Faulk v. Atmos Energy Corp
Faulk v. Atmos Energy Corp
Opinion
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS For the Fifth Circuit
No. 02-30958 Summary Calendar
MARY LETA FAULK, Individually and on behalf of Bonnie Faulk, on behalf of Marisa Mesa; on behalf of Julian Faulk; on behalf of Bacari Faulk; on behalf of Mondo Faulk; on behalf of Javier Mesa; on behalf of Diego Mesa; CARDELLE FAULK, Individually and on behalf of Bonnie Faulk, on behalf of Marisa Mesa, on behalf of Julian Faulk, on behalf of Bacari Faulk, on behalf of Mondo Faulk, on behalf of Javier Mesa, on behalf of Diego Mesa; CLAYTON PREJEAN, Individually and on behalf of James Mesa, on behalf of Javier Mesa, on behalf of Diego Mesa; BARBARA MESA, Individually and on behalf of James Mesa, on behalf of Javier Mesa, on behalf of Diego Mesa; LEO PAUL DAVIS, JR, Individually and on behalf of Mondo Faulk
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
VERSUS
ATMOS ENERGY CORP, doing business as Trans Louisiana Gas Co
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court For the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette (02-CV-540) March 5, 2003
Before BARKSDALE, DEMOSS and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under Mary Leta Faulk, Individually and in various representative
capacities, along with others in individual and representative
capacities (hereinafter jointly referred to as “plaintiffs”) filed
suit against Atmos Energy Corp (doing business as Trans Louisiana
Gas Co) (hereinafter referred to as “Atmos”) in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on diversity
jurisdiction seeking recovery damages for the death of eight
individuals who died in a house fire in Lafayette, Louisiana, in
January, 2002. Plaintiffs allege that Atmos is liable because it
refused to supply natural gas services to the residence in which
the plaintiffs and decedents were living; and as a result
plaintiffs were forced to use an electric space heater which
malfunctioned and caused the fire on a very cold night. Atmos
answered and moved to dismiss under Rule 12 b(6). The matter was
referred to the magistrate judge for report and recommendation. In
a very thorough and carefully researched report, the magistrate
judge recommended granting of the motion to dismiss. The district
court reviewed and adopted the magistrate’s report. Plaintiffs
appeal to this Court.
We have carefully reviewed the briefs, the record excerpts,
and relevant portions of the record itself. For the reasons stated
by the magistrate judge in his report and recommendation filed on
July 2, 2002, we affirm the decision of the district court to adopt
the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
2 the magistrate’s report and enter a judgment of dismissal with
prejudice. AFFIRMED.
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Reference
- Status
- Unpublished