Opinion ID: 45549
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: FG Hemisphere Associates v. The Republique de Congo

Text: 38 This Court recently issued an opinion in a related matter, FG Hemisphere Associates v. Republique du Congo, 455 F.3d 575 (5th Cir.2006) (hereinafter  FG Hemisphere ). Like the case at hand, FG Hemisphere concerned the appropriateness of garnishment writs targeting debts owed by the CMS Companies to the Congo. That case focused on the issue of when a district court should determine the situs of the CMS Companies for purposes of the FSIA. 10 Id. at 589. It held that a court must determine the situs when it decides whether an FSIA exception to immunity applies. Id. After finding that the court had not done the appropriate situs determination at the appropriate time, the FG Hemisphere Court reversed the district court's order granting writs of garnishment. Id. at 596. 39 The FG Hemisphere opinion was issued after we heard oral argument in this case. The parties filed supplemental briefing specifically addressing how FG Hemisphere affects the consolidated appeals now before us. Having reviewed their arguments, we decide not to reach the issues raised by FG Hemisphere and instead rely on the authority cited above, supra Part III. Applying FG Hemisphere would neither change the fact that Texas law does not allow garnishment of nonmonetary obligations 11 nor alleviate the FSIA errors committed by the district court with regard to the turnover and contempt orders. We therefore do not provide alternative holdings based on whether the district court made situs determinations at the appropriate times.