Opinion ID: 497003
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: 12 We review for abuse of discretion a district court's dismissal of a case on the ground of forum non conveniens. Piper, 454 U.S. at 237, 102 S.Ct. at 256; Pereira v. Utah Transport, Inc., 764 F.2d 686, 690 (9th Cir.1985), cert. dismissed, 475 U.S. 1040, 106 S.Ct. 1253, 89 L.Ed.2d 362 (1986). 13 The forum non conveniens determination is committed to the sound discretion of the trial court. It may be reversed only when there has been a clear abuse of discretion; where the court has considered all relevant public and private interest factors, and where its balancing of these factors is reasonable, its decision deserves substantial deference. 14 Piper, 454 U.S. at 257, 102 S.Ct. at 266 (citations omitted). 15 Before dismissing a case for forum non conveniens, a district court must first make a choice of law determination. 3 Pereira, 764 F.2d at 688. We review the district court's choice of law determination de novo. Id.; Phillips, 632 F.2d at 84. We review under the clearly erroneous standard the district court's findings of fact underlying its choice of law determination. Villar v. Crowley Maritime Corp., 782 F.2d 1478, 1479-80 (9th Cir.1986).