Document: 486 U.S. 140 108 S.Ct. 1684 100 L.Ed.2d 127 CHICK KAM CHOO, et al., Petitioners,v.EXXON CORPORATION al. No. 87-505. Argued March 30, 1988. Decided May 16, Syllabus After Leong Chong, a Singapore resident, was accidentally killed in that country while performing repair work on ship owned by one of the respondents, subsidiary other respondent, his widow, petitioner Chick Kam Choo (hereafter petitioner), also brought suit Federal District Court alleging various causes action, including claims under general federal maritime law and Texas Wrongful Death Statute. In 1980, court granted respondents summary judgment claim, concluding applicable choice-of-law principles required law, not United States, should apply. The dismissed rest case forum non conveniens grounds, provided submit to courts' jurisdiction. Petitioner then filed state courts statutes but enjoined from prosecuting any relating her husband's death courts. Appeals affirmed, rejecting petitioner's contention injunction violated Anti-Injunction Act (Act), which generally bars enjoining proceedings. ruled fell within Act's "relitigation" exception, permits issue an "to protect or effectuate its judgments." Held: Because Court's barring proceedings is broader than necessary effectuate" court's 1980 dismissing lawsuit court, this must be remanded for entry more narrowly tailored order. Pp. 145-151. (a) An essential prerequisite applying relitigation exception issues insulates litigation actually have been decided court. This strict narrow, requiring assessment precise record what earlier order said; it does permit post hoc as intended say. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Locomotive Engineers, 398 281, 90 1739, 26 234. 146 148. (b) Thus, since did resolve merits exceeded restrictions insofar barred considering claim. simply resolved doctrine, determine whether are appropriate would apply significantly different analysis courts, might well consider themselves forum, light "open courts" provision State Constitution. argument independent determination pre-empted "reverse-Erie " principle see, e.g., Offshore Logistics, Inc. Tallentire, 477 207, 222-223, 106 2485, 2494-2495, 91 174, cannot help pre-emption question litigated Court. When proceeding presents issue, even proper course allow issue. P. 148—150. (c) Since claim necessarily adjudicated original action ruling controls suit, injunction, scope permissible Act. 150-151. (d) fact may mean On remand decide enter injunction. 151. 817 F.2d 307, reversed remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous WHITE, concurring opinion, post, p. Benton Musslewhite, Houston, Tex., petitioners. James Patrick Cooney, respondents. Justice O'CONNOR 1 concerns propriety entered States Southern Texas. prohibited specified parties litigating certain matter We Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2283, granting injunctions stay 2 * 1977 resident Republic Singapore, respondent Esso Tankers, Inc., Exxon Corporation. Choo, Chong's widow. 1978 she Texas, presenting Jones 46 688, High Seas (DOHSA), 761 seq., App. 4, Statute, Tex.Civ.Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. §§ 71.001-71.031 (1986). 3 Respondents moved DOHSA claims, arguing Chong seaman, rendered inapplicable, had died "high seas" port, inapplicable. 9-10. involving 4 Choo's attorneys, Musslewhite Joseph C. Blanks, having specifically Court, petitioners before For convenience, however, we shall use term "petitioner" refer only Choo. due lack substantial contacts with governed. Id., at 10 (citing Lauritzen Larsen, 345 571, 73 921, 97 L.Ed. 1254 (1953); Romero International Terminal Operating Co., 358 354, 79 468, 368 (1959)). addition seeking judgment, dismissal doctrine conveniens, criteria identified Gulf Oil Corp. Gilbert, 330 501, 67 839, 1055 (1947), convenient forum. 5 adopting memorandum recommendations Magistrate, respondents' motion claims. agreed those were 29-31, 34. With respect applied factors Hellenic Lines Ltd. Rhoditis, 306, 1731, 252 (1970), concluded "statutory applied." 32. conclusion led grant warranted conveniens. reviewing set out accordingly dismiss jurisdiction Fifth Circuit affirmed. Corp., 699 693, cert. denied, 464 826, 104 98, 78 103 (1983). 6 Rather commence Although complaint initially included all complaint, based later voluntarily left See Brief Petitioners n. 4. briefly succeeded removing basis diversity citizenship, ultimately held complete exist returned instructions 764 1148 (1985). 7 initiated new requesting prevent "from relitigate finally decided" dismissal. 93. dismiss, issuance such 96-98. Respondents, turn, final 104-108. permanently attorneys commencing against [respondents] . arising related alleged wrongful Chong." 119. 8 appealed, reiterating A divided panel rejected argument. majority here reasoned because pointed no additional factor made "Texas Houston Houston." 312 (1987). acknowledged Constitution, Art. I, 13, reflected 71.031 (1986), same, indeed, case. Rather, noted, possible has constituted itself world's resort, where personal injury always if nowhere else." F.2d, 314 (footnote omitted). context, so-called uniformity 174 determinations pre-empt law. found inquiry pre-empted, permissible. Chief Judge Clark wrote separately joined conclusion. 325. Reavley dissented, maintaining allowed their own open standard. dissent criticized majority's "bold rule preemption" effect "nullify[ing] admiralty cases." Ibid. 9 Appeals' conflicted decision Ninth Circuit, Zipfel Halliburton 832 1477 (1988), pending sub nom. Crowley Maritime Zipfel, 87-1122, precluded similar circumstances. certiorari conflict, 484 952, 343, 98 369 (1987), now reverse remand. II prohibits interfering courts: 11 "A except expressly authorized Congress, aid jurisdiction, 2283. 12 existed some form 1793, see Mar. 2, ch. 22, 5, Stat. 335, concomitant Framers' authorize, Congress' implement, dual system It represents considered how balance tensions inherent system. Prevention frequent intervention important make effectively. By intervention, forestalls "the inevitable friction between ensues judicial court." Vendo Lektro-Vend 433 623, 630-631, 2881, 2887, 53 1009 (1977) (plurality opinion). Due small part fundamental constitutional independence Congress adopted policy "should normally continue unimpaired lower relief error, any, through appellate Court." 287, 1743, 234 (1970). 13 permitted certain, specific circumstances, namely, when statute, judgment. These exceptions designed ensure effectiveness supremacy But recognized, narrow "not [to] enlarged loose statutory construction." Clothing Workers Richman Brothers 348 511, 514, 75 452, 454-55, 99 600 (1955). staying falls exceptions, Line, supra, 286-287, S.Ct., 1742-1743, last three arguably here, central 14 previously presented founded well-recognized concepts res judicata collateral estoppel. perhaps best illustrated supra. 15 That arose union's picket railroad. railroad immediately sought picketing. refused enjoin union, issuing 1967 concluded, part, unions "free engage self-help." 289, 1744. went granted. Two years Railway Labor 45 151 obtained. Railroad Trainmen Jacksonville 394 369, 89 1109, 22 344 (1969). prompted union move dissolve declined do so. appeal, obtained enforcement read deciding just authorize right self-help Accordingly, 16 reversed, holding improper assuming refusal erroneous. U.S., 291, 1745 5. carefully arguments language order, addressed issued court: 17 "Based solely [1967] entered, inclined believe Not point never argued there implies question." 290, 1745. 18 makes clear, Moreover, illustrates narrow. assessed render these mind, turn two seeks litigate 19 First, asserts 40. doctrine. operate broad "open-courts" mandate, lawsuit. Tex. Const., 13; Cf. Pennzoil Texaco, 481 1, 11-12, 107 1519, ----, 95 Respondents' distinction, citing cases almost exclusively discussing principles. 10-12, 17-26. recognized analysis. 314. yet litigated, foreclose consideration exception. 20 seek avoid problem separate 2494-2495; Knickerbocker Ice Stewart, 253 149, 40 438, 64 834 (1920); Pacific Jensen, 244 205, 37 524, 61 1086 (1917). Under view, shared Appeals, context properly undertaking approach. 21 little unless concede not, Tr. Oral Arg. 32, As "a power ignore limitations 2283 merely interfere protected invade area interference unmistakably clear." 294, 1747. resolution follow reading pre-emptive force correct. need reach express opinion. hold present presumed competent issues. 15-16, 1528-1529; Workers, 518, 456-457. 23 Finally, contrast validity action. principles, control suit. 10. agreed, noting eight relevant "point toward American law," "there and/or significant contacts" application mandated." 39. lawsuit, precludes preventing substantive 24 id., 118-119, limited find acceptable, approving Of course, 25 further consistent so ordered. 27 concurring. I agree that, matter, "[f]ederal [state] 'open-courts' [will] forum" litigant's Ante, Consequently, cases—for example—a district grounds serve plaintiff subsequently brings same 29 But, recognizes, involves special field, interest requires heard foreign could possibly contrary acknowledges our precedents support 149—150. 30 Had finding case—holding Singapore—then issued. Contra, 1477, 1488 (CA9 1988), 87-1122. true correct: remedy erroneous appeal dismissal, However, terse lacks pre-emption. 34-35. Absent holding, "judgment" needed "protect subsequent litigation. 31 invoked ante, 150, affirming pertinent part.

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