Opinion ID: 779932
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Of Deference to the Forum Selected and the Adequacy of the Alternate Forum.

Text: 47 The first level of inquiry in a forum non conveniens analysis is to determine what deference is owed a plaintiff's choice of forum. Iragorri v. United Techs. Corp., 274 F.3d 65, 73 (2d Cir.2001) (en banc). A domestic petitioner's choice of its home forum receives great deference, while a foreign petitioner's choice of a United States forum receives less deference. We measure the degree of deference on a sliding scale, id. at 71, and 48 the more it appears that the [petitioner's] choice of a U.S. forum was motivated by forum-shopping reasons — such as... the inconvenience and expense to the [respondent] resulting from litigation in that forum — the less deference the [petitioner's] choice commands, and, consequently, the easier it becomes for the [respondent] to succeed on a forum non conveniens motion by showing that convenience would better be served by litigating in another country's courts. 49 Id. at 72. On the other hand, the greater the [petitioner's] or the lawsuit's bona fide connection to the United States and to the forum of choice and the more it appears that considerations of convenience favor the conduct of the lawsuit in the United States, the more difficult it will be for the [respondent] to gain dismissal for forum non conveniens. Id. (footnote omitted). 50 While the motivation of Monde Re for bringing its enforcement proceeding in the United States is not apparent, it is clear that the jurisdiction provided by the Convention is the only link between the parties and the United States. Moreover, as will be demonstrated, there would be great inconvenience in litigating in the United States the complex issues involved in this case. Accordingly, little deference need be given to the petitioner's choice of forum in this case. 51 Our next inquiry in the forum non conveniens analysis is to determine whether an alternative forum exists. Id. at 73. A forum non conveniens motion may not be granted unless an adequate alternate forum exists. Id. An alternative forum is ordinarily adequate if the defendants are amenable to service of process there and the forum permits litigation of the subject matter of the dispute. See Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 254 n. 22, 102 S.Ct. 252, 70 L.Ed.2d 419 (1981). Monde Re argues that Ukraine is an inadequate alternative forum because of general corruption in the body politic of that nation. But very little has been put forward to indicate the type of widespread corruption in the courts as claimed by Monde Re. 52 We have been reluctant to find foreign courts corrupt or biased. See, e.g., Blanco v. Banco Indus. de Venezuela, S.A., 997 F.2d 974, 981-82 (2d Cir.1993) (finding Venezuela to be an adequate alternative forum despite claims of systematic corruption and bias in favor of defendants). We agree with the district court that the meager and conclusory submissions of Monde Re do not permit us to pass value judgments on the adequacy of justice and the integrity of [Ukraine's] judicial system on the basis of no more than [those] bare denunciations and sweeping generalizations. 158 F.Supp.2d at 384-5. We similarly reject the materials presented in Monde Re's Supplemental Appendix as a basis for any conclusion that the courts of Ukraine constitute an inadequate alternative forum. Moreover, Gazprom, the Russian company to which Monde Re is subrogated, voluntarily conducted business with Ukragazprom, a Ukrainian company, and must have anticipated the possibility of litigation in Ukraine. This simply is not a case where the alternative forum is characterized by a complete absence of due process or an inability of the forum to provide substantial justice to the parties. See, e.g., Rasoulzadeh v. Associated Press, 574 F.Supp. 854, 861 (S.D.N.Y.1983), aff'd, 767 F.2d 908 (2d Cir.1985) (mem.). 53 Monde Re's contention that a Ukrainian forum is not an adequate forum simply because a state-owned enterprise of Ukraine is involved also must be rejected as without foundation. It is hardly unusual, considering the number of state-owned business entities throughout the world, for a finding of forum non conveniens to be made in favor of the forum of a state whose entity is a party litigant. See, e.g., Forsythe v. Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp., 885 F.2d 285 (5th Cir.1989) (dismissing action against state-owned corporation in favor of Saudi Arabian forum). Moreover, Monde Re's contention that a Ukrainian forum is inadequate because execution on the assets of Ukraine or Naftogaz would not be possible is also without support. We agree with the district court that Monde Re's mere assertion that Ukrainian law has on the whole followed Soviet legal doctrine in this regard constitutes speculation insufficient to defeat a finding of an adequate alternative forum. Furthermore, as noted by the district court, it appears that Ukrainian law specifically provides for the execution of judgments against government properties. 158 F.Supp.2d at 386. 54