Opinion ID: 705
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: FSIA Generally and Standard of Review

Text: The FSIA `provides the sole basis for obtaining jurisdiction over a foreign state in federal court.' Matar v. Dichter, 563 F.3d 9, 12 (2d Cir.2009) (quoting Argentine Republic v. Amerada Hess Shipping Corp., 488 U.S. 428, 439, 109 S.Ct. 683, 102 L.Ed.2d 818 (1989)). In general, a foreign state or an agency or instrumentality of a foreign state, 28 U.S.C. § 1603(b), is immune from federal court jurisdiction unless a specific exception to the FSIA applies, Matar, 563 F.3d at 12. See also 28 U.S.C. § 1604; Kato v. Ishihara, 360 F.3d 106, 107-08 (2d Cir.2004) (The FSIA codifies the restrictive theory of sovereign immunity, under which foreign sovereigns and their agencies or instrumentalities enjoy immunity from suit in United States courts, subject to a few, enumerated statutory exceptions. (internal quotation marks, citations, and alterations omitted)). The burden is on the defendant seeking sovereign immunity to show it is a foreign sovereign. Matar, 563 F.3d at 12. Once the defendant makes this showing, the burden then shifts to the plaintiff to show that a FSIA-enumerated exception to sovereign immunity applies. Id. Determining whether this burden is met involves a review of the allegations in the complaint, the undisputed facts, if any, placed before the court by the parties, andif the plaintiff comes forward with sufficient evidence to carry its burden of production on this issueresolution of disputed issues of facts. In re Terrorist Attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, 538 F.3d 71, 80 (2d Cir.2008) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). The district court may look to evidence outside the pleadings and hold an evidentiary hearing, if it believes one is warranted, in resolving the question of jurisdiction. See Filetech S.A. v. France Telecom S.A., 157 F.3d 922, 932 (2d Cir.1998). The ultimate burden of persuasion remains with the party seeking sovereign immunity. See In re Terrorist Attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, 538 F.3d at 80; see also Robinson v. Gov't of Malaysia, 269 F.3d 133, 141 n. 8 (2d Cir.2001) (noting that the defendant must show that the alleged exception does not apply by a preponderance of the evidence). The parties do not dispute that Jamsostek and Indonesia are foreign sovereigns presumptively entitled to sovereign immunity. Rather, the issue in contention is whether an exception to their sovereign immunity applies. We review a district court's decision concerning subject matter jurisdiction under the FSIA for clear error as to factual findings, and de novo as to legal conclusions. Matar, 563 F.3d at 12 (citing Robinson, 269 F.3d at 138).