ISAACSON v. DOW CHEMICAL CO.

Nos. 05-1820-cv, 05-1694-cv, 06-2450cv, 05-1509-ev, 05-1695-cv, 05-1693-cv, 05-1698-cv.

517 F.3d 129 (2008)

Joe ISAACSON and Phyllis Lisa Isaacson, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. DOW CHEMICAL CO., Monsanto Co., Hercules, Inc., Occidental Chemical Corp., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation, Maxus Energy Corp., Chemical Land Holdings, Inc., T-H Agriculture and Nutrition Co., Thompson Hayward Chemical Co., Harcros Chemicals, Inc., Uniroyal, Inc., C.D.U. Holding, Inc., and Uniroyal Chemical Company, Defendants-Appellees. J. Michael Twinam, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Co., American Home Products, Inc., Hercules Incorporated, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Ultramar Diamond, Chemical Land Holdings, Inc., Maxus Energy Corp., Harcros Chemicals, Inc., Shamrock Corp., Thompson Hayward Chemical Co., T-H Agriculture, Uniroyal Chemical Co., and Valero Marketing Corporation, Defendants-Appellees. Robert S. Bauer and Sandra J. Bauer, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Company, Pharmacia Corp., formerly known as Monsanto Co., Solutia, Inc., Hercules, Inc., Thompson Hayward Chemical Co., T-H Agriculture & Nutrition Co., Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Uniroyal, Inc., C.D.U. Holding, Inc., Uniroyal Chemical Company, Harcros Chemicals, Inc., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation, Maxus Energy Corp., Tierra Solutions, Inc., and Chemical Land Holdings, Inc., Defendants-Appellees. Sheryl A. Walker, Eric C. Walker, A minor, by his Mother and Next Friend on behalf of Sheryl A. Walker, Stephen J. Walker, William Hamilton and Esther M. Hamilton, His wife, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Company, Pharmacia Corp., Solutia, Inc., Hercules Inc., Thompson Hayward Chemical Co., T-H Agriculture & Nutrition Co., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Chemical Corp., Uniroyal, Inc., C.D.U. Holding, Inc., Uniroyal Chemical Company, Harcros Chemicals, Inc., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation, Maxus Energy Corp., Tierra Solutions, Inc., Chemical Land Holdings, Inc., and Valero Energy Corporation, doing business as Valero Marketing and Supply Company, Defendants-Appellees, Does 1-100, Defendants. Sherman Clinton Stearns and Dortha Monyene Stearns, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Dow Chemical Company, Hercules, Inc., Occidental Chemical Corp., Thompson Hayward Chemical Co., Elementis Chemicals, Inc., T.H. Agriculture and Nutrition Company, Inc., Maxus Energy Corp., El Paso Gas Transmission Company, Valero Energy Corporation, doing business as Valero Marketing and Supply Company, and Uniroyal Chemical Company, Defendants-Appellees. Charles T. Anderson, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Company, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Hercules, Inc., and Valero Energy Corporation, doing business as Valero Marketing and Supply Company, Defendants-Appellees, Pfizer, Inc., Solutia, Inc., E.I. Dupont de Demours & Co., Elementis Chemicals, Inc., Roche Holdings, Ltd., Harcros Chemicals, Inc., Crompton Corporation, Repsol-YPF, ConocoPhillips Company, Wyeth, Inc., Velsicol Chemical Corporation, Defendants. Vickey S. Garncarz, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Dow Chemical Company, Uniroyal Chemical Corp., and Occidental Chemical Corporation, Defendants-Appellees.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Decided: February 22, 2008.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Gerson H. Smoger, Smoger & Associates, Oakland, CA, Mark R. Cuker, Williams Cuker Berezofsky, Philadelphia, PA, for Plaintiffs-Appellants Joe Isaacson and Phyllis Lisa Isaacson.

Christopher E. Buckey, Shanley, Sweeney, Reilly & Allen, P.C., Albany, NY, for Plaintiff-Appellant J. Michael Twinam.

J. Mark Englehart, Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., Montgomery, AL, for Plaintiffs-Appellants Robert S. Bauer and Sandra J. Bauer.

Mark I. Bronson, Newman, Bronson & Wallis, St. Louis, MO, for Plaintiffs-Appellants Sheryl A. Walker, et al.

David E. Cherry, Campbell, Cherry, Harrison, Davis & Dove, P.C., Waco, TX, for Plaintiffs-Appellants Sherman Clinton Stearns and Dortha Monyene Stearns.

James Boanerges, Cooper, Sprague, Jackson & Boanerges, P.C., Houston, TX, for Plaintiffs-Appellants Charles T. Anderson and Vickey S. Garncarz.

Joan N. Harrop, Gomien & Harrop, Morris, Illinois, William F. Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick & Fitzpatrick, Chicago, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellant Vickey S. Garncarz.

Andrew L. Frey, Charles A. Rothfeld, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP (Lauren R. Goldman, Christopher J. Houpt, on the brief), New York, NY, for Defendants-Appellees.

Scott L. Nelson, Brian Wolfman, Public Citizen Litigation Group, Washington, DC, for Amieus Curiae Public Citizen, Inc.

William A. Rossbach, Timothy M. Bechtold, Rossbach Hart Bechtold, P.C., Missoula, MT, P.B. Onderdonk, Jr., Indianapolis, IN, (Anne Bloom, Sacramento, California, on the brief), for Amici Curiae Veterans and Military Service Organizations.

Before: MINER, SACK, HALL, Circuit Judges.


HALL, Circuit Judge:

We are asked to determine whether the federal officer removal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1), allows defendant chemical companies ("Defendants"), who contracted with the Government to produce Agent Orange for military use in the Vietnam War, to remove to federal court actions filed in state court alleging violations of state law in connection with that production. Those plaintiffs who contest federal jurisdiction claim that Defendants do...

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