Opinion ID: 504420
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The applicable state's substantive law

Text: 7 As a federal court in Mississippi deciding a diversity action, the district court necessarily applied Mississippi conflict of laws rules. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 1021, 85 L.Ed.2d 1477 (1941); Tennimon v. Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., 823 F.2d 68, 70 (5th Cir.1987). 8 The parties agree that Mississippi would utilize the center of gravity, or most substantial contacts, test enunciated by the Mississippi Supreme Court in Mitchell v. Craft, 211 So.2d 509 (Miss.1968), in determining which state's substantive law applies in this case. In Mitchell, the court adopted this test as it is articulated in Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws. Id. at 515-16; see also Price v. Litton Systems, Inc., 784 F.2d 600, 602 (5th Cir.1986). 9 Under the center of gravity test, section 175 of the Restatement is the primary rule for wrongful death actions: 10 In an action for wrongful death, the local law of the state where the injury occurred determines the rights and liabilities of the parties unless, with respect to the particular issue, some other state has a more significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties, in which event the local law of the other state will be applied. 11 Price, 784 F.2d at 602-03 (quoting Mitchell, 211 So.2d at 515) (emphasis added). 12 Siroonian's negligence and strict liability claims, as tort actions, are also governed by Sec. 145 of the Restatement, which provides: 13 (1) The rights and liabilities of the parties with respect to an issue in tort are determined by the local law of the state which, as to that issue, has the most significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties under the principles stated in Sec. 6. 14 (2) Contacts to be taken into account in applying the principles of Sec. 6 to determine the law applicable to an issue include: 15 (a) the place where the injury occurred, 16 (b) the place where the conduct causing the injury occurred, 17 (c) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties, and 18 (d) the place where the relationship, if any, between the parties is centered. 19 Price, 784 F.2d at 603 (quoting Mitchell, 211 So.2d at 515). 20 While the parties agree on the appropriate law, they disagree on the result. Siroonian argues that Mississippi substantive law should be applied, while Bell contends that Kentucky substantive law controls. 21 We agree with the district court that Kentucky substantive law applies to Siroonian's negligence and strict liability claims. According to the basic rule in wrongful death actions (Sec. 175 of the Restatement), the law of Kentucky, as the place where the injury occurred, controls unless some other state has a more significant relationship to the accident and the parties. 22 Kentucky was more than just the place of the injury. The Fort Campbell airfield on the Kentucky portion of the base was not only the location from which the fatal flight originated and was to have returned, it was also the military station to which both the helicopter and Sheryl Siroonian were assigned. See Price, 784 F.2d at 605. The accident occurred because Sheryl Siroonian, flying low due to reduced visibility, struck a power line rooted in Kentucky soil. 23 While other states have some contact with the occurrence and the parties to this action, none have a more significant relationship than Kentucky. Texas is the state in which the principal place of business of Bell is located, as well as the state where the helicopter involved in the accident was manufactured and delivered to the Army. Tennessee was the decedent's temporary residence and the location of one of the interim stops on the fatal flight. Mississippi, Siroonian's choice for applicable law, bears no relationship to either the accident or the parties to this case, other than an attenuated tie to Bell. In an effort to support his contention that Mississippi law applies, Siroonian points out that there are numerous Bell helicopters used in Mississippi, and that Textron, the parent company, has two plants in Mississippi. Neither of these plants, however, manufacture helicopters or helicopter parts. While Siroonian's argument might be relevant to a jurisdictional question, it bears little weight in the choice of law determination before us. 24 Kentucky was clearly both the situs of the accident and the center of the relationship of the decedent and the Bell helicopter. See id. at 604; Sec. 145 of the Restatement, supra. Contrary to Siroonian's contention, it was not merely fortuitous that Sheryl Siroonian and the allegedly defective helicopter happened to be involved in a crash in Kentucky. While some contacts exist with other states, no other state besides Kentucky has a more significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties. 25