Opinion ID: 172533
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: District Court's Proceedings on Remand

Text: On remand, the district court ordered the parties to brief the issues we identified. In particular, the district court asked the parties to submit translations of the applicable Swiss law, focusing on whether Swiss law would consider the forum-selection clause permissive or mandatory, and which parties and claims would be governed by this clause. Additionally, the court requested the parties address the propriety of a dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds. After the parties submitted competing translations of the relevant Swiss law, the district court concluded a forum non conveniens dismissal might be warranted. The court then held a hearing, where the parties addressed the appropriateness of such a dismissal. Applying our forum non conveniens precedent, the district court first addressed the two threshold questions: (1) whether an adequate alternative forum exists and (2) whether foreign law applies to the dispute. See Gschwind v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 161 F.3d 602, 605-06 (10th Cir. 1998). As to the first question, after the 61 MM Defendants agreed to execute a written agreement consenting to process and jurisdiction in Swiss court, the court concluded that Switzerland was an adequate and available forum. Moreover, the court determined that, despite Yavuz's attempt to paint his suit as one sounding in a property dispute, his claims were essentially tort and contract claims emanating from his failed business relationship with the defendants. Addressing the second question, the court found that, to the extent the Fiduciary Agreement controlled any of Yavuz's claims, the choice-of-law provision clearly and unambiguously stated that Swiss law governed. And, to the extent Yavuz's claims fell outside of this Fiduciary Agreement provision, the court concluded Oklahoma conflicts-of-law principles also mandated that Swiss law apply. Finally, the court addressed the appropriateness of a forum non conveniens dismissal. It balanced the various private and public interest factors and concluded that Switzerland had a greater interest in resolving this dispute. The court also concluded the administrative burden of applying Swiss law in an American court favored Switzerland. Consequently, the district court dismissed the case under the forum non conveniens doctrine. It did, however, impose two conditions on this dismissal: (1) the 61 MM Defendants must willingly submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the Swiss court, and (2) should the Swiss court refuse jurisdiction over the subject-matter of Yavuz's complaint, Yavuz was free to reinstate his claims in Oklahoma courts.