U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

The Town of Pine Hill, Alabama v. 3M Company

September 2, 2026

Summary

The Eleventh Circuit held that 3M satisfied all three prongs of the federal officer removal statute, vacated the district court’s remand order, and remanded the case for further proceedings in federal court. The court reasoned that 3M acted under a federal officer, the suit relates to that conduct, and 3M raised a colorable federal defense, rejecting the town’s disclaimer as artful pleading.