Opinion ID: 54041
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: memorandum and order

Text: In January 2006, Dtex, L.L.C. (Dtex), a South Carolina company that trades in used textile equipment, sued BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institution de Banca Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer (Bancomer), a Mexican banking corporation that maintains a permanent foreign bank agency in Houston, Texas. In both the original and amended complaints, Dtex sought damages for tortious interference with contract, intentional interference with prospective contractual relations, and conversion. (Docket Entries No. 20, 33). The claims arose from Bancomer's alleged interference with Dtex's rights to certain textile equipment, which Dtex purchased in Mexico in an auction sponsored by the Mexican government. Bancomer asserted a lien on the same textile equipment. Dtex's and Bancomer's competing claims to the equipment has been the subject of extensive and numerous legal proceedings in Mexican courts since 2002. Dtex filed two lawsuits in the United States challenging Bancomer's actions with respect to the textile equipment in Mexico. In July 2004, Dtex sued Bancomer in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, asserting most of the causes of action later alleged in this case. (Docket Entry No. 30). That case was dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. Dtex then sued Bancomer in this court. Bancomer's pending amended motion to dismiss is based on comity or forum non conveniens. (Docket Entry No. 45). Dtex has responded to the motion, (Docket Entry No. 50), Bancomer has replied, (Docket Entry No. 61), Dtex has surreplied (Docket Entry No. 66), and Bancomer has filed a surresponse, (Docket Entry No. 67). [1] Based on a careful review of the pleadings, the motion to dismiss and response, the parties' submissions, and the applicable law, this court grants Bancomer's motion to dismiss on the basis of forum non conveniens. (Docket Entry No. 45). The reasons are set out below.