K&L Gates Legal Insight: Winding the Removal Clock: The Second Circuit Clarifies the Deadline for Removal Under the Class Action Fairness Act

By: Robert W. Sparkes, III, Brian M. Forbes

When faced with a state court lawsuit, a critical consideration for any defendant is the forum in which to litigate – whether to remain in state court or, if possible, remove the case to federal court. In the case of a putative class action, proceeding in state court under state rules of procedure and other local influences could have significant impact on how the case proceeds. As such, a defendant must first consider whether the claims are removable, and, if removable, what deadline applies to the notice of removal. In assessing the timeliness of removal, a defendant should first look to the statutory deadlines set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b) (“Section 1446(b)”). However, as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently explained in Cutrone v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., the provisions of Section 1446(b) do not provide all of the answers.

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