Opinion ID: 1037860
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Present Confirmation Petition

Text: On January 8, 2010, Blue Ridge filed the present petition to confirm the Award pursuant to Article 54 of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States, Mar. 18, 1965, 17 U.S.T. 1270, 575 U.N.T.S. 159 (the “ICSID Convention”). Argentina then moved to dismiss the petition on several grounds, arguing that: (1) it was immune from suit pursuant to the FSIA; (2) Blue Ridge, as an assignee, could not state a claim under the ICSID Convention to confirm the Award; (3) the petition was barred by res judicata because Blue Ridge’s prior confirmation petition had been dismissed with prejudice pursuant to the “thirty-day order” issued by Judge Lynch; and (4) the petition was time-barred under New York’s applicable one-year statute of limitations. Judge Gardephe, now presiding, denied Argentina’s motion to dismiss and rejected each of its arguments. See Blue Ridge Invs., LLC v. Republic of Argentina, 902 F. Supp. 2d 367, 375 (S.D.N.Y. 2012). With regard to Argentina’s foreign sovereign immunity defense, Judge Gardephe held that Argentina had waived its immunity from suit pursuant to two exceptions to the FSIA: (1) the implied waiver exception, see 28 U.S.C. § 1605(a)(1), and (2) the arbitral award exception, see id. § 1605(a)(6). Blue Ridge Invs., 902 F. Supp. 2d at 375. Specifically, he found that Argentina had waived its foreign sovereign immunity under the implied waiver exception because it had signed the ICSID Convention, “which provides for the automatic recognition and enforcement of awards in Contracting States.” Id. He also found that Argentina had waived its foreign sovereign immunity under the arbitral award exception because “Argentina’s agreement to submit its dispute with CMS to [an] arbitration governed by the ICSID Convention constituted a waiver of immunity under Section 1605(a)(6)(B) with respect to [the] recognition and enforcement of the Award.” Id. With regard to Argentina’s other arguments, Judge Gardephe held that: (1) Blue Ridge, as an assignee, could state a claim to confirm the Award because nothing in the language of the ICSID 7 Convention prevented an assignee from doing so, and because, under New York law,8 the Award is assignable; (2) the petition was not barred by res judicata because the previous dismissals were without prejudice, inasmuch they did not provide the clarity required of a dismissal with prejudice under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2)9; and (3) the petition was not time-barred because the appropriate statute-oflimitations period is twenty years pursuant to N.Y. CPLR § 211(b). Blue Ridge Invs., 902 F. Supp. 2d at 375 n.7, 381-82, 385, 387. Argentina filed this appeal, and subsequently sought a certificate of appealability pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) in the District Court.10 To date, the District Court has not issued a certificate of appealability, and therefore our initial inquiry must be whether (and to what extent) we have jurisdiction to consider the District Court’s denial of Argentina’s motion to dismiss under the collateral order doctrine. See Liberty Synergistics Inc. v. Microflo Ltd., 714 F.3d 138, 146-47 (2d Cir. 2013) (discussing the collateral order doctrine). 8 Because an ICSID Convention award is entitled to “the same full faith and credit” as a final judgment of a state court, see 22 U.S.C. § 1650a(a), district courts in this Circuit have, at times, relied on the procedures of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules to determine whether an ICSID award is enforceable. See Siag v. Arab Republic of Egypt, No. M- 82, 2009 WL 1834562, at -3 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 2009); see also N.Y. CPLR § 5401 (providing procedures to enforce “any judgment . . . of a court of the United States or any other court which is entitled to full faith and credit in this state”) (emphasis supplied). 9 In relevant part, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) provides: Except as provided in Rule 41(a)(1), an action may be dismissed at the plaintiff’s request only by court order, on terms that the court considers proper. If a defendant has pleaded a counterclaim before being served with the plaintiff’s motion to dismiss, the action may be dismissed over the defendant’s objection only if the counterclaim can remain pending for independent adjudication. Unless the order states otherwise, a dismissal under this paragraph (2) is without prejudice. 10 Title 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) provides: When a district judge, in making in a civil action an order not otherwise appealable under this section, shall be of the opinion that such order involves a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and that an immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation, he shall so state in writing in such order. The Court of Appeals which would have jurisdiction of an appeal of such action may thereupon, in its discretion, permit an appeal to be taken from such order, if application is made to it within ten days after the entry of the order: Provided, however, That application for an appeal hereunder shall not stay proceedings in the district court unless the district judge or the Court of Appeals or a judge thereof shall so order. 8