Title: Ex parte Transportation Leasing Corp., and Aquilex Hydrochem, LLC

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL:05/03/2013 
Notice: T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o 
n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 
1120326 
Ex parte Transportation Leasing Corp. and 
Aquilex Hydrochem, 
LLC 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : Ronald Weir 
v. 
Aquilex Hydrochem, LLC, 
e t a l . ) 
(Perry C i r c u i t Court, CV-12-900043) 
BOLIN, 
J u s t i c e . 
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n 
L e a s i n g 
Corp. 
("TLC") 
and 
A q u i l e x 
Hydrochem, LLC ( " A q u i l e x " ) , p e t i t i o n t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t 
o f 
1120326 
mandamus o r d e r i n g t h e P e r r y C i r c u i t C o u r t t o v a c a t e i t s o r d e r 
d e n y i n g TLC and A q u i l e x ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e a c t i o n w i t h o u t 
p r e j u d i c e t o r e f i l e 
i n M i s s i s s i p p i i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e 
d o c t r i n e 
o f forum non c o n v e n i e n s and t o e n t e r 
an 
o r d e r 
d i s m i s s i n g 
t h e a c t i o n 
w i t h o u t 
p r e j u d i c e . 
We 
g r a n t the 
p e t i t i o n and i s s u e t h e w r i t . 
F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
On J u l y 21, 2011, R o n a l d Weir, a r e s i d e n t o f M i s s i s s i p p i , 
was s e v e r e l y i n j u r e d i n an a u t o m o b i l e a c c i d e n t i n M e r i d i a n , 
M i s s i s s i p p i . 
On J u l y 18, 2012, Weir f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t i n 
t h e 
P e r r y C i r c u i t C o u r t naming as d e f e n d a n t s TLC, A q u i l e x , 
F l o y d 
Hershey, 
and 
Gordon 
Booker 
and 
a l l e g i n g 
n e g l i g e n c e , 
wantonness, and n e g l i g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t . 
In h i s c o m p l a i n t , Weir 
a l l e g e d t h a t TLC was a c o r p o r a t e e n t i t y whose p r i n c i p a l 
o f f i c e 
i s l o c a t e d i n I l l i n o i s and t h a t Booker, an Alabama r e s i d e n t , 
was 
o p e r a t i n g 
a v e h i c l e owned by TLC when t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d . 
Weir a l l e g e d t h a t A q u i l e x was a c o r p o r a t e 
e n t i t y 
whose p r i n c i p a l o f f i c e i s l o c a t e d i n Ohio and t h a t Hershey, a 
r e s i d e n t o f Ohio, was o p e r a t i n g a v e h i c l e owned by A q u i l e x 
when the a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d . 
Weir sued TLC, A q u i l e x , Booker, 
2 
1120326 
and Hershey. 
TLC and A q u i l e x have been s e r v e d w i t h n o t i c e o f 
the a c t i o n , b u t Booker and Hershey have n o t . 
On 
August 
22, 2012, TLC 
and 
A q u i l e x 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
c o l l e c t i v e l y r e f e r r e d t o as "the 
p e t i t i o n e r s " ) f i l e d a m o t i o n 
to d i s m i s s i n t h e t r i a l c o u r t on t h e ground t h a t M i s s i s s i p p i 
was a more c o n v e n i e n t 
forum than t h e P e r r y C i r c u i t C o u r t 
f o r 
the f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s : (1) Weir i s 
a r e s i d e n t o f M i s s i s s i p p i ; 
(2) t h e a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d i n 
M i s s i s s i p p i ; (3) the a c c i d e n t was 
i n v e s t i g a t e d by t h e M e r i d i a n 
P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t ; 
(4) the 
i n v e s t i g a t i n g p o l i c e o f f i c e r , Tommie Coker, i s 
a r e s i d e n t o f 
M i s s i s s i p p i ; 
(5) A q u i l e x ' s 
p r i n c i p a l 
o f f i c e i s l o c a t e d i n 
Ohio; (6) TLC's p r i n c i p a l o f f i c e i s l o c a t e d i n I l l i n o i s ; (7) 
a w i t n e s s t o t h e a c c i d e n t , Dean Harper (who a l s o i s 
a p o l i c e 
o f f i c e r ) , r e s i d e s i n M i s s i s s i p p i ; and (8) Hershey r e s i d e s i n 
Ohio. 
The p e t i t i o n e r s argue 
t h a t 
M i s s i s s i p p i i s a more 
c o n v e n i e n t 
forum because Booker i s t h e o n l y c o n n e c t i o n t h e 
a c t i o n has t o Alabama 
and the m a j o r i t y o f w i t n e s s e s 
and 
a c c i d e n t - r e l a t e d documents a r e i n M i s s i s s i p p i . 
I n s u p p o r t o f 
the m o t i o n , t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s a t t a c h e d an a f f i d a v i t from O f f i c e r 
Coker, who 
i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e a c c i d e n t . 
I n t h e 
a f f i d a v i t , 
O f f i c e r Coker 
s t a t e d t h a t i t would be i n c o n v e n i e n t 
and a 
3 
1120326 
h a r d s h i p 
f o r him t o t r a v e l t o Alabama t o t e s t i f y . 
The 
p e t i t i o n e r s a l s o a t t a c h e d an a f f i d a v i t from O f f i c e r Harper, 
who happened t o be an e y e w i t n e s s t o t h e a c c i d e n t . 
O f f i c e r 
Harper s t a t e d i n 
h i s a f f i d a v i t t h a t i t would be 
i n c o n v e n i e n t 
and a h a r d s h i p f o r 
him t o t r a v e l t o Alabama t o t e s t i f y . 
The 
p e t i t i o n e r s a l s o f i l e d an a f f i d a v i t from t h e f a t h e r o f a n o t h e r 
p e r s o n i n j u r e d i n 
t h e a c c i d e n t r e g a r d i n g t h e r e s i d e n c y o f 
t h e 
i n j u r e d p e r s o n , b u t t h e a f f i d a v i t was n o t n o t a r i z e d . 
On October 30, 2012, Weir 
f i l e d a m o t i o n t o s t r i k e t h e 
a f f i d a v i t s 
f i l e d i n s u p p o r t o f t h e motion t o d i s m i s s . 
That 
same day, Weir a l s o f i l e d a response t o t h e 
motion t o d i s m i s s , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r s had f a i l e d t o demonstrate 
t h a t 
a l l t h e c l a i m s a r o s e o u t s i d e o f Alabama because one o f Weir's 
c l a i m s was a n e g l i g e n t - e n t r u s t m e n t 
c l a i m based on n e g l i g e n t 
e n t r u s t m e n t t h a t o c c u r r e d i n P e r r y County, Alabama, when TLC 
e n t r u s t e d i t s v e h i c l e t o Booker. 
Weir a l s o argued t h a t t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s ' 
argument 
t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f w i t n e s s e s 
and 
a c c i d e n t - r e l a t e d documents a r e i n M i s s i s s i p p i i s i n a c c u r a t e 
because 
Booker 
i s 
from 
Alabama 
and 
Weir's 
a c c i d e n t -
r e c o n s t r u c t i o n e x p e r t w i t n e s s e s a r e from Alabama. 
L a s t , Weir 
argued t h a t n e i t h e r o f t h e o f f i c e r s i n h i s a f f i d a v i t 
s t a t e d 
4 
1120326 
d e f i n i t e l y t h a t t h e y would n o t a t t e n d a d e p o s i t i o n o r a 
t r i a l 
i n A l a b a m a , o n l y t h a t i t 
would be 
i n c o n v e n i e n t . 
On November 7, 2012, t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d an 
o r d e r 
s t r i k i n g 
t h e a f f i d a v i t 
t h a t had n o t been 
n o t a r i z e d b u t 
r e f u s i n g 
t o 
s t r i k e 
O f f i c e r C o k e r ' s 
and O f f i c e 
H a r p e r ' s 
a f f i d a v i t s . 
That same day, t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s ' motion t o d i s m i s s . 
On December 18, 2012, 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s t i m e l y f i l e d a p e t i t i o n f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus. 
S t a n d a r d o f Review 
A p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f mandamus i s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e 
method f o r 
o b t a i n i n g r e v i e w o f a r u l i n g d e n y i n g a motion t o 
d i s m i s s based on t h e d o c t r i n e o f forum non c o n v e n i e n s . 
Ex 
p a r t e K i a 
Motors A m e r i c a , I n c . , 
881 So. 2d 396 ( A l a . 
2003). 
"Mandamus i s 
a d r a s t i c and e x t r a o r d i n a r y 
w r i t , 
t o be i s s u e d o n l y where t h e r e i s (1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t i n 
t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o t h e o r d e r sought, (2) 
an 
i m p e r a t i v e 
d u t y upon t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o p e r f o r m , 
accompanied by a r e f u s a l t o do so, (3) t h e l a c k o f 
a n o t h e r adequate remedy, and (4) p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t . 
Ex p a r t e I n t e g o n Corp., 
672 So. 2d 497, 499 ( A l a . 1995). 'A p e t i t i o n f o r t h e 
w r i t o f mandamus i s 
a p r o p e r method f o r p r e s e n t i n g 
a venue c h a l l e n g e based on t h e d o c t r i n e o f forum non 
c o n v e n i e n s . ' 
I d . ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d ) . 
We a p p l y t h e 
a b u s e - o f - d i s c r e t i o n 
s t a n d a r d 
when 
c o n s i d e r i n g 
a 
mandamus p e t i t i o n c h a l l e n g i n g a venue r u l i n g , and we 
w i l l 
n o t i s s u e t h e w r i t 
u n l e s s 
t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e x e r c i s e d 
i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n an 
a r b i t r a r y and 
c a p r i c i o u s manner. 
I d . " 
5 
1120326 
Ex p a r t e Brookwood H e a l t h S e r v s . , I n c . , 
781 So. 2d 954, 956-57 
( A l a . 
2000). 
F u r t h e r m o r e , our r e v i e w i s l i m i t e d 
t o t h o s e 
f a c t s t h a t were b e f o r e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t . 
Ex p a r t e J i m Burke  
A u t o . , I n c . , 776 So. 2d 118, 120 ( A l a . 
2000). 
D i s c u s s i o n 
S e c t i o n 6-5-430 
p r o v i d e s : 
"Whenever, e i t h e r by common law o r the s t a t u t e s 
of a n o t h e r s t a t e or of t h e U n i t e d 
S t a t e s , a c l a i m , 
e i t h e r upon c o n t r a c t or i n t o r t has a r i s e n 
o u t s i d e 
t h i s 
s t a t e a g a i n s t any p e r s o n or c o r p o r a t i o n , 
such 
c l a i m may be e n f o r c e a b l e 
i n t h e c o u r t s of t h i s 
s t a t e 
i n any c o u n t y i n which j u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e d e f e n d a n t 
can be l e g a l l y o b t a i n e d i n t h e same manner i n w h i c h 
j u r i s d i c t i o n c o u l d have been o b t a i n e d 
i f t h e c l a i m 
had 
a r i s e n i n t h i s 
s t a t e ; p r o v i d e d , 
however, t h e 
of 
t h i s 
s t a t e 
s h a l l 
a p p l y t h e d o c t r i n e of 
c o u r t s 
forum 
non 
c o n v e n i e n s 
i n d e t e r m i n i n g 
whether 
t o 
 
a c c e p t or d e c l i n e t o t a k e 
j u r i s d i c t i o n of an a c t i o n 
based 
upon 
such 
c l a i m 
o r i g i n a t i n g 
o u t s i d e 
t h i s 
 
s t a t e ; and p r o v i d e d 
f u r t h e r t h a t , i f 
upon motion of 
any d e f e n d a n t i t 
i s shown t h a t t h e r e 
e x i s t s a more 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
forum 
o u t s i d e 
t h i s 
s t a t e , 
t a k i n g 
i n t o 
a c c o u n t t h e l o c a t i o n where t h e a c t s g i v i n g r i s e t o 
the a c t i o n o c c u r r e d , 
t h e c o n v e n i e n c e of t h e p a r t i e s 
and 
w i t n e s s e s , 
and t h e i n t e r e s t s o f j u s t i c e , t h e 
c o u r t must 
d i s m i s s 
the a c t i o n w i t h o u t 
p r e j u d i c e . 
Such d i s m i s s a l may be c o n d i t i o n e d upon t h e d e f e n d a n t 
or d e f e n d a n t s f i l i n g w i t h the c o u r t a consent ( i ) 
t o 
submit t o j u r i s d i c t i o n i n t h e i d e n t i f i e d forum, o r 
( i i ) t o waive any d e f e n s e based upon a s t a t u t e o f 
l i m i t a t i o n s i f 
an a c t i o n on t h e same cause o f a c t i o n 
i s commenced i n t h e i d e n t i f i e d forum w i t h i n 60 days 
of t h e d i s m i s s a l . " 
(Emphasis added.) 
6 
1120326 
"The purpose of the d o c t r i n e of forum non c o n v e n i e n s i s 
to 
'prevent the waste of t i m e , energy, and money and a l s o t o 
p r o t e c t 
w i t n e s s e s , 
l i t i g a n t s , 
and 
the 
p u b l i c 
a g a i n s t 
u n n e c e s s a r y expense and i n c o n v e n i e n c e . ' " 
Ex p a r t e P e r f e c t i o n  
S i d i n g , I n c . , 882 So. 2d 307, 312 
( A l a . 2003) ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e  
New 
E n g l a n d Mut. 
L i f e 
I n s . Co., 
663 
So. 
2d 
952, 
956 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) ) . "Under § 6-5-430 a t r i a l c o u r t must d i s m i s s 
w i t h o u t 
p r e j u d i c e 
' i f , upon m o t i o n of a d e f e n d a n t , 
i t i s shown t h a t 
t h e r e 
e x i s t s 
a more a p p r o p r i a t e 
forum 
o u t s i d e 
the 
s t a t e , 
t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t the l o c a t i o n where the a c t s g i v i n g r i s e t o 
the 
a c t i o n o c c u r r e d , 
the 
c o n v e n i e n c e 
of 
the 
p a r t i e s 
and 
w i t n e s s e s , 
and 
the 
i n t e r e s t 
of 
j u s t i c e . . . . ' " 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
D a i m l e r C h r y s l e r 
Corp., 
952 
So. 
2d 
1082, 
1087 
( A l a . 
2006) ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e P r u d e n t i a l I n s . Co. of A m e r i c a , 721 
So. 
2d 1135, 
1138 
( A l a . 1 9 9 8 ) ) . 
"The 
d o c t r i n e of forum non c o n v e n i e n s r e q u i r e s 
a c o u r t t o d e t e r m i n e whether t o a c c e p t or t o d e c l i n e 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
of c l a i m s 
a r i s i n g o u t s i d e the 
s t a t e . 
Ex p a r t e I n t e g o n Corp., 672 So. 2d 497 
( A l a . 1995) . 
' I n i t i a l l y , 
the p a r t y s e e k i n g 
d i s m i s s a l must show 
t h a t the c l a i m [ s ] a r o s e o u t s i d e Alabama. Next, t h a t 
p a r t y must show t h a t an a l t e r n a t i v e forum 
e x i s t s . ' 
672 So. 2d a t 499; Ex p a r t e P r e s t o n Hood C h e v r o l e t ,  
I n c . , 
638 
So. 
2d 
842, 
845 
( A l a . 1994); Ex 
p a r t e 
 
Employers I n s . of Wausau, 590 So. 2d 888, 
893 
( A l a . 
1991); Jerome A. Hoffman & Sandra C. Guin, Alabama  
C i v i l 
Procedure 
§ 
2.148 
(2d 
ed. 
2000)('A 
p a r t y 
7 
1120326 
s e e k i n g 
d i s m i s s a l under 
§ 6-5-430 must 
e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t the c l a i m t o be d i s m i s s e d a r o s e e l s e w h e r e than 
i n Alabama.' ( f o o t n o t e o m i t t e d ) ) . 
"Thus, the t r i a l c o u r t i s c o m p e l l e d t o d i s m i s s 
an a c t i o n w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e i f ... i t i s shown t h a t 
t h e r e e x i s t s a more a p p r o p r i a t e forum o u t s i d e the 
s t a t e 
" 
Ex p a r t e K i a M o t o r s , 881 So. 2d a t 399-400. 
P u r s u a n t t o § 6-5-430, a d e f e n d a n t s e e k i n g d i s m i s s a l o f 
an a c t i o n based on the d o c t r i n e of forum non c o n v e n i e n s must 
show t h a t the p l a i n t i f f ' s c l a i m s a r o s e o u t s i d e of Alabama and 
t h a t a more a p p r o p r i a t e forum e x i s t s based on the l o c a t i o n of 
the 
a c t s g i v i n g 
r i s e t o the a c t i o n , the c o n v e n i e n c e o f the 
p a r t i e s and w i t n e s s e s , and the i n t e r e s t s o f j u s t i c e . 
M a l s c h 
 
v. B e l l H e l i c o p t e r T e x t r o n , I n c . , 916 So. 2d 600 ( A l a . 2005) 
. 
We note t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r s have agreed t o a s t i p u l a t i o n of 
a d i s m i s s a l w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e 
t h a t a l l o w s Weir 
t o 
f i l e 
an 
a c t i o n i n M i s s i s s i p p i and t h a t t h e y have a l s o a g r e e d t o waive 
any d e f e n s e based on the s t a t u t e o f 
l i m i t a t i o n s . 
In 
Ex 
p a r t e K i a M o t o r s , 
s u p r a , 
s e v e r a l 
r e s i d e n t s 
of 
F l o r i d a were r i d i n g i n a 1998 K i a S e p h i a a u t o m o b i l e when t h e y 
were 
i n v o l v e d 
i n a h i g h - s p e e d 
c r a s h w i t h 
a n o t h e r 
c a r i n 
F l o r i d a . 
The 
S e p h i a 
l e f t 
the roadway, came t o r e s t i n a 
p a s t u r e , where i t caught 
f i r e and burned. 
Only one 
occupant 
8 
1120326 
of 
the 
a u t o m o b i l e 
s u r v i v e d . 
The 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s 
of 
the 
e s t a t e s 
of 
the 
decedents 
f i l e d 
an 
a c t i o n 
i n 
the 
Houston 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
a g a i n s t 
K i a 
Motors A m e r i c a 
and 
K i a 
Motors 
C o p o r a t i o n 
(both 
of 
w h i c h 
are 
h e a d q u a r t e r e d 
o u t s i d e 
of 
Alabama) 
and 
a g a i n s t 
the a u t o m o b i l e d e a l e r s h i p 
l o c a t e d i n 
Houston 
County, 
Alabama, 
where 
the 
a u t o m o b i l e 
had 
been 
p u r c h a s e d . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
a s s e r t e d 
p r o d u c t s - l i a b i l i t y , 
b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y , n e g l i g e n c e , and wantonness c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
K i a 
and 
p r o d u c t s - l i a b i l i t y 
and 
b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t the d e a l e r s h i p . 
K i a and the d e a l e r s h i p f i l e d a motion 
t o d i s m i s s the Alabama a c t i o n based on the d o c t r i n e of forum  
non 
c o n v e n i e n s because the a c c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d 
i n F l o r i d a 
and 
the m a j o r i t y of the w i t n e s s e s 
and documents r e l a t e d t o 
the 
a c c i d e n t 
were 
l o c a t e d 
i n 
F l o r i d a . 
They argued 
t h a t 
the 
i n t e r e s t s 
of 
j u s t i c e 
r e q u i r e d 
t h a t 
the 
case 
be 
h e a r d 
i n 
F l o r i d a . 
One 
of the i s s u e s was where the b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y 
c l a i m 
a r o s e . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
under 
Alabama's 
U n i f o r m Commercial Code, 
f o r the purposes 
of 
a m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
b a s e d 
on 
the 
d o c t r i n e 
of forum non 
c o n v e n i e n s , 
a 
b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y c l a i m a r i s e s where the 
i n j u r y 
o c c u r r e d . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , we h e l d t h a t a l l the p l a i n t i f f s ' 
c l a i m s a r o s e i n 
9 
1120326 
F l o r i d a 
and t h a t t h e Alabama 
a c t i o n s h o u l d be 
d i s m i s s e d 
w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e . 
Weir does n o t d i s p u t e t h a t h i s 
n e g l i g e n c e and wantonness 
c l a i m s a r o s e i n M i s s i s s i p p i . 
However, Weir argues t h a t h i s 
n e g l i g e n t - e n t r u s t m e n t 
c l a i m arose i n P e r r y County, Alabama, 
because TLC e n t r u s t e d i t s v e h i c l e t o Booker i n P e r r y County. 
Weir argues t h a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f a 
n e g l i g e n t - e n t r u s t m e n t 
c l a i m f o c u s e s on t h e a c t o f e n t r u s t m e n t and t h e e n t r u s t e e ' s 
incompetence and t h a t , t h e r e f o r e , t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e a c c i d e n t 
i n v o l v i n g 
t h e 
e n t r u s t e e 
i s n o t 
n e c e s s a r i l y where 
t h e 
n e g l i g e n t - e n t r u s t m e n t c l a i m a r o s e . 
We r e c o g n i z e t h a t t o succeed on a n e g l i g e n t - e n t r u s t m e n t 
c l a i m , t h e p l a i n t i f f must prove t h a t the e n t r u s t o r knew o r 
had 
r e a s o n t o know o f the e n t r u s t e e ' s incompetence. 
L i a o v.  
H a r r y ' s 
B a r , 574 So. 2d 775 
( A l a . 
1990) 
. 
A l t h o u g h 
an 
e n t r u s t o r may be g u i l t y o f n e g l i g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t o f a v e h i c l e 
t o an i n c o m p e t e n t d r i v e r , he o r she may n o t 
be h e l d l i a b l e f o r 
such n e g l i g e n c e u n l e s s t h e i n j u r y i s 
p r o x i m a t e l y caused by 
t h e 
incompetence o f t h e e n t r u s t e e . 
K e l l e r v. K i e d i n g e r , 389 So. 
2d 129 ( A l a . 1980). 
"[O]ne who e n t r u s t s an a u t o m o b i l e t o an 
i n c o m p e t e n t d r i v e r , i n c o m p e t e n t as a m a t t e r o f law 
o r i n f a c t , 
10 
1120326 
i s g u i l t y of n e g l i g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t ; however, the 
e n t r u s t o r ' s 
l i a b i l i t y 
f o r 
such 
e n t r u s t m e n t 
depends 
upon 
an 
i n j u r y 
p r o x i m a t e l y r e s u l t i n g from the incompetency of the 
e n t r u s t e e . " 
Bonds v. B u s l e r , 449 
So. 
2d 244, 
245 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
1984). 
In Jones E x p r e s s , I n c . v. J a c k s o n , 86 So. 
3d 298 
( A l a . 
2010), 
the 
p a r e n t s 
of 
a m o t o r i s t 
b r o u g h t a w r o n g f u l - d e a t h 
a c t i o n a g a i n s t the t r u c k i n g company and t r u c k d r i v e r i n v o l v e d 
i n the a c c i d e n t i n which the m o t o r i s t was 
k i l l e d . 
The p a r e n t s 
a l l e g e d 
t h a t 
the 
t r u c k i n g company 
had 
n e g l i g e n t l y 
h i r e d , 
r e t a i n e d , and s u p e r v i s e d 
the t r u c k d r i v e r and t h a t the 
t r u c k 
d r i v e r had n e g l i g e n t l y c o l l i d e d w i t h the m o t o r i s t ' s c a r . 
The 
j u r y found i n f a v o r of the p a r e n t s on t h e i r n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
r e t e n t i o n , and s u p e r v i s i o n c l a i m . 
However, the j u r y found i n 
f a v o r of the t r u c k d r i v e r on the p a r e n t s ' 
n e g l i g e n c e 
c l a i m . 
We h e l d t h a t the j u r y ' s f i n d i n g t h a t the t r u c k d r i v e r was 
not 
n e g l i g e n t was 
i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a f i n d i n g t h a t the 
t r u c k i n g 
company was 
n e g l i g e n t 
i n h i r i n g and 
s u p e r v i s i n g the d r i v e r . 
We 
e x p l a i n e d 
t h a t i m p l i c i t i n the 
t o r t of n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
r e t e n t i o n , t r a i n i n g , and 
s u p e r v i s i o n i s the concept t h a t , 
as 
a consequence of the employee's incompetence, the 
employee 
11 
1120326 
committed some s o r t o f a c t , wrongdoing, or t o r t t h a t caused 
the p l a i n t i f f ' s i n j u r y . 
" I t has been s t a t e d g e n e r a l l y t h a t , i n o r d e r f o r 
an employer t o be 
l i a b l e 
f o r the n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
t r a i n i n g , 
r e t e n t i o n , 
and 
s u p e r v i s i o n 
of 
i t s 
employee, the p l a i n t i f f must a l s o prove 
' w r o n g f u l 
conduct' on the p a r t o f the employee. 
U n i v e r s i t y 
 
Fed. C r e d i t Union v. Grayson, 878 So. 2d 280, 
291 
( A l a . 
2003)('[A] 
p a r t y 
a l l e g i n g 
n e g l i g e n t 
s u p e r v i s i o n 
and 
h i r i n g must prove 
the 
u n d e r l y i n g 
w r o n g f u l 
conduct 
o f 
the 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
a g e n t s . ' ) ; 
Voyager I n s . Cos. v. Whitson, 867 So. 2d 1065, 
1073 
( A l a . 
2003)('A p a r t y 
a l l e g i n g n e g l i g e n t 
o r wanton 
s u p e r v i s i o n 
and 
h i r i n g 
must 
a l s o 
prove 
the 
u n d e r l y i n g 
w r o n g f u l conduct 
of e m p l o y e e s . ' ) ; 
see 
a l s o Stevenson v. P r e c i s i o n S t a n d a r d , I n c . , 762 So. 
2d 
820 
( A l a . 1999) ( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
a 
j u r y 
v e r d i c t 
a g a i n s t an employer based on n e g l i g e n t t r a i n i n g and 
s u p e r v i s i o n of a s u p e r v i s o r who 
a l l e g e d l y s e x u a l l y 
h a r a s s e d a f e l l o w employee c o u l d not s t a n d where the 
j u r y a l s o e x o n e r a t e d the s u p e r v i s o r ) ; Smith v. Boyd  
B r o s . Transp., I n c . , 406 F.Supp.2d 1238, 1248 
(M.D. 
A l a . 
2005) ('Under 
Alabama 
law, 
the 
f i n d i n g 
of 
u n d e r l y i n g 
t o r t i o u s conduct 
i s a p r e c o n d i t i o n 
t o 
i n v o k i n g s u c c e s s f u l l y l i a b i l i t y f o r the n e g l i g e n t or 
wanton t r a i n i n g and s u p e r v i s i o n of an employee.'); 
and T h r a s h e r v. Ivan L e o n a r d C h e v r o l e t , 
I n c . , 195 
F.Supp.2d 1314, 1320 
(N.D. A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) ( ' I n o r d e r t o 
e s t a b l i s h a c l a i m a g a i n s t an employer f o r n e g l i g e n t 
s u p e r v i s i o n , 
t r a i n i n g , 
and/or 
r e t e n t i o n , 
the 
p l a i n t i f f 
must 
e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t 
the 
a l l e g e d l y 
i n c o m p e t e n t employee committed ... 
[a] 
t o r t . ' ) . " 
86 So. 3d a t 304. 
We 
r e c o g n i z e 
t h a t 
i n 
o r d e r 
t o 
prove 
n e g l i g e n t 
e n t r u s t m e n t , the p l a i n t i f f must p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t the e n t r u s t m e n t was n e g l i g e n t , e.g., t h a t an u n r e a s o n a b l e 
12 
1120326 
r i s k of harm was c r e a t e d by p l a c i n g c o n t r o l of a motor v e h i c l e 
i n the hands of an i n c o m p e t e n t d r i v e r . 
In the p r e s e n t 
case, 
t h e r e 
w i l l 
l i k e l y 
be 
e v i d e n c e 
p r e s e n t e d 
of 
the 
a l l e g e d 
n e g l i g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t , 
which o c c u r e d i n Alabama. 
However, an 
e n t r u s t o r may 
not be 
h e l d 
l i a b l e 
f o r n e g l i g e n c e 
u n l e s s 
the 
i n j u r y 
i s p r o x i m a t e l y 
caused 
by 
the 
incompetence 
of 
the 
e n t r u s t e e , and, t h e r e f o r e , f o r the p u r p o s e s of the d o c t r i n e of 
forum non c o n v e n i e n s , 
n e g l i g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t of a motor v e h i c l e 
does not 
a r i s e 
u n t i l 
the n e g l i g e n t a c t i s committed by 
the 
e n t r u s t e e . Here, the a c c i d e n t and any a l l e g e d n e g l i g e n c e 
t h a t 
caused the a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d i n M i s s i s s i p p i . 
In the p r e s e n t case, the a u t o m o b i l e a c c i d e n t g i v i n g r i s e 
t o 
the 
n e g l i g e n c e , 
wantonness, 
and 
n e g l i g e n t - e n t r u s t m e n t 
c l a i m s o c c u r r e d i n M i s s i s s i p p i . 
We now 
t u r n t o the 
q u e s t i o n 
whether M i s s i s s i p p i 
i s an 
a l t e r n a t i v e forum. 
The 
a c c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d i n M i s s i s s i p p i . 
Weir r e s i d e s i n M i s s i s s i p p i , and the 
p e t i t i o n e r s 
(the o n l y d e f e n d a n t s who have been s e r v e d i n the 
a c t i o n ) do not r e s i d e i n e i t h e r Alabama or M i s s i s s i p p i . 
The 
a c c i d e n t was i n v e s t i g a t e d by the M e r i d i a n , M i s s i s s i p p i , P o l i c e 
Department. 
The i n v e s t i g a t i n g 
p o l i c e o f f i c e r i s a r e s i d e n t of 
M i s s i s s i p p i . 
The 
i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r 
and 
a t 
l e a s t 
one 
13 
1120326 
e y e w i t n e s s have a s s e r t e d t h a t i t would be i n c o n v e n i e n t and a 
h a r d s h i p 
f o r them t o 
t r a v e l 
t o Alabama t o 
t e s t i f y . 
Weir 
a s s e r t s t h a t n e i t h e r of the a f f i d a v i t s d e f i n i t i v e l y s t a t e t h a t 
the w i t n e s s would not be 
a b l e t o or would have r e f u s e d t o 
t e s t i f y i n Alabama. 
In Ex p a r t e Ben-Acadia, 
L t d . , 566 So. 
2d 
486 
( A l a . 1990), t h i s C o u r t s t a t e d t h a t , i n a d d i t i o n t o t a k i n g 
i n t o account the l o c a t i o n of the a c t s g i v i n g r i s e t o a c t i o n , 
the 
convenience 
of 
the 
p a r t i e s 
and 
w i t n e s s e s , 
and 
the 
i n t e r e s t s of j u s t i c e , the t r i a l c o u r t , i n d e t e r m i n i n g whether 
a d i s m i s s a l of the a c t i o n on the b a s i s of the d o c t r i n e of 
forum non conveniens 
s h o u l d be g r a n t e d , s h o u l d c o n s i d e r 
"the 
r e l a t i v e ease of a c c e s s 
t o s o u r c e s 
of p r o o f , 
the 
l o c a t i o n of the e v i d e n c e , 
the 
a v a i l a b i l i t y 
of 
compulsory p r o c e s s 
f o r the a t t e n d a n c e 
of 
u n w i l l i n g 
w i t n e s s e s , the c o s t of o b t a i n i n g the a t t e n d a n c e 
of 
w i l l i n g w i t n e s s e s , the p o s s i b i l i t y of a view of the 
p r e m i s e s , 
i f a view would be 
a p p r o p r i a t e t o 
the 
a c t i o n , and any o t h e r m a t t e r i n o r d e r t o a s s e s s 
the 
degree of a c t u a l d i f f i c u l t y and h a r d s h i p t h a t would 
r e s u l t t o the d e f e n d a n t i n l i t i g a t i n g 
the case i n 
the forum chosen by the 
p l a i n t i f f . " 
566 So. 2d a t 88. 
N o t h i n g i n our caselaw p r o v i d e s t h a t the 
w i t n e s s s t a t e t h a t he or she r e f u s e s t o t e s t i f y i n s t e a d of 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t e s t i f y i n g i n the 
i n i t i a l forum w i l l 
p r e s e n t 
a h a r d s h i p and would be i n c o n v e n i e n t . 
A f t e r 
a l l , the 
e n t i r e 
purpose of the d o c t r i n e of forum non conveniens 
i s t o r e l i e v e 
14 
1120326 
a d e f e n d a n t of the undue burden of l i t i g a t i n g i n an e s p e c i a l l y 
i n c o n v e n i e n t forum. 
Weir a l s o argues t h a t the e x p e r t w i t n e s s e s he e x p e c t s t o 
c a l l 
t o 
t e s t i f y 
r e g a r d i n g a c c i d e n t r e c o n s t r u c t i o n are 
from 
Alabama and t h a t t h o s e w i t n e s s e s 
w i l l be i n c o n v e n i e n c e d 
by 
h a v i n g t o t r a v e l t o M i s s i s s i p p i . 
As we i n d i c a t e d i n Ex p a r t e  
D a i m l e r C h r y s l e r 
Corp., 
s u p r a , 
e x p e r t 
w i t n e s s e s 
r e g u l a r l y 
t r a v e l t o t e s t i f y a t t r i a l s . 
The e x p e r t makes i t p a r t of h i s 
or her b u s i n e s s 
t o 
t r a v e l 
t o the 
s i t e 
of 
l i t i g a t i o n 
b o t h 
w i t h i n and o u t s i d e of t h i s S t a t e , and the t r a v e l d i s t a n c e from 
Birmingham t o the p r o p o s e d venue i n M e r i d i a n , 
M i s s i s s i p p i , 
a l t h o u g h g r e a t e r than the d i s t a n c e t o P e r r y County, does not 
appear t o be u n d u l y g r e a t e r f o r someone f o r whom t r a v e l t o the 
s i t e of l i t i g a t i o n i s a customary p a r t of t h e i r b u s i n e s s . 
We 
cannot 
say t h a t the p h y s i c a l p r e s e n c e 
of t h o s e w i t n e s s e s i n 
Alabama 
(assuming 
t h a t 
t h e y 
would 
not 
make 
themselves 
a v a i l a b l e i n M i s s i s s i p p i ) outweighs 
the i n c o n v e n i e n c e of the 
i n v e s t i g a t i n g 
o f f i c e r and the e y e w i t n e s s e s 
i n t h i s case 
of 
t r a v e l i n g t o Alabama. 
The 
i n t e r e s t s - o f - j u s t i c e 
prong 
of 
the 
forum 
non 
 
conveniens 
a n a l y s i s a l s o weighs i n f a v o r of d i s m i s s i n g the 
15 
1120326 
a c t i o n so t h a t i t can 
be r e f i l e d i n 
M i s s i s s i p p i . 
I n 
Ex p a r t e 
F i r s t F a m i l y 
F i n a n c i a l S e r v i c e s , I n c . , 
718 So. 2d 658, 661 
( A l a . 
1998), t h i s C o u r t n o t e d : 
" ' " I m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a r e 
t h e r e l a t i v e ease o f 
a c c e s s 
t o 
s o u r c e s 
o f 
p r o o f ; 
a v a i l a b i l i t y 
o f 
compulsory p r o c e s s f o r 
a t t e n d a n c e o f u n w i l l i n g , and 
the 
c o s t 
o f 
o b t a i n i n g 
a t t e n d a n c e 
o f 
w i l l i n g , 
w i t n e s s e s ; 
p o s s i b i l i t y o f view o f p r e m i s e s , 
i f view 
would be a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e a c t i o n ; and a l l o t h e r 
p r a c t i c a l problems t h a t make t r i a l o f a case easy, 
e x p e d i t i o u s 
and i n e x p e n s i v e . 
There may 
a l s o be 
q u e s t i o n s as t o 
t h e 
enforcement o f a judgment i f 
one 
i s 
o b t a i n e d . 
The 
c o u r t 
w i l l 
weigh 
r e l a t i v e 
advantages and o b s t a c l e s t o f a i r 
t r i a l . I t 
i s o f t e n 
s a i d t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f may n o t , by c h o i c e o f an 
i n c o n v e n i e n t 
forum, 
'vex,' 
' h a r a s s , ' o r 
'oppress' 
the 
d e f e n d a n t by 
i n f l i c t i n g 
upon him expense o r 
t r o u b l e not n e c e s s a r y t o h i s own r i g h t t o pursue 
h i s 
remedy. But u n l e s s t h e 
b a l a n c e i s 
s t r o n g l y i n f a v o r 
of t h e d e f e n d a n t , t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c h o i c e o f forum 
s h o u l d r a r e l y be d i s t u r b e d . 
" ' " F a c t o r s o f p u b l i c i n t e r e s t a l s o have p l a c e i n 
a p p l y i n g t h e d o c t r i n e . 
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e 
d i f f i c u l t i e s 
f o l l o w f o r c o u r t s when 
l i t i g a t i o n i s p i l e d up i n 
c o n g e s t e d c e n t e r s 
i n s t e a d o f b e i n g h a n d l e d a t i t s 
o r i g i n . 
J u r y d u t y i s 
a burden t h a t ought not t o 
be 
imposed upon t h e p e o p l e o f a community w h i c h has no 
r e l a t i o n t o t h e l i t i g a t i o n . 
I n cases w h i c h 
t o u c h 
the 
a f f a i r s o f many p e r s o n s , 
t h e r e i s r e a s o n f o r 
h o l d i n g t h e t r i a l i n t h e i r view and r e a c h 
r a t h e r 
than i n remote p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y where t h e y can 
l e a r n 
o f i t by 
r e p o r t 
o n l y . 
There i s a 
l o c a l 
i n t e r e s t i n h a v i n g 
l o c a l i z e d c o n t r o v e r s i e s 
d e c i d e d 
a t home. 
There i s an a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s , 
t o o , 
i n 
h a v i n g t h e t r i a l o f a d i v e r s i t y case i n 
a forum t h a t 
i s a t home w i t h t h e s t a t e law t h a t must govern t h e 
case, r a t h e r than h a v i n g a c o u r t i n 
some o t h e r forum 
16 
1120326 
u n t a n g l e problems 
i n c o n f l i c t of laws, and i n law 
f o r e i g n t o 
i t s e l f . " ' " 
(Quoting 
Ex 
p a r t e 
Gauntt, 
677 
So. 
2d 
204, 
221 
( A l a . 
1998)(Maddox, J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) , 
q u o t i n g i n t u r n G u l f O i l Corp. 
v. G i l b e r t , 330 U.S. 
501, 508-09 (1947).) 
Though Ex p a r t e 
F i r s t 
F a m i l y 
F i n a n c i a l 
a p p l i e d 
the 
d o c t r i n e 
of forum 
non 
c o n v e n i e n s 
under 
§ 
6-3-21.1, 
A l a . Code 
1975, 
the 
same 
p r i n c i p l e s a p p l y h e r e . 
" ' [ I ] n a n a l y z i n g the i n t e r e s t - o f - j u s t i c e prong of § 
6-3-21.1, t h i s C o u r t f o c u s e s on whether the "nexus" 
or " c o n n e c t i o n " between the p l a i n t i f f ' s a c t i o n 
and 
the 
o r i g i n a l 
forum 
i s s t r o n g enough 
t o 
w a r r a n t 
b u r d e n i n g the p l a i n t i f f ' s 
forum w i t h the 
a c t i o n . ' 
Ex p a r t e F i r s t Tennessee Bank N a t ' l A s s ' n , 994 
So. 
2d 906, 911 ( A l a . 2008). 
... 
F u r t h e r , i n e x a m i n i n g 
whether i t i s the i n t e r e s t of j u s t i c e t o t r a n s f e r a 
case, 
we 
c o n s i d e r 
'the 
burden 
of 
p i l i n g 
c o u r t 
s e r v i c e s and r e s o u r c e s upon the p e o p l e o f a county 
t h a t 
i s not 
a f f e c t e d 
by 
t h e 
case 
and 
... 
the 
i n t e r e s t of the p e o p l e of a c o u n t y t o have a case 
t h a t a r i s e s i n t h e i r county 
t r i e d c l o s e t o p u b l i c 
view i n t h e i r county. 
Ex p a r t e Smiths Water & Sewer  
A u t h . , 982 So. 2d 484, 490 
( A l a . 2007)." 
Ex p a r t e I n d i a n a M i l l s Mfg., I n c . , 10 So. 3d 536, 540 ( A l a . 
2008). 
The i n t e r e s t s of j u s t i c e weigh i n f a v o r o f M i s s i s s i p p i 
as t h e venue f o r t h i s case. 
Based 
on t h e 
f o r e g o i n g , we 
h o l d 
t h a t the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
exceeded i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n i n d e n y i n g the p e t i t i o n e r s ' motion f o r 
a d i s m i s s a l based on the d o c t r i n e of forum non 
c o n v e n i e n s . 
17 
1120326 
A c c o r d i n g l y , we g r a n t t h e 
p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t o f 
mandamus and 
d i r e c t t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r an o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g t h e case 
w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e . "A d i s m i s s a l p u r s u a n t t o 
§ 6-5-430 w i t h o u t 
p r o v i d i n g f o r 
t h e r i g h t o f a p l a i n t i f f t o r e f i l e would be 
c o n t r a r y t o 
t h e i n t e r e s t s o f j u s t i c e , one o f 
t h e f a c t o r s t o 
be 
c o n s i d e r e d i n o r d e r i n g such a d i s m i s s a l . " 
Ex p a r t e K i a 
 
M o t o r s , 
881 So. 2d a t 401. 
As 
p r e v i o u s l y 
n o t e d , t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r s have c o n s e n t e d t o j u r i s d i c t i o n i n 
M i s s i s s i p p i and 
have w a i v e d t h e s t a t u t e - o f - l i m i t a t i o n s d e f e n s e , o b v i a t i n g t h e 
need f o r j u d i c i a l 
a c t i o n t o p r o t e c t Weir from a s s e r t i o n o f 
t h a t d e f e n s e . 
PETITION GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
S t u a r t , P a r k e r , Shaw, Wise, and B r y a n , J J . , c o n c u r . 
Murdock, J . , 
c o n c u r s 
s p e c i a l l y . 
Moore, C . J . , d i s s e n t s . 
18 
1120326 
MURDOCK, J u s t i c e ( c o n c u r r i n g 
s p e c i a l l y ) . 
I concur i n 
t h e main o p i n i o n . 
I w r i t e s e p a r a t e l y t o 
e x p l a i n t h a t my v o t e r e f l e c t s a h e s i t a t i o n i n 
t h i s 
p a r t i c u l a r 
case t o p l a c e as much emphasis as t h e p l a i n t i f f 
urges on 
(1) t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
e x p e r t s and (2) 
t h e 
l o c a t i o n o f one o f two o t h e r 
d r i v e r s who a l l e g e d l y were 
i n v o l v e d i n 
t h e a c c i d e n t and 
who a r e 
named as d e f e n d a n t s i n 
the 
c o m p l a i n t . 
As t o 
t h e 
e x p e r t s , I f i r s t note t h a t we s h o u l d 
c o n s i d e r 
t h e r e t o 
be o n l y one e x p e r t a t i s s u e . 
(The 
o t h e r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
t o whom t h e p l a i n t i f f a l l u d e s i s 
an a s s i s t a n t employed by t h e 
same f i r m t h a t employs t h e 
s i n g l e e x p e r t . ) 
Moreover, as t h e 
main o p i n i o n s u g g e s t s , 
t h i s p a r t i c u l a r e x p e r t makes i t a p a r t 
of h i s 
b u s i n e s s t o t r a v e l t o t h e s i t e o f l i t i g a t i o n 
b o t h 
w i t h i n and w i t h o u t 
t h i s S t a t e , and 
t h e t r a v e l d i s t a n c e from 
Birmingham t o t h e p r o p o s e d venue i n M e r i d i a n , 
M i s s i s s i p p i , 
w h i l e 
g r e a t e r than t h e d i s t a n c e t o P e r r y County, does n o t 
appear t o 
be u n d u l y 
so. 
F u r t h e r 
s t i l l , t h e p l a i n t i f f , a M i s s i s s i p p i r e s i d e n t who 
s u f f e r e d i n j u r i e s i n 
an a c c i d e n t t h a t o c c u r r e d i n M i s s i s s i p p i , 
made a c h o i c e i n 
t h i s case t o 
h i r e an Alabama-based a c c i d e n t -
19 
1120326 
r e c o n s t r u c t i o n e x p e r t . 
N o t h i n g 
i n the m a t e r i a l s b e f o r e 
us 
s u g g e s t s 
t h a t the p l a i n t i f f c o u l d not have been e q u a l l y w e l l 
s e r v e d by h i r i n g an a c c i d e n t - r e c o n s t r u c t i o n e x p e r t based i n 
M i s s i s s i p p i . 
W i t h o u t more, 
I am 
r e l u c t a n t t o p l a c e much 
w e i g h t on a c o n n e c t i o n of t h i s n a t u r e v o l u n t a r i l y c r e a t e d w i t h 
Alabama by an o u t - o f - s t a t e p l a i n t i f f i n r e g a r d t o an 
o u t - o f -
s t a t e 
a c c i d e n t , 
a t 
l e a s t 
w i t h i n the 
c o n t e x t 
of 
the 
o t h e r 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r 
case. 
There i s o n l y 
one 
o t h e r 
l i k e l y 
w i t n e s s 
who 
a l l e g e d l y 
r e s i d e s i n Alabama, Gordon Booker. 
Booker i s a l l e g e d t o be 
one 
of 
the 
o t h e r 
d r i v e r s i n v o l v e d 
i n 
t h i s 
a c c i d e n t 
and 
a c c o r d i n g l y i s named as one 
of the d e f e n d a n t s , 
a l t h o u g h i t 
appears from the m a t e r i a l s b e f o r e us t h a t he has not y e t been 
s e r v e d . 
In any e v e n t , the c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e s o n l y t h a t Booker 
i s an Alabama r e s i d e n t . Even i f we may a c c e p t t h i s 
a l l e g a t i o n 
as t r u e f o r p u r p o s e s of the p r e s e n t d i s p u t e (the p e t i t i o n e r s ' 
m o t i o n 
does 
not 
c h a l l e n g e 
t h i s 
a l l e g a t i o n 
w i t h 
c o n t r a r y 
e v i d e n c e ) , 
t h e r e 
i s no 
a l l e g a t i o n 
i n the 
c o m p l a i n t 
and 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
b e f o r e us as t o Booker's p l a c e of r e s i d e n c e w i t h i n 
t h i s S t a t e or the p r o x i m i t y of h i s r e s i d e n c e t o P e r r y County 
as opposed t o M e r i d i a n , 
M i s s i s s i p p i . 
20 
1120326 
MOORE, C h i e f J u s t i c e 
( d i s s e n t i n g ) . 
I r e s p e c t f u l l y d i s s e n t because I do n o t 
b e l i e v e a w r i t o f 
mandamus i s 
t h e p r o p e r means by which t o f o r c e a change o f 
venue. The d o c t r i n e o f forum non c o n v e n i e n s was n o t 
a v a i l a b l e 
to Alabama c o u r t s u n t i l 1987. 
See Ex p a r t e F o r d Motor C r e d i t  
Co., 772 So. 2d 437, 440 (2000) 
( c i t i n g Ex p a r t e 
I l l i n o i s 
 
Cent. G u l f R.R., 537 So. 2d 899 (1988)). Even d u r i n g t h e f i r s t 
decade 
a f t e r t h e l e g i s l a t u r e amended § 6-5-430, A l a . 
Code 
1975, t o r e f e r e n c e t h e d o c t r i n e o f forum non c o n v e n i e n s , t h i s 
C o u r t t y p i c a l l y u p h e l d a t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n n o t 
t o d i s m i s s 
an 
a c t i o n on t h e b a s i s 
o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f forum non  
c o n v e n i e n s . See, e.g., Ex p a r t e U n i t e d Bhd. o f C a r p e n t e r s &  
J o i n e r s o f A m e r i c a , AFL-CIO, 688 So. 2d 246 ( A l a . 1997); Ex  
p a r t e 
P r e s t o n Hood C h e v r o l e t , I n c . , 
638 So. 2d 842 ( A l a . 
1994); Ex p a r t e Employers I n s . o f 
Wausau, 590 So. 2d 888 ( A l a . 
1991); Ex p a r t e A l l i e d - S i g n a l , I n c . , 
561 So. 2d 1062 ( A l a . 
1990); Ex p a r t e Auto-Owners I n s . Co., 548 So. 2d 1029 ( A l a . 
1989); and Ex p a r t e 
I l l i n o i s Cent. G u l f R.R., 
s u p r a . 
I b e l i e v e i s s u i n g a w r i t o f mandamus i n t h i s case would 
t a k e t h i s C o u r t one s t e p f u r t h e r from t h e 
purpose and meaning 
of mandamus and g i v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n 
t h a t mandamus i s an 
21 
1120326 
o r d i n a r y , r a t h e r t h a n an e x t r a o r d i n a r y , remedy. I t 
i s 
n o t -¬
o r , a t l e a s t , i t ought n o t t o 
be. 
I . Mandamus i s 
an E x t r a o r d i n a r y 
W r i t 
As 
t h e m a j o r i t y 
o p i n i o n 
p o i n t s o u t : "'Mandamus i s a 
d r a s t i c and e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t . ' " 
So. 3d a t 
( q u o t i n g Ex 
p a r t e Brookwood H e a l t h 
S e r v s . , I n c . , 
781 So. 2d 954, 956-57 
( A l a . 
2000)) 
(emphasis added). I agree. The Random House  
D i c t i o n a r y 
(2013) d e f i n e s 
" d r a s t i c " as " e x t r e m e l y s e v e r e o r 
e x t e n s i v e . " C o l l i n s E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y (10th ed. 2009) d e f i n e s 
" d r a s t i c " as "extreme o r f o r c e f u l . " These d e f i n i t i o n s use 
t h e 
words " e x t r e m e l y " o r "extreme," which r e f e r t o "a c h a r a c t e r o r 
k i n d f a r t h e s t removed from t h e o r d i n a r y o r a v e r a g e , " o r , 
i n 
the a l t e r n a t i v e , t o t h e "utmost o r h i g h e s t degree, o r a v e r y 
h i g h degree." The Random House D i c t i o n a r y 
(2013) 
(emphasis 
added). The term 
" e x t r a o r d i n a r y " 
r e f e r s t o t h a t w h i c h i s 
"beyond what i s u s u a l , o r d i n a r y , r e g u l a r , o r e s t a b l i s h e d . " 
I d . 
The term can mean " e x c e p t i o n a l i n c h a r a c t e r , amount, e x t e n t , 
[or] degree." I d . A c c o r d i n g l y , 
t h i s C o u r t ought t o t r e a t an 
e x t r a o r d i n a r y 
w r i t o f mandamus as an extreme o r d r a s t i c 
o p t i o n , n o t as a r o u t i n e 
s u b s t i t u t e f o r r e g u l a r 
j u d i c i a l 
r e v i e w and s u p e r v i s i o n . 
22 
1120326 
I I . S t a n d a r d o f Review 
The s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w f o r mandamus r e l i e f i s 
as f o l l o w s : 
"'Mandamus i s 
a d r a s t i c and e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t , 
t o be i s s u e d o n l y where t h e r e i s (1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t i n 
t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o t h e o r d e r sought, (2) 
an 
i m p e r a t i v e 
d u t y upon t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o p e r f o r m , 
accompanied by a r e f u s a l t o do so, (3) t h e l a c k o f 
a n o t h e r adequate remedy, and (4) p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t . ' " 
Ex p a r t e K i a 
Motors A m e r i c a , I n c . , 881 So. 2d 396, 399 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e Brookwood H e a l t h S e r v s . , 781 So. 2d 
a t 
956) 
(emphasis added). The mandamus s t a n d a r d i s 
n o t a mere 
b a l a n c i n g t e s t o f v a r i o u s f a c t o r s . Mandamus i s 
a remedy t h a t 
becomes an o p t i o n 
o n l y when a p a r t y has met a 
t h r e s h o l d 
c o n s i s t i n g o f f o u r f a c t o r s : "The burden i s 
on t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r 
who seeks a w r i t o f mandamus t o show 
t h a t 
each 
element 
r e q u i r e d f o r i s s u a n c e o f t h e w r i t has been 
s a t i s f i e d . " Ex 
p a r t e P a t t e r s o n , 853 So. 2d 260, 263 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2002). 
But even t h e n we need not g r a n t 
i t . I t i s d i s c r e t i o n a r y : 
n o t h i n g i n 
t h e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w r e q u i r e s t h i s C o u r t t o i s s u e 
the w r i t , even i f a p a r t y has s a t i s f i e d a l l f o u r f a c t o r s . 
The 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w 
f o r mandamus 
r e l i e f i s , 
a c c o r d i n g l y , couched i n s t r o n g words b e f i t t i n g a remedy so 
d r a s t i c and e x t r a o r d i n a r y : t h e l e g a l r i g h t must be c l e a r , 
t h e 
23 
1120326 
r e s p o n d e n t ' s 
d u t y 
t o p e r f o r m 
t h e r e f u s e d 
a c t must be 
i m p e r a t i v e , and o t h e r adequate remedies must be l a c k i n g . To 
be 
c l e a r i s 
t o be p l a i n o r e v i d e n t ; t o be i m p e r a t i v e i s 
t o be 
compulsory o r o b l i g a t o r y ; t o 
be l a c k i n g i s 
t o 
be n o n e x i s t e n t . 
See The Random House D i c t i o n a r y ; see a l s o C o l l i n s 
E n g l i s h  
D i c t i o n a r y . These a r e s t r o n g words r e s e r v e d f o r 
an extreme 
j u d i c i a l remedy. 
As t h e 
m a j o r i t y o p i n i o n p o i n t s out, a s u b s i d i a r y s t a n d a r d 
of r e v i e w f o r 
mandamus r e l i e f i s whether a t r i a l 
judge, i n 
a c t i n g o r r e f u s i n g t o a c t , has exceeded h i s o r 
h e r d i s c r e t i o n . 
So. 3d a t 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e K i a 
M o t o r s , 881 So. 2d a t 
399). Whether t o d i s m i s s an a c t i o n based on t h e d o c t r i n e o f 
forum non c o n v e n i e n s i s 
a f a c t u a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t i s w i t h i n 
the sound d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e t r i a l judge, and t h i s C o u r t ought 
not 
d i s t u r b h i s o r h e r r u l i n g 
u n l e s s t h e t r i a l 
judge has 
exceeded h i s o r h e r d i s c r e t i o n .
1 Ex p a r t e K i a 
M o t o r s , 881 
So. 
1 T h e r e was a time when t r i a l 
c o u r t s were e n t i t l e d t o so 
much d i s c r e t i o n as t o t h e i r 
f a c t u a l 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n s 
t h a t a 
h i g h e r c o u r t would n o t i s s u e a w r i t o f mandamus even i f t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t p r o v i d e d f a l s e r e a s o n s f o r why a w r i t o f mandamus 
s h o u l d not i s s u e . As S i r W i l l i a m B l a c k s t o n e 
e x p l a i n s : " [ I ] f 
[the 
t r i a l j u d g e ] , a t t h e f i r s t , 
r e t u r n s a s u f f i c i e n t cause, 
a l t h o u g h i t s h o u l d be f a l s e i n f a c t , t h e c o u r t o f t h e k i n g ' s 
bench w i l l not t r y t h e t r u t h o f t h e f a c t upon a f f i d a v i t s ; b u t 
w i l l f o r 
t h e p r e s e n t b e l i e v e him, and p r o c e e d no f a r t h e r on 
the mandamus." 3 S i r W i l l i a m B l a c k s t o n e , Commentaries on 
t h e 
24 
1120326 
2d a t 399. T h i s C o u r t has h e l d t h a t " ' u n l e s s t h e b a l a n c e i s 
s t r o n g l y i n f a v o r o f t h e 
d e f e n d a n t , t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s c h o i c e o f 
forum s h o u l d r a r e l y be d i s t u r b e d . ' " Ex p a r t e Auto-Owners 
I n s . 
 
Co., 548 So. 2d 1029, 1032 ( A l a . 1989) ( q u o t i n g G u l f O i l Corp.  
v. 
G i l b e r t , 330 U.S. 501, 508 (1947)) 
(emphasis 
o m i t t e d ; 
emphasis added). 
In t h e c o n t e x t o f a c h a l l e n g e t o venue, a t r i a l 
judge 
exceeds h i s o r 
h e r d i s c r e t i o n i f t h e 
judge a c t s a r b i t r a r i l y o r 
c a p r i c i o u s l y . 
Ex p a r t e 
K i a M o t o r s , 
881 So. 2d a t 399. 
T h e r e f o r e , a p a r t y 
s e e k i n g a w r i t o f mandamus t o d i r e c t a 
t r i a l judge t o e n t e r an o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g a case on t h e b a s i s 
of t h e d o c t r i n e o f forum non c o n v e n i e n s must show n o t o n l y 
t h a t i t 
has 
met a l l f o u r f a c t o r s o f 
t h e 
mandamus s t a n d a r d , b u t  
a l s o t h a t t h e t r i a l judge a c t e d a r b i t r a r i l y o r c a p r i c i o u s l y 
by 
r e f u s i n g t o d i s m i s s t h e case. 
I d . Even i f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n 
L e a s i n g Corp. ("TLC") and A q u i l e x Hydrochem, LLC ( " A q u i l e x " ) , 
have s a t i s f i e d t h e s e f o u r f a c t o r s , t h i s C o u r t s h o u l d n o t i s s u e 
Laws o f E n g l a n d 
I n such a s i t u a t i o n , t h e remedy w o u l d 
not have been a w r i t o f mandamus t o t h e t r i a l judge, b u t 
"an 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t him f o r f a l s e 
r e t u r n . " I d . Only i f t h a t 
subsequent a c t i o n were s u c c e s s f u l would t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t be 
s u b j e c t t o t h e s u p e r v i s o r y power o f mandamus. I d . 
T h i s C o u r t 
has wandered f a r a f i e l d from t h e t r a d i t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f 
t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t . 
25 
1120326 
the w r i t u n l e s s d o i n g so w i l l remedy a r a r e i n j u s t i c e b r o u g h t 
about by the 
t r i a l j u d g e ' s a r b i t r a r y or c a p r i c i o u s b e h a v i o r . 
I d . 
In t h i s case, TLC 
and A q u i l e x have not d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t 
t h e y have a c l e a r l e g a l r i g h t t o a w r i t of mandamus and 
t h a t 
the 
t r i a l c o u r t had an i m p e r a t i v e d u t y t o d i s m i s s the 
case. 
A. C l e a r L e g a l 
R i g h t 
To have a c l e a r l e g a l r i g h t t o mandamus r e l i e f , TLC 
and 
A q u i l e x must p o s i t i v e l y prove 
(1) t h a t R o n a l d W e i r ' s 
c l a i m s 
a r o s e o u t s i d e of Alabama and 
(2) t h a t a more a p p r o p r i a t e forum 
than 
the 
P e r r y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
e x i s t s 
i n 
l i g h t 
of 
the 
a c t s 
g i v i n g r i s e t o the c l a i m s , the c o n v e n i e n c e of the p a r t i e s and 
w i t n e s s e s , and the i n t e r e s t s of j u s t i c e . § 6-5-430, A l a . Code 
1975. 
See, e.g., Donald v. T r a n s p o r t 
L i f e I n s . Co., 
595 So. 
2d 
865, 867 
( A l a . 1992); Ex p a r t e A l l i e d - S i g n a l , I n c . , 561 So. 
2d 
1062, 
1064 
( A l a . 
1990) 
( " A l l of 
[the 
f a c t o r s ] must 
be 
' p o s i t i v e l y found' t o j u s t i f y d i s m i s s a l . . . . " ) ; and Ex 
p a r t e  
Southern Ry., 
556 
So. 
2d 1082, 
1091 
( A l a . 1989) 
("Only when 
a l l f a c t o r s are p o s i t i v e l y found t o r e q u i r e d i s m i s s a l s h o u l d 
a case be 
d i s m i s s e d . " ) . 
The movant f o r a d i s m i s s a l "has the burden of p r o v i n g a l l 
of t h e s e f a c t o r s , and each f a c t o r must be p o s i t i v e l y p r o v e n i n 
26 
1120326 
o r d e r 
t o 
j u s t i f y 
d i s m i s s a l . " 
Dynamic 
O p t i o n s , 
I n c . v.  
C r i t i c a r e Sys., I n c . , 
739 So. 2d 41, 44 ( A l a . C i v . 
App. 1998) 
(emphasis added). A c c o r d i n g l y , i t 
i s n o t enough f o r TLC and 
A q u i l e x t o prove one f a c t o r o r t o show a h i g h l i k e l i h o o d t h a t 
t h e y have s a t i s f i e d t h e f a c t o r s t o j u s t i f y a d i s m i s s a l on the 
b a s i s o f the d o c t r i n e o f forum non c o n v e n i e n s ; 
t h e y must 
p r o v i d e 
s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e f o r a t r i a l judge t o p o s i t i v e l y  
f i n d t h a t a d i s m i s s a l i s 
w a r r a n t e d . Ex p a r t e Southern Ry., 556 
So. 2d a t 1091. 
G i v e n the f a c t s b e f o r e 
i t , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t TLC and A q u i l e x had not met t h e i r burden o f e s t a b l i s h i n g 
a c l e a r l e g a l r i g h t t o a d i s m i s s a l based on t h e d o c t r i n e o f 
forum non c o n v e n i e n s o r a t l e a s t t h a t t h e y had not p o s i t i v e l y 
p r o v e d t h a t t h e y had met t h e i r burden. By i s s u i n g a w r i t o f 
mandamus, t h i s C o u r t h o l d s t h a t TLC and A q u i l e x d i d , i n f a c t , 
meet t h e i r burden. In e f f e c t , t h e m a j o r i t y o p i n i o n r e v i e w s the 
f a c t s o f the case and then comes t o a c o n c l u s i o n d i f f e r e n t 
from t h e t r i a l j u d g e ' s c o n c l u s i o n , t h e r e b y 
s u b s t i t u t i n g i t s 
judgment f o r 
h i s . Such an e x e r c i s e might be a p p r o p r i a t e f o r 
de 
 
novo r e v i e w , b u t the c o r r e c t s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w appears t o be 
whether t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t exceeded i t s d i s c r e t i o n . The 
t r i a l 
27 
1120326 
c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n s are e n t i t l e d t o g r e a t e r d e f e r e n c e than 
t h e y appear t o have been g i v e n i n the m a j o r i t y o p i n i o n . 
B. I m p e r a t i v e Duty t o P e r f o r m 
The 
t r i a l c o u r t d i d not a r b i t r a r i l y or c a p r i c i o u s l y 
f a i l 
t o 
p e r f o r m 
an i m p e r a t i v e duty. Judge J o n e s
2 may 
have been 
happy t o l i g h t e n h i s d o c k e t by d i s m i s s i n g t h i s case, but I 
submit t h a t t h e r e a s o n he d i d not d i s m i s s i t i s most 
l i k e l y 
because t h i s C o u r t has e s t a b l i s h e d a h i g h burden of p r o o f f o r 
p a r t i e s s e e k i n g a d i s m i s s a l p u r s u a n t t o the d o c t r i n e of forum  
non c o n v e n i e n s . A t r i a l judge i s , a f t e r a l l , bound t o f o l l o w 
the p r e c e d e n t s o f t h i s C o u r t , and Judge Jones was bound t o 
p o s i t i v e l y 
f i n d 
t h a t TLC 
and 
A q u i l e x were 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a 
d i s m i s s a l based upon the f a c t o r s of a forum non 
c o n v e n i e n s 
a n a l y s i s . Ex p a r t e Southern Ry., 
556 So. 2d a t 1091. 
The m a j o r i t y o p i n i o n does not t a k e i n t o account 
s e v e r a l 
i s s u e s t h a t may have i n f l u e n c e d Judge Jones's 
d e c i s i o n . 
For 
example, Weir might 
s t i l l be a t t e m p t i n g t o s e r v e one of the 
d e f e n d a n t s , who i s a r e s i d e n t o f Alabama. In h i s o b j e c t i o n t o 
TLC and A q u i l e x ' s motion t o d i s m i s s on the ground of forum non  
c o n v e n i e n s , 
Weir p o i n t s out 
t h a t the 
" [ d ] e f e n d a n t 
Gordon 
2Judge Thomas ap R. Jones's term of o f f i c e e x p i r e d January 
14, 2013; he was succeeded by Judge C o l l i n s Pettaway, J r . 
28 
1120326 
Booker 
i s 
a 
r e s i d e n t 
of 
P e r r y 
County, 
Alabama." 
What 
d i f f e r e n c e does i t 
make f o r d e f e n d a n t s from Ohio o r 
I l l i n o i s 
t o t r a v e l t o M i s s i s s i p p i r a t h e r than Alabama? I f Weir were t o 
s e r v e the d e f e n d a n t who 
i s an Alabama 
r e s i d e n t , would the 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e t o the M i s s i s s i p p i w i t n e s s e s who must t r a v e l t o 
Alabama o u t w e i g h the i n c o n v e n i e n c e t o the Alabama d e f e n d a n t 
who must t r a v e l t o M i s s i s s i p p i ? I f the M i s s i s s i p p i w i t n e s s e s 
would not comply w i t h an Alabama 
subpoena, t h e y would harm 
o n l y Weir's case, and i t was, of c o u r s e , Weir who chose t h e 
forum and s u b j e c t e d h i m s e l f t o t h a t 
p o s s i b i l i t y . 
Moreover, Weir has s u g g e s t e d t h a t Alabama w i t n e s s e s may 
have 
knowledge 
r e l e v a n t 
t o h i s cause 
of 
a c t i o n . 
I n h i s 
o b j e c t i o n , Weir s t a t e d : " [ A ] t 
a maximum, t h e r e are o n l y t h r e e 
(3) r e a l 
M i s s i s s i p p i w i t n e s s e s i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c a s e . T h i s 
would i n c l u d e [Weir] and O f f i c e r s [Tommie] Coker and 
[Dean] 
Harper. However, t h e r e a r e an e q u a l number o f w i t n e s s e s i n 
t h i s case from the S t a t e o f Alabama." I d . As t h i s C o u r t has 
s t a t e d : 
" [ I ] t makes l i t t l e sense t o move a case from Alabama 
t o 
a n o t h e r 
forum 
i n 
o r d e r 
t o 
accommodate 
o u t - o f - s t a t e 
w i t n e s s e s when t o do so would n e c e s s a r i l y i n c o n v e n i e n c e t h o s e 
w i t n e s s e s who 
r e s i d e i n Alabama." 
Ex p a r t e U n i t e d Bhd. 
of 
29 
1120326 
C a r p e n t e r s & J o i n e r s of A m e r i c a , AFL-CIO, 688 
So. 
2d a t 
250. 
Weir a l s o 
i n d i c a t e d t h a t 
he 
"has 
r e t a i n e d the 
s e r v i c e s 
of 
C l i f f 
P r o s s e r , 
an a c c i d e n t 
r e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s t from 
J e f f e r s o n 
County, Alabama." He adds t h a t "Mr. 
P r o s s e r has and/or w i l l 
be 
a s s i s t e d i n h i s work by J e f f S t a n d r i c h who 
i s a l s o a r e s i d e n t 
of 
J e f f e r s o n County, Alabama." I d . A l l the 
f o r e g o i n g 
would 
s u g g e s t t h a t the t r i a l judge had v a l i d r e a s o n s f o r d e n y i n g 
TLC 
and A q u i l e x ' s motion t o 
d i s m i s s . 
I I I . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
"We 
have too many h i g h - s o u n d i n g words," A b i g a i l Adams 
once wrote i n a 
l e t t e r 
t o her husband, John, "and 
too 
few 
a c t i o n s t h a t c o r r e s p o n d w i t h them." A b i g a i l Adams, L e t t e r t o 
John Adams (October 16, 1774), i n Correspondence of John 
and 
 
A b i g a i l Adams 144 
(John P a t r i c k D i g g i n s ed., 2004) . "Mandamus" 
i s a h i g h - s o u n d i n g word d e f i n e d as an e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t , y e t 
the 
a c t i o n s 
of 
t h i s C o u r t do 
not seem t o conform t o 
t h a t 
d e f i n i t i o n . By 
i s s u i n g the w r i t of mandamus l i b e r a l l y , 
t h i s 
C o u r t undermines the meaning and purpose of the w r i t . TLC 
and 
A q u i l e x have f a i l e d t o meet the h i g h s t a n d a r d 
r e q u i r e d 
b e f o r e 
t h i s C o u r t i s a b l e t o i s s u e the w r i t . They have not 
s a t i s f i e d 
the 
f a c t o r s t o demonstrate t h a t t h e y are 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
t h i s 
30 
1120326 
C o u r t ' s 
d i s c r e t i o n a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e i r 
p e t i t i o n , l e t 
a l o n e t h e a c t u a l i s s u a n c e o f t h e w r i t . 
By i s s u i n g t h e w r i t o f mandamus h e r e , t h i s C o u r t i s , i n 
e s s e n c e , i g n o r i n g i t s 
own h i g h s t a n d a r d s f o r mandamus r e v i e w 
and r u l i n g t h a t Judge Jones a c t e d a r b i t r a r i l y o r c a p r i c i o u s l y 
by a d h e r i n g t o those s t a n d a r d s . On t h e c o n t r a r y , Judge Jones 
was 
m e r e l y 
d o i n g what § 6-5-430, A l a . 
Code 1975, and our 
p r e c e d e n t r e q u i r e d him t o do. I would deny TLC and A q u i l e x ' s 
p e t i t i o n f o r t h e w r i t o f mandamus; t h e r e f o r e , I 
d i s s e n t . 
31