Ackerman v. Exxonmobil Corp.

• Decision Date: 07 August 2013
• Docket Number: No. 12–1103.,12–1103.
• Citation: 734 F.3d 237
• Parties: Kenneth ACKERMAN; James Ackerman; April Ackerman; Mary Ackerman, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Thomas Ackerman; Charles V. Adams; Christianne M. Adams; John Alexis; Charles J. Arkins; Lula M. Arkins; Thomas J. Arno; Amy H. Arno, Both individually and as next friends of A.A. and E.A.; Robert A. Askin; Helen V. Askin; Rick G. Astarita; Patsy L. Astarita, Both individually and as next friends of A. N.A. and G.M.A., E.A., Individually; Lionel J. Bane; Lou Ann Bane; Timothy Banks; Susan E. Banks; Kristin E. Banks; Debra L. Bare; Larry G. Bare; Cody Bare; Tonta Freund; Thomas J. Barger; Kristin C. Barger, Both individually and as next friends of K.B., F.B., G.B., N.B.; Sebastiano Barresi; Steve Bavett; Anna M. Bavett, As next friend of N.L. and as next friends of M.B.; Grace Bayne; Daniel Beauchemin; Stella E. Beauchemin; Joann K. Bellington, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of William B. Bellington; John G. Berger; Danny L. Blankenship; Renee D. Blankenship; Mary Blevins; Michael D. Blevins; Timothy R. Blevins; Jennifer M. Blevins, Both individually and as next friends of S.A.B.; Joshua R. Blevins; Howard H. Bond; Ronald Bonner; Ruth M. Bonner; Kenneth M. Bradley; Carol J. Bradley; Bernadette M. Brannon; Raymond E. Brehm, Jr.; Constance M. Brehm; Lois J. Brodowski; Paul J. Brooks; Michelle D. Brooks, Both individually and as next friends of S.D.B.; Zachary T. Brooks, Individually; Alexander M. Brooks, Individually; Peeble M. Brownlee; Donald C. Burke; Lisa A. Burke; Julia Burke; Matthew Burke; Edward C. Burton, Jr.; Candy L. Hobson–Burton, Both individually and as next friends of M.H–B.; Mark A. Burton, Individually; Charles D. Burton, Individually; Marcia Byrne; Paul P. Byrne; Ursula Cain–Jordan; Dale B. Jordan; John F. Callahan; Dorothy H. Callahan; Luke J. Canfield; Janelle M. Canfield, Both individually and as next friends of S.A.C.; Mark S. Canham; individually and as next friend of M.C.; James M. Cannella; Marcie G. Cannella; Charles David Cayce, IV; Randy Loughry, Individually and as next friends of C.S.L., C.D.L.; Kimberlee A. Loughry; Ronald A. Clark; Carol F. Clark; Albert P. Class; Carolyn L. Class; Michael Cofiell; Darlene S. Cofiell; Nancy L. Connolly; Mary D. Conway; Charles H. Coon, Jr.; Deborah A. Coon; Lauren Coon; Jordan Coon; Jameson Cooper; Katherine A. Cooper, Both individually and as next friends of I.C., E.C., R.C.; John L. Councilman; Deborah J. Councilman; Colleen Craven; Harry F. Craven; Elizabeth A. D'Angelo; Robert F. D'Angelo; Caroline Dascher, individually and as next friends of M.D., E.D. and N.D.; Kenneth W. Dascher, Jr.; Jesse L. Coleman; Patricia H. Coleman; John C. Colt; Frances H. Colt; John S. Combs; Sea UN Combs; Owen Connolly; Donna J. Davids; John H. Davids; Emily Glaser; Mark Glaser; Douglas W. Townsley, POA for Helen A. Crowe; John T. Ditillo; Richard W. Doyle; Shirley A. Doyle; Albert K. Dunstan; Alexander A. Dunstan; Celeste Dunstan; Christie E. Dunstan; Gloria Davis, individually and as next friend of C.D.; William F. Davis, individually and as next friend of C.D.; Christopher P.Delvecchio; individually and as next friend of J.D.; Pamela A. Delvecchio, individually and as next fried of J.D.; Jeffrey Difatta, Individually; Teresa L. Difatta, individually and as next friend of S.D.; Timothy Difatta, Individually; Vincent Difatta, individually and as next friend of S.M.D.; David P. Digiorgio, individually and as next friend of P.A.D. and M.L.G.; Mallory S. Leggedigiorgio, individually and as next friend of P.A.D. and M.L.D.; Barbara Duvall; James R. Eavers; Patsy A. Eavers; Elaine H. Ehrhardt; Jessica Carlozo; Joseph Carlozo; Nicole Carlozo; Larry L. Elliott; Laura Elliott; Paula A. Elliott; Beatrice Elmo; Peter Elmo; Ernesto Ercolano; Phyllis Ercolano; Cyrus R. Etemad–Moghadam, individually and as next friend of F.R.E–M. and R.A.E–M.; Melody A. Etemadmoghadam, individually and next friend of F.R.E–M. and R.A.E–M.; Anastasia Fakas, individually and as next friend of N.F.; John Fakas, Individually; William J. Fakas, individually and next friend of N.F.; Joan L. Falanga; Jerome K. Ferrara, as next friend of K.P.F. and N.J.F.; Kristina Ferrara, as next friend of J.L. and K.H.; Carol L. Fialkowski; George V. Fialkowski; Demetrios Filipidis, individually and as next friend of G.F.; Robin L. Filipidis, individually and as next friend of G.F.; Aileen Flanagan, as next friend of G.F.; John S. Flanagan, as next friend of G.F.; Damion M. Ford; Richard A. Ford, III; Kathleen Fox; Ronald L. Fox; Sodus Cynthia, individually and as next friend of G.G. and A.G.; Ralph M. French; Gerard Frey; John P. Fries; Barry G. Gabler, individually and as next friend of G.G. and A.G.; Audrey Gallo; Robert A. Gallo; Lynne M. Schmidt–Fries; Jo Ann E. Geare; Chelsea Gebhardt; Fred C. Gebhardt, individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Teri J. Gebhardt; Jocelyn Gebhardt, Individually; Peter C. Georgopoulos; Susan E. Georgopoulos; Bette L. Gill; Roxanna M. Guinan; Jeffrey Guinan; Fallon Guinan; William Gill; James D. Gilpatrick; Michaele A. Gilpatrick; Scott M. Golly; Judith H. Gould; Thomas H. Gould; Bonnie L. Grant; Robert F. Grant; Eileen M. Gretes; William G. Gretes; Melissa Griffith; Michael Griffith; Milton Griffith; Michael A. Guzman, individually and as next friend of T.G.; Stacey L. Guzman, individually and as next friend of T.G.; Shirley Hall; Steven Hall; Thelma E. Hamel; Michael Harmon, POA for William B. Harmon and individually and as next friend of Z.H.; Dawne Jabobs, individually and as next friend of Z.H.; Patricia O'Neill, Personal Representative of the Estate of Elizabeth C. Gendimenico; Megan Heagy; Michael Heagy; Patricia A. Heagy; Steven M. Heagy, Jr.; Steven M. Heagy, Sr.; Lisa R. Hesseltine, individually and as next friend of K.H.; Mark C. Hesseltine, individually and as next friend of K.H.; Barbara A. Holler; Jimmy J. Holler; Larry W. Hooper; Pamela E. Hooper; Gwyn Houston, as next friend of D.M.; Janice A. Houston, as next friend of D.M.; Rita Howarth, as next friend of P.H.; Steven E. Howarth, as next friend of P.H.; Dawne Jabobs, as next friend of K.H.; David J. Hoyt, individually and as next friend of E.E.H. and L.M.H.; Kethleen H. Hoyt, individually and as next friend of E.E.H. and L.M.H.; Virginia A. Hoyt, individually; Allison L. Hunter; Bonnie L. Hunter; James D. Hunter; Jeffrey M. Hunter; James D. Hunter, Jr.; Scott Iannantuono, as next friend of B.I., J.I. and M.I.; Kimberly S. Iannantuono, as next friend of B.I., J.I. and M.I.; Christopher Jamison, as next friend of C.J., Jr.; Michele R. Jamison, as next friend of C.J., Jr.; Harry J. Cimbolo; Arlene E. January; Glenn K. January; Stephen D. January; Michael C. Janus, individually and as next friend of A.J. and A.J.; Tammy L. Janus, individually and as next friend of A.J. and A.J.; Gregory B. Johnson, as next friends of R.J. and H.J.; Jennifer Johnson, as next friends of R.J. and H.J.; Barbara A. Jung; Walter G. Jung; Harriet F. Kahl; Henry V. Kahl; Travis Bowen, individually; ALP A. Kayabasi, individually and as next friend of C.A.K. and A.D.K.; Christy L. Kayabasi, individually and as next friend of C.A.K. and A.D.K.; Lourdes Z. Keiser; Randall S. Keiser; Colleen Kelly; Joan M. Kelly; Michael Kelly; Christina M. King, individually and as next friend of L.K.; Jacqueline M. King; Mark B. King, individually and as next friend of L.K.; Susan Kluge, as next friend of R.K. and M.K.; Brendan C. Kluge, III, individually; Brendan C. Kluge, Jr., as next friend of R.K. and M.K.; Carole A. Klunk, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Joseph A. Klunk; Sterling Lytle, Personal Representative of Estate of Harold J. Kelly; Devin Portzko; Kelly Protzko; Ryan Protzko; Leah Langrill Childs; Erika Kolakowski; Gleela D. Kolakowski; Jan E. Kolakowski; Edward D. Kosiba; Judith A. Kosiba; Kenneth E. Krausz; Marie C. Krausz; John F. Kress; Sharon J. Kress; Kevin J. Krivacsy, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Ruth A. Krivacsy; James P. Kuhlman, individually and as next friend of S.A.; Julie C. Kuhlman, individually and as next friend of S.A.K.; Scott C. Kuhlman, Individually; Mary M. Langrall; Clarke Jr. Langrall; John S. Langrill; Joshua Langrill; Linda D. Langrill; Francis X. Lauer; Judith A. Lauer; Robert S. Lindsay, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Sharon V. Lindsay; HOPE Lookingland; Michael Lookingland; Carl R. Lupica, individually and as next friend of A.C.L. and V.J.L.; Dawn L. Lupica, individually and as next friend of A.C.L. and V.J.L.; Annabel E. Lusardi, individually and as next friend of M.L., N.L. and C.L.; Thomas J. Lusardi, individually and as next friend of M.L., N.L. and C.L.; Alicia Lynch; Michael J. Lynch; Joseph E. MacAtee; Samuel MacAtee; Beth G. MacMillan, individually and as next friend of K.M., J.M. and J.M.; Paul MacMillan, individually and as next friend of K.M., J.M. and J.M.; Frederick C. Manfra; Marlene F. Manfra; Stephanie J. Manfra; John W. Marshall, individually and as next friends of O.G–M.; Paula M. Marshall, individually and as next friends of L.G–M. and M.G–M.; Brian R. Masterson; Lynn M. Masterson, Both individually and as next friend s of C.M., L.M.; Linda Mazziott; Vincent T. Mazziott; Evelyn J. Mcdermott; Tyler M. McDermott; Kathleen P. McGraw, Both individually and as next friends of J.W.M.; Lauren A. McGraw; Robert S. McGraw; Carl Wayne Mellott; Joan B. Mirarchi; Ralph J. Mirarchi; Barbara L. Moore; Charles J. Moore, III; Dennis J. Morrison; Nina Morrison; James Moulsdale; Pamela S. Moulsdale, Both individually and as next friends of M.G.M.; Isa Mufareh; Ruth E. Mufareh; Karen Nickel, Both individually and as next friends of G.N.; Scott D. Nickel; Scott Dennis Nickel, Personal Representative of the Estate of Celina M. Rossini; Laura Nocar; James M. Norman; Emily C. Novak, Both individually and as next friends of R.S.N., Jr., J.D.N., C.R.N.; Ronald S. Novak; Frances Nowacki; Louis M. Nowacki; David O'Neil; Fatemeh O'Neil; Sean Rodgers Owens; Katherine W. Parris; Wayne H. Parris; Lanell W. Patrick, Both individually and as next friends of R.L.P., III; Robert L. Patrick, Jr.; Margaret Peach; William Peach; Jessica Simms; Susan C. Marshall, Recovable Trust; Gertrude R. Pearson; Henry R. Pearson, Jr.; Anthony Perfetti; Sharon A. Perfetti, Individually and as next friend s of M.P., G.P. and M.P.; Norma M. Perriello; Patrick J. Perriello; The Patrick and Norma Perriello Living Trust; Nicole M. Boryspirozzi, individually and as next friend of D.D.P., A.E.P., A.F.P., I.S.P. and X.K.P.; M. Jeorgea C. Peters, Individually and as next friend of M.V.P.; Steven G. Peters, Individually; Kurt Peterson, As next friend of S.P., C.P., R.P. and J.P.; Mary B. Peterson, As next friend of S.P., C.P., R.P. and J.P.; Judy R. Petralia; Anthony Petralia, Jr.; Jane L. Philpot; John W. Philpot, Sr.; Lee G. Pierce; Cynthia M. Piracci; Francis L. Piracci; Ralph J. Pirozzi, individually and as next friend of D.D.P., A.E.P., A.F.P., I.S.P. and X.K.P.; Ashley Plack, Individually; Harry J. Plack, individually and as next friend of H.J.P., III, E.P. and T.P.; Mary C. Plack, individually and as next friend of H.J.P., III, E.P. and T.P.; Avril D. Plunkett, individually and as next friend of C.P. and N.P.; Michael H. Plunkett, individually and as next friend of C.P. and N.P.; Alexandra Poneres; Christos Poneres; Elias Poneres; Evangelos Poneres; Donna L. Potter, individually and as next friend of B.M.P.; Robert K. Potter, individually and as next friend of B.M.P.; Margaret Pusateri, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of James Pusateri; David A. Rainey; Elizabeth S. Ainey; Lewis Ramage; Nancy C. Ramage; Nachlappan Raman; Vimala Raman; Caitlin Ramsey, Individually; Catherine A. Ramsey, individually and as next friend of A.R.; David K. Ramsey, individually and as next friend of A.R.; Emily Ramsey, Individually; Judy C. Ramsey; Kimberly B. Ramsey; Kristin D. Ramsey; Tyler Ramsey, Individually; William J. Ramsey; Roman E. Ratych; Beth A. Rhudy, individually and as next friend of P.R., G.R. and H.R.; Phillip Rhudy, individually and as next friend of P.R., G.R. and H.R.; Charles A. Ritchey, individually and as next friend of C.A.R. and C.A.R.; Joell L. Ritchey, individually and as next friend of C.A.R. and C.A.R.; Patricia A. Ritter; David P. Stollery; Caitlin Dail; Shelley Disharoon, as next friend of C.D.; Anita E. Hansen, Individually; Gaylen D. Roberts; Ronald H. Roberts; Jane A. Rodano; Salvatore J. Rodano; Ellen M. Romanko; Thomas A. Romanko; Kathy Roubal; Chelsea Rouse; Stephen R. Rouse; Glenn O. Rubel, individually and as next friend of M.R. and C.R.; Maria L. Rubel, individually and as next friend of M.R. and C.R.; Michael E. Rudasill, individually and as next friend of C.R.; Barbara Ruggiero; Mark A. Ruggiero; Janice Meyer; Linda C. Ruth; Richard A. Ruth; Berneatha J. Sample; Dale H. Sample; Gregory H. Sample, individually and as next friend of H.S., J.S. and A.S.; Harvey F. Sample; Scott A. Sample; Steven D. Sample; Tina Sample, individually and as next friend of H.S., J.S. and A.S.; Alexander Sapienza; Angelina Sapienza; Nicholas Sapienza; Salvatore Sapienza; Amanda R. Schabdach; Bruce J. Schabdach; Mary M. Schabdach; Beth F. Scheir, individually and as next friend of E.S. and A.S.; Scott W. Scheir, individually and as next friend of E.S. and A.S.; John G. Schenk; Patricia F. Schenk; Frank Schlosser; Gloria R. Schlosser; Robert Schmid; Joycelyn B. Quaranta; Maria Schmidt, individually and as next friend of A.S. and A.S.; Michael T. Schmidt, individually and as next friend of A.S. and A.S.; Christine M. Schueler; Robert W. Schueler, Jr.; Clifford E. Schulte; Francine Scott, individually and as next friend of T.S. and A.S.; Jeremy Scott, individually and as next friend of T.S. and A.S.; Kathleen D. Scott; Paul C. Scott; Gregory N. Seltzer; Judith A. Seltzer; Andrew D. Shaff; Marisa Shaff; Natalie A. Shaff; Wayne D. Shaff; Irma C. Shanahan; Joseph V. Shanahan; Kenneth M. Simmons, individually and as next friend of S.M.S.; Michael R. Simmons, individually; Victoria B. Simmons, individually and as next friend of S.M.S.; Vincent B. Simmons, individually; Charles B. Singleton; Virginia L. Singleton; Caitlin M. Sonn; Jonathon D. Sonn; Letitia A. Sonn; Linda Kay Fisher, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Edward S. Stifler and Co–Personal Representative of the Estate of Katherine L. Stifler; Michael Henley; Milissa Lester; Therese M. Sorrentino; Marc A. Spataro; Terri Spataro; Armand M. St. Croix; Barbara A. St. Croix; Henry Stanley, individually and as next friend of J.S.; Joanne Stephen, individually and as next friend of B.S. and S.S.; Harry C. Stephen, Jr., individually and as next friend of B.S. and S.S.; Lester E. Stewart, individually and as next friend of A.A.S.; Cynthia L. Warner, as Co–Personal Representative of the Estate of Katherine L. Stifler; Alicia C. Woodman, individually and as next friend of A.A.S.; Colleen B. McDonough; Carol Lee Story; Richard W. Story; Carol A. Swam; Hendrik J. Theuns; Susan L. Theuns; Durel C. Thomas; Patricia L. Thomas; Elaine Thompson, individually and as next friend of J.T. and G.T.; Jeffrey Thompson, individually and as next friend of J.T. and G.T.; Wayne Paul Thompson, Jr.; Catherine C. Thrappas, individually and as next friend of A.T. and L.T.; Vincent J. Thrappas, individually and as next friend of A.T. and L.T.; Joseph R. Tito; Mary Ellen Tracey; Allen Roger Tracey, Jr.; Carolyn M. Turner, individually and as next friend of G.T.; Steven E. Turner, individually and as next friend of G.T.; Joseph R. Twanmoh; Valerie H. Twanmoh; Andrea L. Tyminski; Joseph J. Tyminski; Tina M. Valmas, individually and as next friend of F.G.V.; Theodore P. Valmas, IV, individually and as next friend of F.G.V.; Theodore P. Valmas, V, Individually; Heather L. Warner; Stanley B. Warner; Lidia J. Guzman; Dina N. Vendelis, individually and as next friend of J.V., A.V. and C.V.; Manuel A. Vendelis, individually and as next friend of J.V., A.V. and C.V.; Pat Villavicencio; Eleanor M. Vollerthum; William Vollerthum; Stephen Wagner, as next friend of J.W. and T.W.; Traci A. Wagner, as next friend of J.W. and T.W.; Courtnay Walker, individually and as next friend of G.W. and K.W.; Kenneth D. Walker, individually and as next friend of G.W. and K.W.; Stephen E. Waltermyer; Theresa K. Waltermyer; John J. Walters; Patricia J. Walters; Karen Wasielewski; Theodore M. Wasielewski; Geralyn Weinberger; Richard Weinberger; Maija Wentworth; Michael E. Wentworth, Jr.; Michael C. Whitacre; Verna Billingslea White; Kelly Stracke, individually and as next friend of M.C.; Novella Wiegand, individually and as next friend of K.L.W. and J.W.; Tony M. Wiegand, individually and as next friend of K.L.W. and J.R.W.; Howard Willis, individually and as next friend of K.W.; Margaret S. Winkelman, individually and as next friend of K.W.; William R. Winkelman, individually and as next friend of K.W.; Charles D. Winkler; Lynn A. Winkler; Donna M. Wolff; John P. Wolff, Jr.; Mark D. Wollenweber, individually and as next friend of M.W., Jr. and M.W.; Mary C. Wollenweber, individually and as next friend of M.W., Jr. and M.W.; Cynthia Wursta; Jay P. Wursta; Eileen M. Yancone; Victor Yancone; Ching Chu Yeh; Homer Ren Yeh; Sherwood Yelton, Jr., individually and as next friend of N.Y. and D.Y., Plaintiffs–Appellees, John G. Schenk; Patricia F. Schenk; Frank Schlosser; Gloria R. Schlosser; Robert Schmid; Joycelyn B. Quaranta; Maria Schmidt, individually and as next friend of A.S. and A.S.; Michael T. Schmidt, individually and as next friend of A.S. and A.S.; Christine M. Schueler; Robert W. Schueler, Jr.; Clifford E. Schulte; Francine Scott, individually and as next friend of T.S. and A.S.; Jeremy Scott, individually and as next friend of T.S. and A.S.; Kathleen D. Scott; Paul C. Scott; Gregory N. Seltzer; Judith A. Seltzer; Andrew D. Shaff; Marisa Shaff; Natalie A. Shaff; Wayne D. Shaff; Irma C. Shanahan; Joseph V. Shanahan; Kenneth M. Simmons, individually and as next friend of S.M.S.; Michael R. Simmons, individually; Victoria B. Simmons, individually and as next friend of S.M.S.; Vincent B. Simmons, individually; Charles B. Singleton; Virginia L. Singleton; Caitlin M. Sonn; Jonathon D. Sonn; Letitia A. Sonn; Linda Kay Fisher, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Edward S. Stifler and Co–Personal Representative of the Estate of Katherine L. Stifler; Michael Henley; Milissa Lester; Therese M. Sorrentino; Marc A. Spataro; Terri Spataro; Armand M. St. Croix; Barbara A. St. Croix; Henry Stanley, individually and as next friend of J.S.; Joanne Stephen, individually and as next friend of B.S. and S.S.; Harry C. Stephen, Jr., individually and as next friend of B.S. and S.S.; Lester E. Stewart, individually and as next friend of A.A.S.; Cynthia L. Warner, as Co–Personal Representative of the Estate of Katherine L. Stifler; Alicia C. Woodman, individually and as next friend of A.A.S.; Colleen B. McDonough; Carol Lee Story; Richard W. Story; Carol A. Swam; Hendrik J. Theuns; Susan L. Theuns; Durel C. Thomas; Patricia L. Thomas; Elaine Thompson, individually and as next friend of J.T. and G.T.; Jeffrey Thompson, individually and as next friend of J.T. and G.T.; Wayne Paul Thompson, Jr.; Catherine C. Thrappas, individually and as next friend of A.T. and L.T.; Vincent J. Thrappas, individually and as next friend of A.T. and L.T.; Joseph R. Tito; Mary Ellen Tracey; Allen Roger Tracey, Jr.; Carolyn M. Turner, individually and as next friend of G.T.; Steven E. Turner, individually and as next friend of G.T.; Joseph R. Twanmoh; Valerie H. Twanmoh; Andrea L. Tyminski; Joseph J. Tyminski; Tina M. Valmas, individually and as next friend of F.G.V.; Theodore P. Valmas, IV, individually and as next friend of F.G.V.; Theodore P. Valmas, V, Individually; Heather L. Warner; Stanley B. Warner; Lidia J. Guzman; Dina N. Vendelis, individually and as next friend of J.V., A.V. and C.V.; Manuel A. Vendelis, individually and as next friend of J.V., A.V. and C.V.; Pat Villavicencio; Eleanor M. Vollerthum; William Vollerthum; Stephen Wagner, as next friend of J.W. and T.W.; Traci A. Wagner, as next friend of J.W. and T.W.; Courtnay Walker, individually and as next friend of G.W. and K.W.; Kenneth D. Walker, individually and as next friend of G.W. and K.W.; Stephen E. Waltermyer; Theresa K. Waltermyer; John J. Walters; Patricia J. Walters; Karen Wasielewski; Theodore M. Wasielewski; Geralyn Weinberger; Richard Weinberger; Maija Wentworth; Michael E. Wentworth, Jr.; Michael C. Whitacre; Verna Billingslea White; Kelly Stracke, individually and as next friend of M.C.; Novella Wiegand, individually and as next friend of K.L.W. and J.W.; Tony M. Wiegand, individually and as next friend of K.L.W. and J.R.W.; Howard Willis, individually and as next friend of K.W.; Margaret S. Winkelman, individually and as next friend of K.W.; William R. Winkelman, individually and as next friend of K.W.; Charles D. Winkler; Lynn A. Winkler; Donna M. Wolff; John P. Wolff, Jr.; Mark D. Wollenweber, individually and as next friend of M.W., Jr. and M.W.; Mary C. Wollenweber, individually and as next friend of M.W., Jr. and M.W.; Cynthia Wursta; Jay P. Wursta; Eileen M. Yancone; Victor Yancone; Ching Chu Yeh; Homer Ren Yeh; Sherwood Yelton, Jr., individually and as next friend of N.Y. and D.Y., Plaintiffs–Appellees, v. EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, f/k/a Exxon Corporation, d/b/a Crossroads Exxon; John R. Hicks, d/b/a Crossroads Exxon, Defendants–Appellants.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fourth Circuit

734 F.3d 237

Kenneth ACKERMAN; James Ackerman; April Ackerman; Mary Ackerman, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Thomas Ackerman; Charles V. Adams; Christianne M. Adams; John Alexis; Charles J. Arkins; Lula M. Arkins; Thomas J. Arno; Amy H. Arno, Both individually and as next friends of A.A. and E.A.; Robert A. Askin; Helen V. Askin; Rick G. Astarita; Patsy L. Astarita, Both individually and as next friends of A. N.A. and G.M.A., E.A., Individually; Lionel J. Bane; Lou Ann Bane;Timothy Banks; Susan E. Banks; Kristin E. Banks; Debra L. Bare; Larry G. Bare; Cody Bare; Tonta Freund; Thomas J. Barger; Kristin C. Barger, Both individually and as next friends of K.B., F.B., G.B., N.B.; Sebastiano Barresi; Steve Bavett; Anna M. Bavett, As next friend of N.L. and as next friends of M.B.; Grace Bayne; Daniel Beauchemin; Stella E. Beauchemin; Joann K. Bellington, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of William B. Bellington; John G. Berger; Danny L. Blankenship; Renee D. Blankenship; Mary Blevins; Michael D. Blevins;Timothy R. Blevins; Jennifer M. Blevins, Both individually and as next friends of S.A.B.; Joshua R. Blevins; Howard H. Bond; Ronald Bonner; Ruth M. Bonner; Kenneth M. Bradley; Carol J. Bradley; Bernadette M. Brannon; Raymond E. Brehm, Jr.; Constance M. Brehm; Lois J. Brodowski; Paul J. Brooks; Michelle D. Brooks, Both individually and as next friends of S.D.B.; Zachary T. Brooks, Individually; Alexander M. Brooks, Individually; Peeble M. Brownlee; Donald C. Burke; Lisa A. Burke; Julia Burke; Matthew Burke; Edward C. Burton, Jr.;Candy L. Hobson–Burton, Both individually and as next friends of M.H–B.; Mark A. Burton, Individually; Charles D. Burton, Individually; Marcia Byrne; Paul P. Byrne; Ursula Cain–Jordan; Dale B. Jordan; John F. Callahan; Dorothy H. Callahan; Luke J. Canfield; Janelle M. Canfield, Both individually and as next friends of S.A.C.; Mark S. Canham; individually and as next friend of M.C.; James M. Cannella; Marcie G. Cannella; Charles David Cayce, IV; Randy Loughry, Individually and as next friends of C.S.L., C.D.L.; Kimberlee A. Loughry; Ronald A. Clark; Carol F. Clark;Albert P. Class; Carolyn L. Class; Michael Cofiell; Darlene S. Cofiell; Nancy L. Connolly; Mary D. Conway; Charles H. Coon, Jr.; Deborah A. Coon; Lauren Coon; Jordan Coon; Jameson Cooper; Katherine A. Cooper, Both individually and as next friends of I.C., E.C., R.C.; John L. Councilman; Deborah J. Councilman; Colleen Craven; Harry F. Craven; Elizabeth A. D'Angelo; Robert F. D'Angelo; Caroline Dascher, individually and as next friends of M.D., E.D. and N.D.; Kenneth W. Dascher, Jr.; Jesse L. Coleman; Patricia H. Coleman; John C. Colt; Frances H. Colt; John S. Combs; Sea UN Combs;Owen Connolly; Donna J. Davids; John H. Davids; Emily Glaser; Mark Glaser; Douglas W. Townsley, POA for Helen A. Crowe; John T. Ditillo; Richard W. Doyle; Shirley A. Doyle; Albert K. Dunstan; Alexander A. Dunstan; Celeste Dunstan; Christie E. Dunstan; Gloria Davis, individually and as next friend of C.D.; William F. Davis, individually and as next friend of C.D.; Christopher P.Delvecchio; individually and as next friend of J.D.; Pamela A. Delvecchio, individually and as next fried of J.D.; Jeffrey Difatta, Individually; Teresa L. Difatta, individually and as next friend of S.D.; Timothy Difatta, Individually;Vincent Difatta, individually and as next friend of S.M.D.; David P. Digiorgio, individually and as next friend of P.A.D. and M.L.G.; Mallory S. Leggedigiorgio, individually and as next friend of P.A.D. and M.L.D.; Barbara Duvall; James R. Eavers; Patsy A. Eavers; Elaine H. Ehrhardt; Jessica Carlozo; Joseph Carlozo; Nicole Carlozo; Larry L. Elliott; Laura Elliott; Paula A. Elliott; Beatrice Elmo; Peter Elmo; Ernesto Ercolano; Phyllis Ercolano; Cyrus R. Etemad–Moghadam, individually and as next friend of F.R.E–M. and R.A.E–M.; Melody A. Etemadmoghadam, individually and next friend of F.R.E–M. and R.A.E–M.; Anastasia Fakas, individually and as next friend of N.F.; John Fakas, Individually;William J. Fakas, individually and next friend of N.F.; Joan L. Falanga; Jerome K. Ferrara, as next friend of K.P.F. and N.J.F.; Kristina Ferrara, as next friend of J.L. and K.H.; Carol L. Fialkowski; George V. Fialkowski; Demetrios Filipidis, individually and as next friend of G.F.; Robin L. Filipidis, individually and as next friend of G.F.; Aileen Flanagan, as next friend of G.F.; John S. Flanagan, as next friend of G.F.; Damion M. Ford; Richard A. Ford, III; Kathleen Fox; Ronald L. Fox; Sodus Cynthia, individually and as next friend of G.G. and A.G.; Ralph M. French; Gerard Frey;John P. Fries; Barry G. Gabler, individually and as next friend of G.G. and A.G.; Audrey Gallo; Robert A. Gallo; Lynne M. Schmidt–Fries; Jo Ann E. Geare; Chelsea Gebhardt; Fred C. Gebhardt, individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Teri J. Gebhardt; Jocelyn Gebhardt, Individually; Peter C. Georgopoulos; Susan E. Georgopoulos; Bette L. Gill; Roxanna M. Guinan; Jeffrey Guinan; Fallon Guinan; William Gill; James D. Gilpatrick; Michaele A. Gilpatrick; Scott M. Golly; Judith H. Gould; Thomas H. Gould; Bonnie L. Grant; Robert F. Grant; Eileen M. Gretes; William G. Gretes; Melissa Griffith; Michael Griffith;Milton Griffith; Michael A. Guzman, individually and as next friend of T.G.; Stacey L. Guzman, individually and as next friend of T.G.; Shirley Hall; Steven Hall; Thelma E. Hamel; Michael Harmon, POA for William B. Harmon and individually and as next friend of Z.H.; Dawne Jabobs, individually and as next friend of Z.H.; Patricia O'Neill, Personal Representative of the Estate of Elizabeth C. Gendimenico; Megan Heagy; Michael Heagy; Patricia A. Heagy; Steven M. Heagy, Jr.; Steven M. Heagy, Sr.; Lisa R. Hesseltine, individually and as next friend of K.H.; Mark C. Hesseltine, individually and as next friend of K.H.; Barbara A. Holler; Jimmy J. Holler; Larry W. Hooper; Pamela E. Hooper; Gwyn Houston, as next friend of D.M.;Janice A. Houston, as next friend of D.M.; Rita Howarth, as next friend of P.H.; Steven E. Howarth, as next friend of P.H.; Dawne Jabobs, as next friend of K.H.; David J. Hoyt, individually and as next friend of E.E.H. and L.M.H.; Kethleen H. Hoyt, individually and as next friend of E.E.H. and L.M.H.; Virginia A. Hoyt, individually; Allison L. Hunter; Bonnie L. Hunter; James D. Hunter; Jeffrey M. Hunter; James D. Hunter, Jr.; Scott Iannantuono, as next friend of B.I., J.I. and M.I.; Kimberly S. Iannantuono, as next friend of B.I., J.I. and M.I.; Christopher Jamison, as next friend of C.J., Jr.; Michele R. Jamison, as next friend of C.J., Jr.; Harry J. Cimbolo; Arlene E. January; Glenn K. January; Stephen D. January; Michael C. Janus, individually and as next friend of A.J. and A.J.;Tammy L. Janus, individually and as next friend of A.J. and A.J.; Gregory B. Johnson, as next friends of R.J. and H.J.; Jennifer Johnson, as next friends of R.J. and H.J.; Barbara A. Jung; Walter G. Jung; Harriet F. Kahl; Henry V. Kahl; Travis Bowen, individually; ALP A. Kayabasi, individually and as next friend of C.A.K. and A.D.K.; Christy L. Kayabasi, individually and as next friend of C.A.K. and A.D.K.; Lourdes Z. Keiser; Randall S. Keiser; Colleen Kelly; Joan M. Kelly; Michael Kelly; Christina M. King, individually and as next friend of L.K.; Jacqueline M. King; Mark B. King, individually and as next friend of L.K.;Susan Kluge, as next friend of R.K. and M.K.; Brendan C. Kluge, III, individually; Brendan C. Kluge, Jr., as next friend of R.K. and M.K.; Carole A. Klunk, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Joseph A. Klunk; Sterling Lytle, Personal Representative of Estate of Harold J. Kelly; Devin Portzko; Kelly Protzko; Ryan Protzko; Leah Langrill Childs; Erika Kolakowski; Gleela D. Kolakowski; Jan E. Kolakowski; Edward D. Kosiba; Judith A. Kosiba; Kenneth E. Krausz; Marie C. Krausz; John F. Kress; Sharon J. Kress; Kevin J. Krivacsy, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Ruth A. Krivacsy;James P. Kuhlman, individually and as next friend of S.A.; Julie C. Kuhlman, individually and as next friend of S.A.K.; Scott C. Kuhlman, Individually; Mary M. Langrall; Clarke Jr. Langrall; John S. Langrill; Joshua Langrill; Linda D. Langrill; Francis X. Lauer; Judith A. Lauer; Robert S. Lindsay, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Sharon V. Lindsay; HOPE Lookingland; Michael Lookingland; Carl R. Lupica, individually and as next friend of A.C.L. and V.J.L.; Dawn L. Lupica, individually and as next friend of A.C.L. and V.J.L.; Annabel E. Lusardi, individually and as next friend of M.L., N.L. and C.L.;Thomas J. Lusardi, individually and as next friend of M.L., N.L. and C.L.; Alicia Lynch; Michael J. Lynch; Joseph E. MacAtee; Samuel MacAtee; Beth G. MacMillan, individually and as next friend of K.M., J.M. and J.M.; Paul MacMillan, individually and as next friend of K.M., J.M. and J.M.; Frederick C. Manfra; Marlene F. Manfra; Stephanie J. Manfra; John W. Marshall, individually and as next friends of O.G–M.; Paula M. Marshall, individually and as next friends of L.G–M. and M.G–M.; Brian R. Masterson; Lynn M. Masterson, Both individually and as next friend s of C.M., L.M.; Linda Mazziott; Vincent T. Mazziott; Evelyn J. Mcdermott; Tyler M. McDermott;Kathleen P. McGraw, Both individually and as next friends of J.W.M.; Lauren A. McGraw; Robert S. McGraw; Carl Wayne Mellott; Joan B. Mirarchi; Ralph J. Mirarchi; Barbara L. Moore; Charles J. Moore, III; Dennis J. Morrison; Nina Morrison; James Moulsdale; Pamela S. Moulsdale, Both individually and as next friends of M.G.M.; Isa Mufareh; Ruth E. Mufareh; Karen Nickel, Both individually and as next friends of G.N.; Scott D. Nickel; Scott Dennis Nickel, Personal Representative of the Estate of Celina M. Rossini; Laura Nocar; James M. Norman; Emily C. Novak, Both individually and as next friends of R.S.N., Jr., J.D.N., C.R.N.; Ronald S....