Opinion ID: 465194
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Basic Principles

Text: 7 In this diversity action, this Court is bound to apply the law of the forum state, including that state's conflict of laws rules. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Manufacturing Co., 313 U.S. 487, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941); Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938). In this case, therefore, this Court applies Mississippi conflict of laws rules. 8 The parties to this action agree that the conflict of laws decision by the Mississippi Supreme Court in Mitchell v. Craft, 211 So.2d 509 (Miss.1968), provides this Court's starting point. The parties disagree, however, on what outcome properly ensues from application of the center of gravity test enunciated in Mitchell. In Mitchell, which was also a wrongful death action, the Mississippi Supreme Court adopted the center of gravity test or the most substantial contacts rule as articulated in the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws. 3 That court quoted with approval sections 175, 145 and 6 of the Restatement. 9 Section 175 provides the basic rule for wrongful death actions: 10 Sec. 175. Right of Action for Death. 11 In an action for wrongful death, the local law of the state where the injury occurred determines the rights and liabilities of the parties unless, with respect to the particular issue, some other state has a more significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties, in which event the local law of the other state will be applied. 12 Mitchell, 211 So.2d at 515 (emphasis in Mitchell ). 13 In Mitchell, liability was predicated on a negligence theory. Thus, the Mississippi Supreme Court also relied on section 245, which states the general rule in tort cases: 14 Sec. 145. The General Principle. 15 (1) The rights and liabilities of the parties with respect to an issue in tort are determined by the local law of the state which, as to that issue, has the most significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties under the principles stated in Sec. 6. 16 (2) Contacts to be taken into account in applying the principles of Sec. 6 to determine the law applicable to an issue include: 17 (a) the place where the injury occurred, 18 (b) the place where the conduct causing the injury occurred, 19 (c) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties, and 20 (d) the place where the relationship, if any, between the parties is centered. 21 Mitchell, 211 So.2d at 515. 22 The contacts articulated in section 145 are to be weighed according to the principles set forth in section 6, which provide basic policy considerations to aid a court in determining the appropriate law to be applied to any particular issue: Sec. 6. Choice of Law Principles: 23 (1) A court, subject to constitutional restrictions, will follow a statutory directive of its own state on choice of law. 24 (2) When there is no such directive, the factors relevant to the choice of the applicable rule of law include 25 (a) the needs of the interstate and international systems, 26 (b) the relevant policies of the forum, 27 (c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests of those states in the determination of the particular issue, 28 (d) the protection of justified expectations, 29 (e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law, 30 (f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and 31 (g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied. 32 Mitchell, 211 So.2d at 516.