Opinion ID: 2833943
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Public Interests

Text: Factors regarding the public interest must also be considered in applying the doctrine of forum non conveniens . Gulf Oil , 330 U.S. at 508. The public interests involved here strongly favor Mexico. Mexico’s interest in protecting its citizens and seeing that they are compensated for their injuries is paramount. The safety of Mexican highways and products within the country’s borders are also Mexican interests. On the other hand, it is unfair to impose upon the citizens of Cameron County the cost and administrative burden of a complex products-liability suit with no significant connection to Texas. As the Supreme Court has stated, “[j] ury duty is a burden that ought not to be imposed upon the people of a community which has no relation to the litigation.” Gulf Oil , 330 U.S. at 508-09. The happenstance that the truck was in Texas for eleven days before it was sold and imported to Mexico is simply insufficient to provide Texas with any interest in this case. In sum, the factors the Supreme Court articulated in Gulf Oil clearly and overwhelmingly favor a Mexican forum for resolution of this dispute. In light of the evidence presented, the trial court’s denial of Pirelli’s motion was arbitrary, unreasonable, contrary to guiding rules and principles, and constituted a clear abuse of discretion.