaint,
Powers was using the mechanical system by pulling a tie-down bar when the chain went slack and
the ratchet reversed, causing Powers to fall backwards. The ratchet then caught and violently jerked
both of Powers’ arms and shoulders.
3
Cottrell explains in its appellate brief that “on November 21, 2011, the plaintiffs’ counsel
in McNary v. Cottrell, [No. 3:11-cv-01106-JPG-PMF (S.D. Ill.), another case pending against
Cottrell] responded to Cottrell’s LMRA preemption argument . . . set[ting] forth certain admissions,
which confirmed the validity of Cottrell’s argument and showed the LMRA nature of their claims.”
2
the Labor Management Relations Act (“LMRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 141, et seq. could potentially
completely preempt Plaintiffs’ state law claims. Cottrell explained in its appellate brief that it did
not raise the LMRA argument sooner because “[a]s a non-union employer and non-party to the CBA
at issue here, Cottrell was unaware of the LMRA complete preemption grounds, the prior grievance
decisions on the issues in the lawsuits, or even that there was such a doctrine as LMRA complete
preemption.” As a response to this realization, Cottrell removed the case to the district court again
on December 20, 2011, after it had been in the state court for more than four years.4 Cottrell’s
specific argument was that although it was not party to the collective bargaining agreement,
resolution of Powers’ product-liability claims would nonetheless require interpretation of the CBA,
and any state law claim “substantially dependent upon analysis of a [CBA]” is preempted by § 301
of the LMRA. Alongi v. Ford Motor Co., 386 F.3d 716, 724 (6th Cir. 2004).
On April 23, 2012, the district court remanded the case for the second time. Powers v.
Cottrell, No. 3:11-cv-01209 (M.D. Tenn. 2012). The district court held that
Section 301 preempts state law claims that are substantially dependent upon analysis
of a CBA, but it does not reach claims that only tangentially involve CBA provisions.
By its very terms, this provision confers federal subject-matter jurisdiction only over
suits for violations of contracts. Here, Plaintiffs’ claims are not dependent upon
analysis of a CBA. Defendant’s duties to Plaintiffs arise under state law (products
liability, negligence and breach of warranty), not under a CBA. Plaintiffs’ rights are
created by state law, not by a CBA. The proof required to establish Plaintiffs’ state
law claims does not involve a CBA, and this is not an action for violation of a
contract. Moreover, Defendant Cottrell is not a party to the CBA at issue and, thus,
is not bound or restricted by it and has no rights or obligations thereunder. Its duties
exist independent of the CBA and are duties owed to members of the public as a
matter of state law.
4
On page 15 of its appellate brief, Cottrell explains that, around the same date, it also
removed 18 other cases that were pending against it from different plaintiffs.
3
Id. (citations omitted). The district court did not rely on the timeliness of the removal as a basis for
remanding, but did note that the case “had been proceeding more than four years in the state court”
and also that this was Cottrell’s second attempt at removal.
On July 6, 2012, the district court awarded to Plaintiffs attorney fees incurred as a result of
the removal. 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). In its order awarding attorney fees, the district court explained
that “the [district court], in its discretion, finds that Defendant’s attempted removal was not
objectively reasonable under the facts and circumstances.”
Defendants now appeal, alleging that the district court abused its discretion in awarding
attorney fees. Defendants do not appeal the order to remand.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Powers was employed as an over-the-road truck driver with JCTC. As part of his job
requirements in the course of his employment, Plaintiff routinely loaded automobiles, trucks, and
sport utility vehicles onto his trailer for the purposes of transporting them to destinations throughout
the United States. JCTC did not manufacture its own auto transport rigs, but ordered them from
Cottrell. The head of purchasing at JCTC, Gary Page, would provide the specifications for the rig
to Cottrell. Page’s purchasing decisions are governed by the CBA. Cottrell is not an union
employer, nor is it party to the CBA. It is undisputed that the specifications Page provided to
Cottrell did not reference the CBA, and also that Cottrell never consulted the CBA when it designed
the rigs for JCTC.
Cottrell now alleges that several provisions from the CBA are implicated by Plaintiffs’
product liability claims. Specifically, Cottrell contends that the following provisions are relevant.
4
A. Equipment Safety
With regard to highway equipment safety, a Joint Health and Safety Committee (the
“Committee”) is formed in Article 30 of the CBA. Article 30, Section 8 charges the Committee with
the task of ensuring that equipment safety is in compliance with SAE5 recommended practices for
commercial vehicle equipment. Article 30, Section 8 also assigns the Committee the task of
reviewing tie-down mechanical devices, chain safety, and other equipment issues.
B. Quick Release Ratchets
Article 30, Section 15 states that “[A]ll new equipment ordered on or after the date of
ratification will be provided with quick release ratchets.” A quick release ratchet allows a driver to
untie the rig with one move of the tie-down bar, as opposed to an old style ratchet, which does not
have this quick release mechanism.
C. Minimum Standards
The CBA also contains Article 6, titled “Maintenance and Standards.” It requires all working
conditions (including rigs) to be “not less than the minimum standards” in effect at the time of the
CBA’s ratification.
D. Grievance Procedure
Article 6 of the CBA states that “parties agree that the Local Unions, the employees and the
Employers signatory to this Agreement are obligated to file and process all grievances or complaints
involving alleged unsafe or unhealthful workplace conditions pursuant to the grievance procedures
of the Agreement.”
5
SAE Recommended Practices are manuals published by SAE International, a global
association of engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial-
vehicle industries.
5
ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review
The award of fees is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. “District courts have
considerable discretion to award or deny costs and attorney fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c), and we
will overrule whatever decision is reached only where such discretion has been abused.” Warthman
v. Genoa Twp Bd. of Tr., 549 F.3d 1055, 1059 (6th Cir. 2008). An abuse of discretion occurs where
“[a] district court . . . relies on clearly erroneous findings of fact, or when it improperly applies the
law or uses an erroneous legal standard.” Christian Schmidt Brewing Co. v. G. Heileman Brewing
Co., 753 F.2d 1354, 1356 (6th Cir. 1985) (internal quotation omitted). However, the Supreme Court
has held that:
The fact that an award of fees under § 1447(c) is left to the district court’s discretion,
with no heavy congressional thumb on either side of the scales, does not mean that
no legal standard governs that discretion. We have it on good authority that “a
motion to [a court’s] discretion is a motion, not to its inclination, but to its judgment;
and its judgment is to be guided by sound legal principles.”
Martin v. Franklin Capital Corp., 546 U.S. 132, 139 (2005) (citations omitted).
B. 28 U.S.C. § 1447 Award of Fees
The removal statute provides that “[a]n order remanding the case may require payment of just
costs and any actual expenses, including attorney fees, incurred as a result of the removal.” 28
U.S.C. § 1447(c). The Supreme Court has instructed that fee awards are inappropriate unless “the
removing party lacked an objectively reasonable basis for seeking removal.” Martin, 546 U.S. at
141, see also Paul v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan, 701 F.3d 514, 523 (6th Cir. 2012) (“Absent
unusual circumstances, courts may award attorney’s fees under § 1447(c) only where the removing
party lacked an objectively reasonable basis for seeking removal. Conversely, when an objectively
6
reasonable basis exists, fees should be denied.”) (citations and internal quotations omitted). The
Supreme Court has held that the “appropriate test for awarding fees under § 1447(c) should
recognize the desire to deter removals sought for the purpose of prolonging litigation and imposing
costs on the opposing party, while not undermining Congress’ basic decision to afford defendants
a right to remove as a general matter, when the statutory criteria are satisfied.” Martin, 546 U.S. at
140.
District courts retain considerable discretion in awarding attorney fees. Id. at 141. And
although the general rule is that courts may award attorney’s fees only where the removing party
lacked an objectively reasonable basis for seeking removal, “[i]n applying this rule, district courts
retain discretion to consider whether unusual circumstances warrant a departure from the rule in a
given case.” Martin, 546 U.S. at 141.
In order to prevail on this appeal, Cottrell has to show that the district court abused its
discretion by finding that Cottrell did not have an objectively reasonable basis for believing that
Plaintiffs’ state law claims were completely preempted by the LMRA.
C. Objectively Reasonable Basis for Complete Preemption
Ordinarily, under the well-pleaded complaint rule, if the plaintiff’s complaint relies only on
state law claims, the case may not be removed. Gentek Bldg. Prods., Inc. v. Sherwin-Williams Co.,
491 F.3d 320, 325 (6th Cir. 2007). This is true even if “[f]ederal preemption is raised as a defense”
to the allegations in a plaintiff’s complaint.” Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987)
(emphasis in original).
However, the “Supreme Court has developed a limited exception to the well-pleaded
complaint rule: the complete-preemption doctrine.” Gentek Bldg. Prods., 491 F.3d at 325. “If
7
Congress intends that a federal statute should completely preempt an area of state law, any complaint
alleging claims under that area of state law is presumed to allege a claim arising under federal law.”
Id. (citing Palkow v. CSX Transp., Inc., 431 F.3d 543, 552 (6th Cir. 2005) (citing Metro. Life Ins.
Co. v. Taylor, 481 U.S. 58, 63-64 (1987))). Under the “complete preemption” doctrine, if a state law
has been completely preempted, any claim purportedly based on the preempted state law is
considered a federal claim, and therefore removable. Id; see also 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). A state law
is completely preempted if the force of the federal statute is so “extraordinary” that it “converts an
ordinary state common-law complaint into one stating a federal claim.” Caterpillar, 482 U.S. at 393.
Cottrell’s removal could only have been proper if the LMRA completely preempted Plaintiffs’
claims.
Section 301 of the LMRA states: “Suits for violation of contracts between an employer and
a labor organization representing employees in an industry affecting commerce . . . may be brought
in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the parties.” 29 U.S.C. § 185. The
Supreme Court has ruled that “the pre-emptive force of § 301 is so powerful as to displace entirely
any state cause of action for violation of contracts between an employer and a labor organization.”
Beneficial Nat. Bank v. Anderson, 539 U.S. 1, 7 (2003) (internal quotation omitted). However, § 301
reaches beyond the violation of contracts. “Since 1962, the Supreme Court has held that section 301
preempts state law rules that substantially implicate the meaning of collective bargaining agreement
terms.” DeCoe v. Gen. Motors Corp., 32 F.3d 212, 216 (6th Cir. 1994) (citing Allis-Chalmers Corp.
v. Lueck, 471 U.S. 202, 210 (1985) (citing Teamsters Local 174 v. Lucas Flour Co., 369 U.S. 95(1962))). On the other hand, “when the meaning of contract terms is not the subject of dispute, the
bare fact that a collective-bargaining agreement will be consulted in the course of state-law litigation
8
plainly does not require the claim to be extinguished.” Livadas v. Bradshaw, 512 U.S. 107, 124
(1994). Accordingly, the Sixth Circuit has created a two-step test for determining whether a
plaintiff’s state law claims are preempted by the LMRA:
First, courts must determine whether resolving the state-law claim would require
interpretation of the terms of the [labor contract]. If so, the claim is preempted.
Second, courts must ascertain whether the rights claimed by the plaintiff were created
by the [labor contract], or instead by state law. If the rights were created by [the
labor contract], the claim is preempted. In short, if a state-law claim fails either of
these two requirements, it is preempted by § 301.
Paul, 701 F.3d at 519 (quoting Mattis v. Massman, 355 F.3d 902, 906 (6th Cir. 2004)) (emphasis
and modification in original). Cottrell argues that it had an objectively reasonable basis to believe
in the existence of the first prong of the test.
In evaluating the first prong of the test, the preemption question “depends on whether the
essence of plaintiff’s claim implicates a dispute that is ‘inextricably intertwined’ with interpretation
of CBA terms or whether it is only ‘tangentially related’ to the CBA.” Paul, 701 F.3d at 522.
Cottrell alleges that it did not lack an objectively reasonable basis for believing that the dispute was
“inextricably intertwined” with the CBA.
Cottrell argues that four provisions from the CBA discussed in the Statement of Facts are
implicated by Plaintiffs’ claims: the provisions on equipment safety, quick release ratchets, minimum
standards, and the grievance procedure. We can immediately dispose of the grievance procedure
argument because the grievance procedure described in the CBA specifically binds unions,
employees, and employers, none of which describes Cottrell. Section 6 of the CBA states that
“parties agree that the Local Unions, the employees and the Employers signatory to this Agreement
are obligated to file and process all grievances or complaints involving alleged unsafe or unhealthful
9
workplace conditions pursuant to the grievance procedures of the Agreement.” Furthermore,
Plaintiffs are not alleging a claim for unsafe workplace conditions. Furthermore, the text of the CBA
does not bar Plaintiffs from making other claims, because it contemplates concurrent judicial
proceedings: “the Local Union and Employer shall jointly prepare a form which shall contain the
following information. . . . Pending governmental agency or judicial proceedings, if any, involving
the same subject matter.” Therefore, Plaintiffs were clearly not obligated to use the grievance
procedure in lieu of a products liability claim.
Next, we turn to the portions of the CBA that involve equipment safety, quick release
ratchets, and minimum standards. Cottrell claims that its removal could not possibly have been
objectively unreasonable, because LMRA preemption doctrine is a “bewildering,” and “confusing”
area of law.6 However, we hold that the Sixth Circuit precedent available to Cottrell at the time of
removal made it clear that Cottrell had no reason to believe that removal would be proper.
In Paul v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, the plaintiff Dana Paul was hired by Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of Ohio (“Kaiser”) as a CT/Radiology Technologist. 701 F.3d at 517. She
underwent back surgeries and, believing that she could no longer safely perform physically
demanding duties, filed a “Request for Accommodation,” explaining that she could not work without
assistance. She asked to be exempted from assignments and shifts where she would be the only
CT/Radiology Technologist on duty. Id. Kaiser attempted to work with the employees’ union to
temporarily change Paul’s shifts and responsibilities, but could not attain approval from the union
6
As the only case law explanation for its confusion, Cottrell cites a Seventh Circuit case from
2001 that interpreted a 1985 Supreme Court case as declining to resolve a “circuit split” about
LMRA preemption. In re Benz Metal Prods. Co., 253 F.3d 283, 289 (7th Cir. 2001) (interpreting
Livadas v. Bradshaw, 512 U.S. 107, 124 n.18 (1994)). However, even if there is a circuit split, Sixth
Circuit doctrine is clear.
10
because reportedly “the union was unwilling to infringe other employees’ seniority rights under the
collective bargaining agreement.” Id. After Paul brought state law claims for disability
discrimination and retaliation in state court, Kaiser removed the case, arguing that the case would
require interpretation of the CBA. Id. at 518. The Sixth Circuit remanded, holding that LMRA
preemption had not been triggered:
The CBA is not mentioned in the complaint. Though the CBA includes assurance
against handicap-based discrimination and provides that discrimination claims arising
from application of CBA provisions shall be settled pursuant to the CBA grievance
procedures, plaintiff’s complaint does not invoke rights or procedures under the
CBA. Plaintiff . . . chose not to pursue CBA remedies in her complaint, which
alleges violations of state anti-discrimination law. Here, too, as in Smolarek, terms
of the CBA are invoked only by Kaiser as a defense of plaintiff’s claims and as
justification for its actions. Kaiser’s reliance on the CBA as a defense is, in itself,
insufficient to trigger preemption.
Id. at 521.
In the instant case, Cottrell’s claims of LMRA preemption are clearly at odds with the
holding in Paul because: (1) Cottrell is not even party to the CBA, whereas Kaiser was an employer
party, and the Sixth Circuit nonetheless found no preemption; (2) there is no evidence that Cottrell
consulted the CBA in manufacturing the device at issue, whereas Kaiser made communications
clearly pertaining to the CBA; and (3) similar to the plaintiff’s complaint in Paul, Plaintiffs’
complaint does not invoke rights or procedures under the CBA. See also Smolarek v. Chrysler
Corp., 879 F.2d 1326, 1332 (6th Cir. 1989) (“That [the defendant] may defend . . . by reference to
its responsibilities under the collective bargaining agreement . . . is, in our view, no basis to hold that
§ 301 preemption is mandated under these circumstances.”). Paul is not the only case to reject the
complete preemption argument on this basis. In Alongi v. Ford Motor Co., the plaintiffs were former
employees who brought a suit in state court against their former employer, alleging, among other
11
things, common law fraud during the negotiation of the CBA.7 Alongi, 386 F.3d at 719. The Sixth
Circuit noted that because “plaintiffs did not allege that either party had violated the terms of the
CBA,” § 301 did not preempt the plaintiffs’ claim. Id. at 725.
1. Industry Standards
Defendants argue that evaluating Plaintiffs’ product liability claims requires interpretation
of the CBA. Under Tennessee law, when assessing whether a product is defective, courts must
consider “the customary designs, methods, standards and techniques of manufacturing, inspecting
and testing by other manufacturers or sellers of similar products.” TENN . CODE ANN . § 29-28-
105(b). Plaintiffs argue that the CBA “sets forth ‘customary designs’ and ‘standards’ for rigs,”
because Article 6 of the CBA requires that the employer provide rigs “not less than the minimum
standards.” However, this claim is untenable. The case law clearly states that state law claims are
preempted only if “resolving the state-law claim would require interpretation of the terms of the
[labor contract].” Paul, 701 F.3d at 519 (citation omitted) (emphasis added). In determining
whether a product is unreasonably dangerous, the court considers “the state of scientific and
technological knowledge available to the manufacturer or seller at the time the product was placed
on the market.” TENN . CODE ANN . § 29-28-102(8). However, an inquiry into the “state of scientific
and technological knowledge available” to Cottrell does not require interpretation of the CBA,
especially because Cottrell does not even claim that it referenced the CBA at the time it
manufactured the rig. Furthermore, the general evaluation of industry standards does not require
7
This allegation was in the plaintiff’s original complaint, which was later amended.
However, the Sixth Circuit stated: “Mindful of our independent obligation to ensure our subject
matter jurisdiction, we conclude that none of the claims in the plaintiffs’ original complaint were
completely preempted by the Labor-Management Relations Act, either.” Alongi, 386 F.3d at 719(emphasis in original).
12
reference to the CBA; it can be provided by expert testimony, documents, manuals, or other sources.
A dispute is completely preempted only if resolution requires interpretation of a CBA. Paul, 701
F.3d at 519.
2. Quick Release
Cottrell contends that the CBA must be interpreted because it requires quick-release ratchets,
and the court would need to consider whether this requirement would be inconsistent with the
devices that Plaintiffs set forth as reasonable alternatives to the ratchet and chain device. However,
the only portion of the CBA regarding quick-release ratchets on record is the statement in Article 30
Section 15: “All new equipment ordered on or after the date of ratification will be provided with
quick release ratchets.” The CBA does not define “quick release ratchets” or explain their usage in
the industry. Therefore, resolution of the product-liability claim will not involve interpretation of
the CBA beyond a mere reference. Indeed, although Cottrell cites the CBA for the requirement of
quick release ratchets, it turns to direct evidence (for example, the testimony of Gary Page) in order
to actually explain the nature of the device, and whether they are standard in the industry.
3. Safety Guidelines
Cottrell also argues that the district court erred by confusing the standard of care and duty.
Cottrell argues that an analysis of the CBA is necessary to determine whether duty was breached.
But Cottrell’s argument is undermined by Stringer v. Nat’l Football League, 474 F. Supp. 2d 894,
913 (S.D. Ohio 2007). In Stringer, the district court considered the duty owed by the National
Football League (“NFL”) and Riddell Sports Group, Inc. (“Riddell”) to a football player in a
wrongful death action. Id. at 898. The NFL had published safety guidelines as part of its 2001
Game Operations Manual, and the plaintiff argued that it owed a duty to exercise reasonable care
13
in making sure the guidelines were complete. Id. at 909. A collective bargaining agreement also
imposed safety guidelines on individual NFL clubs. Id. at 910. Because the completeness of the
NFL’s safety guidelines depended on existing guidelines established by the CBA, the district court
ruled that the wrongful death claim against NFL was preempted. Id. However, the court ruled that
while the CBA established a committee to address the safety of equipment, Plaintiff’s “product
liability and negligence claims against the Riddell Defendants is not in any way dependent on an
interpretation of the meaning of this CBA provision.” Id. at 913. Furthermore, the fact that the
football player “may have been required, as a condition of his employment, to wear Riddell
equipment is simply irrelevant to the question of whether that equipment was negligently designed
or manufactured or unreasonably dangerous for its intended use.” Id. (emphasis added). In the face
of this text, from a case that Cottrell itself cited, Cottrell should have known that its removal was
unreasonable.8
4. Non-Signatories to the CBA
Lastly, Cottrell contends that the district court misstated the law in its opinion. The district
court held that: “Moreover, Defendant Cottrell is not a party to the CBA at issue, and thus, is not
bound or restricted by it and has no rights or obligations thereunder. Its duties exist independent of
the CBA and are duties owed to members of the public as a matter of state law.” Powers v. Cottrell,
8
Cottrell also cites Duerson v. NFL, Inc., 2012 WL 1658353 (N.D. Ill.), which, like Stringer,
involved a wrongful death action against the NFL and Riddell. Cottrell could not possibly have
relied on this case as an objectively reasonable basis for removal at the time they removed, because
the case had not yet been published on Cottrell’s date of removal. But even taking Duerson into
consideration, the court focused its preemption analysis on using the CBA to assess only the NFL’s
duties, not Riddell’s. Id. at *1-6. Furthermore, the Duerson court emphasized that preemption
requires “case-by-case analysis, in some situations preemption is found and in others it is not.”
Duerson, 2012 WL 1658353 at *5 (citing Benz Metal Prods., 253 F.3d at 286)).
14
Inc., No. 3-11-1209 (M.D. Tenn. April 23, 2012). Cottrell argues that Cottrell’s nonparty status is
not dispositive of the issue. “Defendants' status as non-signatories to the CBA does not prevent them
from raising the preemption defense.” Stringer, 474 F. Supp. 2d at 902. However, the Stringer court
was addressing whether defendant could raise the preemption defense at all. After determining that
defendant could raise the defense, the court proceeded to analyze whether “(1) [the case] arose from
the CBA or (2) resolution of the claim is substantially dependent on an analysis of the terms of the
CBA, or is inextricably intertwined with it.” Id. at 903. Similarly, here the district court did not treat
Cottrell’s non-signatory status as dispositive; it properly considered it alongside other factors,
including the fact that “proof required to establish Plaintiffs’ state law claims does not involve a
CBA” and that Cottrell’s “duties exist independent of the CBA and are duties owed to members of
the public as a matter of state law.”
It is noteworthy that in addition to the district court’s decision in this case, Cottrell’s
removals have been now rejected in 17 other federal cases.9 These decisions were issued after
Cottrell’s attempted removal in this case, so Cottrell could not have taken them into account in its
9
McNary v. Cottrell, No. 3:11-cv-01106-JPG-PMF (S.D. Ill.); Belleville v. Cottrell, No.
11-cv-1114-JPG-PMF (S.D. Ill.); Davenport v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., No.
11-cv-1108-JPG-DGW (S.D. Ill.); Henderson v. Auto Handling Corp., No. 11-1118-GPM (S.D.
Ill.); Smith v. Cottrell, No. 11-cv-1112-JPG-SCW (S.D. Ill.); Street v. Cottrell, Case No.
3:11-cv-1119-JPG-DGW (S.D. Ill.); Thompson v. Cottrell, No. 11-1113-GPM (S.D. Ill.); Mandeville
v. Cottrell, No. 11-1107-GPM (S.D. Ill.); Johnson v. Auto Handling Corp., et al., 4:11-
cv-02219-CDP (E.D. Mo.); Sullivan v. Cottrell, Inc. et al., No. 11CV1076S (W.D.N.Y.); Huff v.
Cottrell, et al., No. l-01270-CV-WGAF (W.D. Mo.); Hale v. Cottrell, Inc., et al., No.:
11-1273-CV-WSOW (W.D. Mo.); Longstreet v. Cottrell, Inc., 11-CV-1125 (S.D. Ill. Apr. 23, 2012);
Hernandez v. Cottrell, Inc., 2012 WL 4009696 (N.D. Ill.); Lewis v. Cottrell, Inc., 2012 WL 3144625(D. Md.); Bailey v. Cottrell, Inc., No. 2:11-cv-00330-WCO, doc. 34 (N.D. Ga., Oct. 31, 2012);
Spencer v. Cottrell, Inc., No. 2:11-cv-00331-WCO, doc. 33 (N.D. Ga., Oct. 31, 2012).
15
basis for removal. However, the fact that Cottrell’s removals have been remanded in so many
instances offers some insight into the reasonableness of the removals.
In sum, there is an abundance of case law holding that § 301 does not preempt state tort law
claims. In light of clear case law, Cottrell had no objectively reasonable basis for removal.
D. Timeliness
Plaintiffs also argue that Cottrell’s removal was untimely under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b).
However, because we affirm the district court’s order remanding the case, the timeliness issue is
moot.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the district court’s opinion.
16