Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_99-cv-01794/USCOURTS-azd-2_99-cv-01794-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Aloe Vera of America, Inc., et. al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

United States of America, 

Defendant. 

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No. CV 99-1794-PHX-JAT

WRITTEN OPINION & ORDER

Pending before this Court is Plaintiffs' Motion to Assist in Letter Rogatory

Proceedings (Doc. #448) and Plaintiffs' Unopposed Motion for Expedited Consideration

(Doc. #447). On October 11, 2005, the Court in Japan, while honoring this Court's

request for assistance, made a ruling on a claim of privilege. The Japanese Court relied

on, interpreted, and applied, Japanese law in making this ruling (which pertains to the

deposition of a Japanese witness, in Japan, who is testifying based on a Japanese

subpoena). See Doc. #448, page 2, paragraph 4. Plaintiffs do not like the ruling and

intend to appeal to (presumably) the appropriate Japanese court on November 2, 2005. In

furtherance of this appeal, Plaintiffs seek to have this Court issue an Order on this issue.

Plaintiffs first seek to have this Court tell the Japanese court to apply Ninth Circuit

law - which would seem highly unusual for a Japanese Court ruling on a Japanese

privilege asserted under Japanese law by a Japanese witness. Assuming arguendo that

Case 2:99-cv-01794-JAT Document 455 Filed 10/31/05 Page 1 of 2
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this Court had the power to do so, this Court will not direct the Courts of Japan as to what

law they should apply.

Alternatively, Plaintiffs seek to have this Court apply the Japanese law and advise

the Japanese Court that it was incorrect in its application of its own law. Neither comity,

nor common sense, can permit such an Order. This Court does not sit as an intermediate

appellate court of the Courts of Japan, which everyone in this case already knows. 

Plaintiff corporation chose to do business in a foreign country, and must therefore

operate, even in litigation, under the laws and rules of that country.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the request for expedited ruling (Doc. #447) is granted;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion to Assist in Letter Rogatory

Proceedings (Doc. #448) is denied.

DATED this 31st day of October, 2005.

Case 2:99-cv-01794-JAT Document 455 Filed 10/31/05 Page 2 of 2