MEMORANDUM OPINION
GEORGE L. RUSSELL, III, District Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiffs Ronald F. Hurley and Bonnie Hurley's (collectively the "Plaintiffs") Motion to Remand this civil action to the Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore City. (ECF No. 77). This action involves Plaintiffs' suit against numerous Defendants alleging liability for Mr. Hurley's exposure to asbestos, which ultimately led to his lung cancer diagnosis. The central question before the Court is whether Defendant General Electric's ("GE") Notice of Removal to this Court was timely. The issues have been fully briefed and no hearing is necessary.
I. BACKGROUND
On January 13, 2011, Mr. Hurley sued General Electric ("GE") and 47 other companies in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore City alleging numerous claims related to his asbestos exposure. (Compl. ¶¶ 1-12, ECF No. 2).
On January 19, 2011, GE was served with the Complaint. (Notice of Removal ¶ 2, ECF No. 1). The Complaint alleges that, at various times between 1962 and 2000, Mr. Hurley was employed as a pipefitter and supervisor at both Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point and Bethlehem Steel Key Highway Shipyard. (Compl. ¶ 10). Thereafter, on January 17, 2012, Plaintiffs' counsel filed Plaintiffs' Answers to Defendants' Joint Interrogatories. (Notice of Removal ¶ 3). Those answers indicated, for the first time, the U.S. Navy vessels on which Mr. Hurley was allegedly exposed to asbestos. (
On February 14, 2012, GE filed its Notice of Removal to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1), asserting that if it did manufacture the products at issue, it did so under contract with the U.S. Navy. (
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a), "any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant ... to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing where such action is pending." To remove a case, the defendant must file a notice of removal in the district court within 30 days after receiving the initial pleading. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1446(a)-(b) (West 2012). If the case stated by the initial pleading is not removable, the defendant may remove within 30 days of receiving "an amended pleading, motion, order or other paper from which it may first be ascertained that the case is one which is or has become removable." 28 U.S.C.A. § 1446(b)(3) (West 2012).
In determining when a defendant first had notice of grounds for removal, the Court must "rely on the face of the initial pleading and the documents exchanged in the case."
B. Analysis
1. GE's Notice of Removal was timely
The Court finds that GE's Notice of Removal was timely because removability was not apparent within the four corners of the Complaint.
As noted above, to remove a case, the defendant must file a notice of removal within 30 days of receiving the initial pleading. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1446(b) (West 2012). If the case stated by the initial pleading is not removable, however, the defendant may remove within 30 days of receiving "an amended pleading, motion, order or other paper from which it may first be ascertained that the case is one which is or has become removable." 28 U.S.C.A. § 1446(b)(3) (West 2012).
Here, GE's Notice of Removal was filed under the federal officer removal statute.
Conversely, Plaintiffs maintain that GE's receipt of the Complaint gave it sufficient knowledge to ascertain that the case was removable. (Mot. to Remand at 3, ECF No. 77). Plaintiffs' argument is without merit, however, because a perfunctory review of the Complaint reveals Plaintiffs merely outlined where Mr. Hurley was employed, what dates he was employed, and the positions he held. (Compl. ¶¶ 9-10). Plaintiffs omitted details of the triangular nexus between Mr. Hurley, GE, and the U.S. Navy Vessels allegedly a part of the asbestos exposure. Moreover, because the Complaint never uses the word "Navy," GE could not have known from the initial pleading that the action was removable under the federal officer statute.
2. GE's burden in determining removability
The Court also finds that the Notice of Removal was timely because GE does not bear the burden of conducting outside research in order to ascertain whether the Complaint is removable.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit was clear when it explained that a court shall only rely on the face of the initial pleading.
Plaintiffs argue that the initial Complaint made grounds for removal ascertainable and thus, GE was on inquiry notice that this action was subject to removal. (Mot. to Remand at 4). This contention, however, is unsupported by case law.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand (ECF No. 77).
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