Opinion ID: 3035638
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the balance of public and private interest

Text: FACTORS Even when an adequate alternative forum exists, we will not disturb the plaintiff’s original choice of forum “unless the ‘private interest’ and the ‘public interest’ factors strongly favor” dismissal. Lueck, 236 F.3d at 1146 (citing Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 509 (1947)). As we explained recently, a plaintiff need not select the optimal forum for his claim, but only a forum that is not so oppressive and vexatious to the defendant “as to be out of proportion to plaintiff’s convenience.” Ravelo Monegro v. Rosa, 211 F.3d 509, 514 7 In a long list of cases in this and other circuits, the Philippines has been found to be an adequate forum. See, e.g., Contact Lumber, 918 F.2d at 1450; Cruz v. Maritime Company of the Philippines, 549 F. Supp. 285, 289 (S.D.N.Y. 1982); Quintero v. Klaveness Ship Lines, 914 F.2d 717, 728 (5th Cir. 1990); Transunion Corp. v. Pepsico, Inc., 604 F. Supp. 1211, 1216-20 (S.D.N.Y. 1986); Cuevas v. Reading & Bates Corp., 577 F. Supp. 462, 476 (S.D. Tex. 1983); Jose v. M/V Fir Grove, 801 F. Supp. 349, 35253 (D. Ore. 1991). Although these cases are not dispositive as to the evidence here, they are certainly illustrative. TUAZON v. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO 241 (9th Cir. 2000) (reversing forum non conveniens dismissal, without discussing adequacy or availability of alternate forum, because the private interest factors weighed heavily against dismissal).8 With this principle in mind, we turn to examine the weight of the private and public interest factors implicated by Tuazon’s lawsuit. Having already navigated several two-part tests and various multi-part tests in the jurisdictional analysis, we now tackle a seven-part test to evaluate private interest factor considerations: (1) the residence of the parties and witnesses, (2) the forum’s convenience to the litigants, (3) access to physical evidence and other sources of proof, (4) whether unwilling witnesses can be compelled to testify, (5) the cost of bringing witnesses to trial, (6) the enforceability of the judgment, (7) any practical problems or other factors that contribute to an efficient resolution. Lueck, 236 F.3d at 1145 (citing Gulf Oil, 330 U.S. at 508). In applying these factors, “[t]he district court should look to any or all of the above factors which are relevant to the case before it, giving appropriate weight to each.” Id. This guidance grants the district court the broadest possible discretion. 8 See also Lony v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., 935 F.2d 604, 608, 615 (3d Cir. 1991) (reversing the district court’s forum non conveniens dismissal where Germany offered an adequate alternative forum, but the private and public interest factors, while “relatively close,” were “not sufficient to overcome the strong ground for retention of jurisdiction”); In re Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, 344 F.3d 648, 652-53 (7th Cir. 2002) (on deferential mandamus review upholding denial of forum non conveniens motion where at least one alternative forum was adequate and the district court did not err in concluding that private and public interest factors favored venue in the United States); SME Racks, Inc. v. Sistemas Mecanicos Para Electronica, S.A., 382 F.3d 1097, 1100 n.9, 1104 (11th Cir. 2004) (reversing forum non conveniens dismissal where the district court failed to grant proper deference to the plaintiff’s choice of forum, even though the adequacy of Spain as an alternate forum was not at issue). 242 TUAZON v. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO The district court found that dismissal was not warranted because “it is not more convenient to try the case in the Philippines” based on the private interest factors. Neither party is a resident of the Philippines; both reside in the United States. Most importantly, Tuazon is a resident of Washington, a more convenient forum for both sides than the Philippines. It is neither unimaginable nor unreasonable that Reynolds, having operated in the state for a half-century, should defend a lawsuit there. The third and fourth private interest factors, concerning the location and availability of evidence and witnesses, present closer questions. Reynolds makes much of the lack of compulsory process to secure key witnesses and documents in the Philippines. In response, Tuazon argues that the bulk of evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy is likely in the United States. The crucial focus is not on “the number of witnesses or quantity of evidence in each locale,” but rather “the materiality and importance of the anticipated [evidence and] witnesses’ testimony and then determine[ ] their accessibility and convenience to the forum.” Lueck, 236 F.3d at 1146 (quoting Gates Learjet, 743 F.2d at 1335-36). As the district court observed, evidence will be drawn from both sides of the Pacific. Proof of Reynolds’ participation in a global conspiracy likely will be in North Carolina and other United States locations. Proof of Tuazon’s medical condition is in Washington. Evidence of Tuazon’s medical history and smoking habits, as well as Reynolds’ activities in the Philippines and relationship with Fortune Tobacco, will be in the Philippines. Key witnesses from Reynolds and, of course, Tuazon himself, live in the United States. Although the Philippines is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, 20 U.S.T. 361 (1965), evidence there may be obtained through voluntary deposition or compelled by letters rogatory. See TUAZON v. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO 243 United States Department of State, Philippines Judicial Assistance, available at http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/ judicial_660.html. Also, Tuazon has offered to help Reynolds obtain documents personal to him that are located in the Philippines. Any court, whether in the United States or in the Philippines, will necessarily face some difficulty in securing evidence from abroad. The administrative challenges faced by the district court in Washington are not so great as to justify dismissal. Thus, the third and fourth factors weigh in favor of Washington. [21] On balance, the economics of bringing a few witnesses from the Philippines to Washington will be less costly than moving the trial apparatus, including both parties and witnesses, from all over the United States to the Philippines. Finally, the district court noted that no evidence had been presented about the enforceability of a Philippine judgment in the United States,9 and that trial in the Philippines would face a lengthy delay. We agree with the district court that the combination of all of these factors counsels in favor of Washington, not the Philippines. In addition to the private interest factors, we must consider five public interest factors: (1) the local interest in the lawsuit, (2) the court’s familiarity with the governing law, (3) the burden on local courts and juries, (4) congestion in the court, and (5) the costs of resolving a dispute unrelated to a particular forum. Lueck, 236 F.3d at 1147. Reynolds makes much of the first factor, showing magnanimous concern that “an American jury—culturally and politically remote from the Philippines—should pass judgment on the social, political and economic issues that are implicated by plaintiff’s claims.” The backhanded indictment of the jury 9 On appeal, Reynolds offered to satisfy any judgment in the Philippines. This offer was not before the district court and it comes too late to be factored into our analysis of the district court’s exercise of its discretion. 244 TUAZON v. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO system is not compelling. Juries routinely address subjects that are totally foreign to them, ranging from the foreign language of patent disputes to cases involving foreign companies, foreign cultures and foreign languages. Tuazon resides in Washington, which has a strong interest in ensuring the welfare of its residents, U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Piper Aircraft, 454 U.S. at 257. No doubt the Philippines also has an interest in the alleged conspiracy and its effect on public health. This equipoise of interests favors neither jurisdiction. However, with this interest factor, we ask only if there is an identifiable local interest in the controversy, not whether another forum also has an interest. The second public interest factor concerns the choice of law that will govern Tuazon’s substantive claims. Both parties seem to believe that Philippine law will apply. We need not say now whether it does—the choice of law inquiry is better left to the district court. An analysis of Philippine law, assuming it applies, would be a burden and would support dismissal, as the district court acknowledged. This fact alone is not, however, determinative. Piper Aircraft, 454 U.S. at 260 n.29 (holding that the need to apply foreign law “alone is not sufficient to warrant dismissal”). [22] All the other public interest factors favor Washington as a forum. The district court noted it had the resources to hear Tuazon’s case and “is not overburdened or congested.” Cf. Bhatnagar, 52 F.3d at 1225 (“Given the incentives that press our district courts to reduce their caseload, we should take particular care before second-guessing a district court that rejects a forum non conveniens motion after considering the factors that we and the Supreme Court have deemed relevant.”). The district court also found that there will be no cost in resolving a case unrelated to the forum—the case is related to Washington because Tuazon resides there. Reynolds’ briefing offers no comment on these three factors and nothing in the record supports reversal of the district court’s determination that the public interest factors favor Washington. ReynTUAZON v. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO 245 olds has not met its burden to overcome Tuazon’s choice of Washington as the forum for his lawsuit.