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Bill114th CongressFiled Sep 28, 2015Law
H.R. 3624

Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016

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Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Feb 25, 2016)

Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends procedures under which federal courts determine whether a case that was removed from a state court to a federal court on the basis of a diversity of citizenship among the parties may be remanded back to state court upon a motion opposed on fraudulent joinder grounds that: (1) one or more defendants are citizens of the same state as one or more plaintiffs, or (2) one or more defendants properly joined and served are citizens of the state in which the action was brought.

Joinder of such a defendant is fraudulent if the court finds:

  • actual fraud in the pleading of jurisdictional facts with respect to that defendant,
  • state law would not plausibly impose liability on that defendant,
  • state or federal law bars all claims in the complaint against that defendant, or
  • no good faith intention to prosecute the action against that defendant or to seek a joint judgment including that defendant.

In determining whether to grant or deny such a motion for remand, the court: (1) may permit pleadings to be amended; and (2) must consider the pleadings, affidavits, and other evidence submitted by the parties.

A federal court finding that all such defendants have been fraudulently joined must: (1) dismiss without prejudice the claims against those defendants, and (2) deny the motion for remand.

What just happenedFeb 29, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4](R-CO)Sponsor
Read on Congress.gov
2committees37actions2amendments1related bills6subjects
  1. Feb 29, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Feb 25, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Feb 25, 2016FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 189 (Roll no. 89).

  4. Feb 25, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 189 (Roll no. 89).

  5. Feb 25, 2016FloorH36110

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 - 239 (Roll no. 88).

    Judiciary Committee
  6. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H917)

  7. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Watson Coleman motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add an exemption to the underlying bill for cases in which the plaintiff seeks relief in connection with the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor.

  8. Feb 25, 2016FloorH36100

    Mrs. Watson Coleman moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (consideration: CR H916; text: CR H916)

    Judiciary Committee
  9. Feb 25, 2016FloorH34400

    The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H913)

  10. Feb 25, 2016FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H916)

  11. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32600

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3624.

  12. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  13. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32050

    The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

  14. Feb 25, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H915-918)

  15. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32700

    Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3624 as unfinished business.

  16. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32341

    On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

  17. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32340

    Mr. Buck moved that the Committee rise.

  18. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Cartwright amendement No. 2 the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote annouced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cartwright demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  19. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res 618, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cartwright (PA) amendment No. 2.

  20. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 618, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Buck (CO) amendment No. 1.

  21. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3624.

  22. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32400

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Garret Graves to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  23. Feb 25, 2016FloorH32020

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 618 and Rule XVIII.

  24. Feb 25, 2016FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3624 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill.

  25. Feb 25, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 618. (consideration: CR H907-915)

  26. Feb 24, 2016FloorH1L220

    Rule H. Res. 618 passed House.

  27. Feb 23, 2016FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 618 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3624 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill.

  28. Feb 16, 2016CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 321.

  29. Feb 16, 2016CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-422.

    Judiciary Committee
  30. Feb 16, 2016Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-422.

    Judiciary Committee
  31. Feb 3, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 10.

    Judiciary Committee
  32. Feb 3, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  33. Jan 29, 2016Committee

    Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  34. Nov 3, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  35. Sep 28, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  36. Sep 28, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  37. Sep 28, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedFeb 25, 201636

Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends procedures under which federal courts determine whether a case that was removed from a state court to a federal court on the basis of a diversity of citizenship among the parties may be remanded back to state court upon a motion opposed on fraudulent joinder grounds that: (1) one or more defendants are citizens of the same state as one or more plaintiffs, or (2) one or more defendants properly joined and served are citizens of the state in which the action was brought.

Joinder of such a defendant is fraudulent if the court finds:

  • actual fraud in the pleading of jurisdictional facts with respect to that defendant,
  • state law would not plausibly impose liability on that defendant,
  • state or federal law bars all claims in the complaint against that defendant, or
  • no good faith intention to prosecute the action against that defendant or to seek a joint judgment including that defendant.

In determining whether to grant or deny such a motion for remand, the court: (1) may permit pleadings to be amended; and (2) must consider the pleadings, affidavits, and other evidence submitted by the parties.

A federal court finding that all such defendants have been fraudulently joined must: (1) dismiss without prejudice the claims against those defendants, and (2) deny the motion for remand.

Reported to House with amendment(s)Feb 16, 201617

Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends procedures under which federal courts determine whether a case that was removed from a state court to a federal court on the basis of a diversity of citizenship among the parties may be remanded back to state court upon a motion opposed on fraudulent joinder grounds that: (1) one or more defendants are citizens of the same state as one or more plaintiffs, or (2) one or more defendants properly joined and served are citizens of the state in which the action was brought.

Joinder of such defendants is fraudulent if the court finds:

  • actual fraud in the pleading of jurisdictional facts,
  • state law would not plausibly impose liability on each defendant,
  • state or federal law bars all claims in the complaint against all such defendants, or
  • no good faith intention to prosecute the action against all such defendants or to seek a joint judgment.

In determining whether to grant or deny such a motion for remand, the court: (1) may permit pleadings to be amended; and (2) must consider the pleadings, affidavits, and other evidence submitted by the parties.

A federal court that finds joinder to be fraudulent must: (1) dismiss without prejudice the claims against defendants found to be fraudulently joined, and (2) deny the motion for remand.

Introduced in HouseSep 28, 2015

Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2015

This bill amends procedures under which federal courts consider a motion to remand back to a state court a case that was removed from a state court to federal court.

The bill allows a motion for remand, and any opposition to such a motion, to include affidavits or other evidence: (1) showing a plausible claim for relief against each nondiverse defendant, or the lack thereof; or (2) indicating a good faith intention to prosecute the action against each nondiverse defendant or to seek a joint judgment, or the lack of such a good faith intent.

Federal courts must deny a motion to remand if they find that the complaint does not state such a plausible claim for relief against a nondiverse defendant under applicable state law or that there is no good faith intention to prosecute the action against a nondiverse defendant or to seek a joint judgment.

Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016 — Informed