Donald Gregory Linton v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company and Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Bermuda) Ltd.

E. GRADY JOLLY, Circuit Judge:

This case is an interlocutory appeal of the district court’s denial of Linton’s motion to remand the ease to state court. The district court based its denial of remand on grounds that the federal court had exclusive admiralty jurisdiction over Linton’s Jones Act and general maritime claims because he had elected, pursuant to a Louisiana statute, to try those claims to a judge instead of a jury. For the reasons discussed below, the order of the district court is reversed and the district court is directed to remand the case to the state court.

I

On January 9,1989,…