Opinion ID: 6985054
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiffs’ Emotional Burden

Text: Having found that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing Plaintiffs’ action in favor of the Egyptian forum, we need no further basis for reversing the decision below. However, we believe that the substantial and unusual emotional burden on Plaintiffs if they were required to travel to Egypt provides additional support for keeping the case in their chosen forum of New York. Plaintiffs are atypical in that they are either the widows or the victim of a murderous act directed specifically against foreigners. Understandably, they are strongly adverse to litigating in a country where foreigners have been the target of hostile attacks, and have concerns for their own safety if required to travel there to bring their suit. Plaintiffs have supplied us with ample evidence of terrorist attacks occurring after the events giving rise to their action — including the subsequent killing of nine foreign tourists by the very man who attacked Plaintiffs — which give credence to Plaintiffs’ uncertainty as to the safety of American visitors to Egypt insofar as fear of religious extremism is concerned. In its forum non conveniens analysis, the district court did not even mention, much less give any weight to, the emotional burden faced by Plaintiffs if the case were to be heard in Egypt. In the subsequent Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b) motion filed by Plaintiffs on this specific point, the district court affirmed its decision to dismiss the case in favor of the Egyptian forum, and rejected the argument that Plaintiffs’ concerns tilted the balance in favor of keeping the case in New York. Roster, however, dictates that for the purposes of forum non conveniens, “the ultimate inquiry is where trial will best serve the convenience of the parties and the ends of justice.” 330 U.S. at 527, 67 S.Ct. 828 (emphasis added); see also Maganlal, 942 F.2d at 167. We believe that justice is best served in this case by acknowledging the unique and heavy burden placed on Plaintiffs if they are required to litigate in Egypt. In balancing the interests at stake for the purposes of forum non conveniens, the district court should have taken into account the unusual circumstances of Plaintiffs that weigh strongly in favor of the New York forum.