Anti-suit injunction reversed

The unpublished case of Gibbs v. Lufkin Industries reviews the basics of anti-suit injunctions.  No. 11-50524 (Sept. 7, 2012).  The district court dismissed some of plaintiffs’ claims (including the federal ones), remanded the remaining state claims, and enjoined pursuit of those claims during appeal of the dismissal ruling.  The Fifth Circuit reversed, noting that the second court ordinarily determines the preclusive effect of a prior court’s judgment, and that simultaneous in personam proceedings do not by themselves require an anti-suit injunction.  Id. at 6.  The Court distinguished Brookshire Bros. v. Dayco Products, 2009 WL 8518382 (5th Cir. Jan. 23, 2009) as arising from the erroneous remand of the same proceeding.