Pennsylvania Federal District Court Remands Stacking Issue to State Court For a Decision

In the case of Allstate Fire and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Archer, No. 1:17-CV-331 (W.D. Pa. June 4, 2018 Hornak, J.), the Western District Federal Court declined to address a stacking issue raised in a declaratory judgment action after finding that the issue would more properly be decided by the state court given the contractual issues presented.  

As such, in this matter, the court remanded the case to the state court system for a decision.  

In so ruling, the court weighed several factors with respect to the proper exercise of federal jurisdiction primarily as set forth in the case of State Auto Ins. Co. v. Summy, 234 F.3d 131, 133 (3d. Cir. 2000) [citations omitted] and Reifer v. Westport, 751 F.3d 129, 145-46 (3d. Cir. 2014).  

As such, this Western District Federal Court decision raises the question as to whether the federal district courts of Pennsylvania will accept stacking declaratory judgment actions for a decision, or will continue to remand such issues back to the state court for resolution.  

Please click this LINK to view this decision online.

I send thanks to Attorney Scott Cooper, Esquire of the Harrisburg, PA office of Schmidt Kramer for bring this case to my attention.