Opinion ID: 1759914
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Mandamus Petitions

Text: Jesse Kelley, an injured passenger, filed an action in the Bessemer Division of the Jefferson Circuit Court against Roy King, [2] the administrator of the estate of the driver, Roderick Kelley; and Joe Parker, the individual who had rented the minivan. That action was docketed as CV-03-401 (the Kelley action). By amendment, Jesse Kelley added, in substitution for fictitiously named defendants, Rental Car Finance Corporation, Dollar Rent-A-Car, and PRP Enterprises/PRT Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Dollar Rent-A-Car (hereinafter collectively referred to as Dollar); and DaimlerChrysler Corporation, DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation, DaimlerChrysler Motor Company, L.L.C., and Chrysler Motor Corporation (hereinafter collectively referred to as DCC). [3] Jesse Kelley alleged negligence and wantonness, negligent entrustment, negligent and wanton failure to warn, breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, and violations of Alabama's and Georgia's Extended Manufacturer's Liability Doctrines. The complaint alleges that the minivan and its component parts were defective and unreasonably dangerous in that they were designed, manufactured, distributed, and sold by DCC in a defective and unreasonably dangerous condition, and in that the minivan was not crashworthy and was not reasonably suited for its known and foreseeable environment and use because its Gen-3 seatbelt and buckle system was defective, because it lacked side-impact air bags, and/or because of its unreasonably dangerous instability and/or roof defects. Dollar filed a motion to dismiss or for summary judgment, contending 1) that the claims against it were time-barred because the amendment did not relate back to the filing of the original complaint; 2) that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over Dollar; and 3) that venue was improper in the Bessemer Division of the Jefferson Circuit Court. The trial court denied the motion. In its mandamus petition in case no. 1030579, Dollar argues that the trial court improperly refused to transfer the Kelley action from the Bessemer Division to the Birmingham Division and asks this Court to direct the trial court to transfer the case to the Birmingham Division. DCC also moved in the Kelley action to transfer the action from the Bessemer Division to the Birmingham Division because, it argued, the action did not arise in Bessemer. In addition, DCC moved to dismiss the action, arguing that because the action arose in Georgia, § 6-5-430, Ala. Code 1975, the forum non conveniens statute mandated that the trial court decline jurisdiction and dismiss the action so that it could be refiled in Georgia. [4] The trial court denied DCC's motions. In its mandamus petition in case no. 1030575, DCC asks this Court to direct the trial court to dismiss the Kelley action pursuant to the forum non conveniens statute (§ 6-5-430) so the action can be refiled in Georgia. Alternatively, DCC asks this Court to direct the trial court to transfer the Kelley action to the Birmingham Division.
Bradford Griffin, an injured passenger, filed an action in the Bessemer Division of the Jefferson Circuit Court, naming the same defendants as those named in the Kelley action and asserting the same claims; that action was docketed as CV-03-402 (the Griffin action). Dollar and DCC filed the same motions regarding venue that they filed in the Kelley action; the trial court denied those motions. In their mandamus petitions in cases no. 1030577 and 1030574, Dollar and DCC, respectively, seek the same relief they seek in cases no. 1030579 and 1030575, respectively, dealing with the Kelley action.
The personal representatives of Richard Hannon and Marvin Allen filed an action in the Bessemer Division of the Jefferson Circuit Court, naming the same defendants as those named in the Kelley action and asserting the same claims; that action was docketed as CV-03-411 (the Hannon/Allen action). DCC and Dollar filed the same motions regarding venue that they filed in the above-described actions; the trial court denied those motions. In their mandamus petitions in cases no. 1030576 and 1030573, Dollar and DCC, respectively, seek the same relief that they seek in cases no. 1030579 and 1030575, respectively, dealing with the Kelley action.
The personal representative of Raymon Spates filed an action in the Bessemer Division of the Jefferson Circuit Court, naming the same defendants as those named in the Kelley action and asserting the same claims; that action was docketed as CV-03-405 (the Spates action). Dollar moved to transfer the action to the Birmingham Division because, it argued, the action did not arise in Bessemer; the trial court granted the motion. After the Spates action was transferred to the Birmingham Division and docketed as case no. CV-03-5907, DCC filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to § 6-5-430; the trial court denied the motion. In its mandamus petition in case no. 1030589, DCC asks this Court to direct the trial court to dismiss the Spates action pursuant to § 6-5-430 so that it can be refiled in Georgia.