Fifth Circuit: Arbuckle Mountain Ranch of TX v. Chesapeake Energy

Class actions

Given the presumption in favor of Federal jurisdiction, where the pleadings state a claim that involves a larger class than the currently constituted class, the party contesting removal under the CAFA local controversy exception bears the burden of establishing that a sufficient percentage of the class vindicated by the claim is from a given state.

Dissent - No presumption in favor of federal jurisdiction; pleadings should be construed under state rules, which allow for a more liberal notice of claim, and therefore might conceivably limit the class to those presently involved.

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/15/15-10955-CV0.pdf