Document: 494 U.S. 516 110 S.Ct. 1274 108 L.Ed.2d 443 Albert J. FERENS, et ux., Petitionersv.JOHN DEERE COMPANY, aka Deere & Company. No. 88-1512. Argued Nov. 6, 1989. Decided March 5, 1990. Syllabus Petitioner husband lost a hand in Pennsylvania when it allegedly became caught harvester manufactured by respondent Deere, Delaware corporation. Petitioners, residents, delayed taking legal action against until after Pennsylvania's 2-year tort limitations period expired. In the third year, they filed proper diversity suits (1) Federal District Court Pennsylvania, raising contract and warranty claims as to which applicable had not yet run, (2) Mississippi, where did business, alleging causes of action. As latter suit, petitioners knew that federal court apply Mississippi state courts' choice-of-law rules, Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 487, 496, 61 1020, 1021, 85 L.Ed. 1477 under Mississippi's 6-year statute would apply. The then granted petitioners' motion transfer 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), allows such transfers "[f]or convenience parties witnesses, interest justice." However, declined honor limitations, ruling that, since moved for plaintiffs, rule Van Dusen Barrack, 376 612, 84 805, 11 945—that, following defendant-initiated 1404(a) transfer, transferee must follow rules prevailing transferor court—was inapplicable. therefore dismissed Appeals affirmed. Held: policies underlying Dusen, well other considerations, require forum law court, regardless who initiated transfer. Pp. 521-532. (a) policy should deprive state-law advantages exist absent jurisdiction is violated applying case's plaintiffs. Applying will plaintiffs any advantages. Moreover, although defendant may lose nonlegal advantage if controls—e.g., whatever inheres forcing litigate or at all—that loss slight, plaintiff always can sue favorable seek Section exists eliminate inconvenience without altering permissible choices venue statutes, its purpose protect party's ability use shield discourage hinder litigation otherwise proper. these circumstances full accord with Erie R. Tompkins, 304 64, 58 817, 82 1188, whereas seriously undermine Erie, mean initiating changes case, result disapproved generally this Court. See supra, U.S., 636-637, S.Ct., 819. 524-527. (b) State's respect plaintiff-initiated does contravene Dusen's shopping, since, even already has option shopping most law. law, contrast, might create opportunities an indirect way, application, extent discourages transfers, give States incentives enact laws similar long order bring out-of-state business be instance plaintiff. 527-528. (c) mandating decision turn upon considerations rather than on possibility prejudice resulting from change requires application initiates If were occur district least reluctant, despite grant defendant. Hardship because find many exploit apply, moreover, simply move unless benefits outweighed desire punish chosen inconvenient overlooks facts benefit witnesses courts moving party, harms entire judicial system. 528-530. (d) Foresight economy also favor simple makes motion. While cases future, produce undesirable complications uncertainty presenting situations—e.g., request both own 530-531. (e) Although requiring cause seem too generous reward them manipulative conduct, affect outcome Congress gave power could same result. no alternative more acceptable. would, effect, tell have continued litigating their separate actions thereby causing wastefulness time, energy, money was designed prevent. Allowing file convenient ignore fact provide automatic but showing "in And there need develop sophisticated cover all involving conflicts ensure appropriate and, elaborate run afoul effects balance between fairness simplicity. 531-532. 862 F.2d 31 (CA 3 1988), reversed remanded. KENNEDY, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, JJ., joined. SCALIA, dissenting opinion, BRENNAN, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, joined, post, p. 533. Richard B. Tucker, III, Pittsburgh, Pa., petitioners. David P. Helwig, respondent. Justice KENNEDY 1 Title states: "For justice, civil division been brought." (1982 ed.). 945 (1964), we held defendant, prevailed court. We now decide moves applies. 2 * Ferens his right when, allegation is, combine harvester, accident occurred while working farm Pennsylvania. For reasons explained record, filing he wife sued United Western run. jurisdiction, are incorporated principal place Illinois. Not deprived action, Ferenses year second suit Southern negligence products liability. Diversity (1941), exercise deciding case. A substantive controls personal injury claim governs limitation period. 4 borrowing which, face, enable statutes jurisdictions, see Miss.Code Ann. 15-1-65 (1972), State Supreme said "only applies nonresident [defendant] whose accrued afterwards into state." Louisiana Transfer Long, 159 Miss. 654, 667, 131 So. 84, 88 (1930). Ferenses' because, agree, corporate resident before accrued. courts, result, arising time barred statute. 15-1-49 (1972). 5 issue us arose took step further: having take period, next moved, ground forum. acted assumption forum, including continue govern suit. 6 put up opposition, accepted arguments resided Pennsylvania; there; connection Mississippi; substantial number none documentary evidence located pending presented common questions fact. 7 consolidated transferred done. It ruled instead Invoking set 639 F.Supp. 1484 (WD Pa.1986). 8 Third Circuit affirmed, not, first, grounds entitlement invoking 1404(a). relied outset theory violate due process legitimate 819 423 (1987). vacated remanded light Sun Oil Wortman, 486 717, 2117, 100 743 (1988), choose governed another violating either Full Faith Credit Clause Due Process Clause. 487 1212, 2862, 101 898 (1988). On remand, again confronting question court's do 1988). certiorari, 490 1064, 109 2061, 104 627 (1989). II 9 states only justice. says nothing about choice affording different treatment defendants. touched issues left open 640, 821. airplane flying Boston Philadelphia crashed Harbor soon takeoff. representatives victims brought Massachusetts 40 Eastern When defendants Massachusetts, objected lacked capacity decedents. averred wrongful-death rule. obtained writ mandamus ordering vacate id., 613-615, 807-08. 10 reversed. After considering related present dispute, erred legislative history showed enacted broad provisions Acts often resulted forums decided respond problem permitting Id., 634-636, 818-19. said: "This background supports view narrow plaintiff's privilege defeat accrue provision counteract inconveniences flowed certainly justify startling conclusion one 'get bonus venue.' Indeed, interpretation accepting go far frustrate remedial purposes offing, regard section primarily forum-shopping instrument. And, importantly, reluctant convenience, so conceivably initially selected believe, therefore, indicate regarded housekeeping measure, dealing placement intended, basis fairness, authorize courtrooms." 635-637, 818-19 (footnotes omitted). 12 thus case III 13 quoted part reveals three independent our decision. First, jurisdiction. Second, multiply shopping. Third, justice possible commentators questioned whether scant compels reliance policies, Note, Choice Law Venue, 75 Yale L. 90, 123 (1965), prudent consider addition words, 14 advantages, perhaps discernible history, real foundation 1188 (1938). 637, remains vital expression system concomitant integrity States. Guaranty Trust York, 326 99, 109, 65 1464, 1470, 89 2079 (1945), follows: 15 "In essence, intent [the ] insure exercising solely citizenship parties, substantially same, determine litigation, tried nub underlies Tompkins transaction non-resident litigant block away lead result." 16 Hanna Plumer, 380 460, 473, 1136, 1145, prescribe procedural differ expense litigation. This involve conflict. 17 clear implication Dusen. existence opportunity make defeated defendant's option. 638, 820. To allow preserve 639, 18 Transfers some course, sense, plaintiff; all, applied made however, advantage. example, or, all. 19 We, nonetheless, loses slight. By asking seeking using Mississippi. text say anything think statutes. 634-635, come little surprise. previous cases, "[t]o construe way merely carries out design litigants, public unnecessary expense, shelter . proceedings costly forums." Continental Grain Barge FBL-585, 364 19, 27, 80 1475, 1540 (1960). creating Congress, diversity, retained diminishing incidents inconvenience. 20 serious way. held, isolated circumstance, pre-empt Stewart Organization, Inc. Ricoh Corp., 22, 2239, 22 (1988) (holding determines validity selection clause). general, seen measure alter governing Erie. 819-20; 37, 2248 (SCALIA, dissenting) (finding language "plainly insufficient" work through pre-emption). everyone agrees 21 event, position fare much better required True, fear But suing. Some prefer unfavorable Ferenses, doubt, abided initial known dismiss accomplish discouraging occasional motions cases. Other expectation themselves 63 Cornell L.Rev. 149, 156 (1977). not. B sought fashion important rationale see, e.g., C. Wright, A. Miller, E. Cooper, Practice Procedure 4506, 79 (1982), few attempt explain harm An whenever party laws. interpret obtaining selecting venue. itself, meant 636, 23 No comparable each limitations. opportunities; instead, replicate them. 1021 ("Whatever lack uniformity [Erie attributable system, leaves state, within limits permitted Constitution, pursue local diverging those neighbors"). obtain selection. convenient, recognize exists. reiterate, have. 24 lawyers escaped us; doubt drew State. foreign consequences C 25 819; Piper Aircraft Reyno, 454 235, 253-254, n. 20, 102 252, 264-65, 70 419 (1981). reasoned changed "would plaintiff." prejudice, survey burdens proof, presumptions, like. what supposed expending extensive resources. Because difficult task contrary statute, 26 plaintiff, exploiting L.Rev., 156. 27 pay price choosing being versus assumes party. statute's terms, include Litigation alone. Jackson "Administrative difficulties piled congested centers handled origin. Jury duty burden ought imposed people community relation touch affairs persons, reason holding trial reach remote parts country learn report only. There localized controversies home. appropriateness too, home untangle problems laws, itself." Gulf Corp. Gilbert, 330 501, 508-509, 67 839, 843, 91 1055 (1947). 29 punitive obscure systemic costs place. D 30 involves sufficient attention Affording quite workable simplicity illusion. hold arise future. catch surprise, future complications. leave unclear 158. variation certain situations, removal several requests fault making once inconvenient. reserve consideration later day. duty, uncertainty. conclude IV 32 object point, understandable, claims. Our conduct seems manipulative. nonetheless acceptable Deciding preferable, permit situation two precisely simultaneously Courts leads energy prevent." Grain, 26, 1474. 33 From standpoint, further objections pause persuade ask why Efficiency dictate allowing return though venue, invoke formality, remember section, permits Plaintiffs distant guarantee, examines facts, contested transferring particular cannot inconvenience, course taken determining 34 contend per se circumstances, transfers. L.J., 130-135. large extent, conflicts-of-law general matter, interfere rules. Oil, 727-729, 2124-2125. addition, believe Cf. Leflar, American Conflicts 143, 293 (3d ed. 1977) (arguing conflicts). 35 foregoing reasons, reverse remand consistent opinion. 36 ordered. 37 whom BLACKMUN join, dissenting. 38 Plaintiffs, successfully pending. principles litigated 39 Rules Decision Act, first placed Judicial Code Judiciary Act 1789, currently provides: "The states, except Constitution treaties provide, shall States, apply." 1652 41 (1938), sits, statutory established courts. Three years later, 494, considered "whether conflict sit." answered affirmative, reasoning otherwise, "the constantly disturb equal administration coordinate sitting side side," violence principle based." 1021. Griffin McCoach, 498, 503, 1023, 1025, 1481 (1941). Klaxon, 62 Stat. 937, repeatedly reaffirmed then. Nolan Transocean Air Lines, 365 293, 81 555, 571 (1961); Day Zimmermann, Challoner, 3, 96 167, 46 (1975). 42 answer today ed.) Klaxon—namely, avoidance initially, produced two. thought highly unlikely enacting device manipulate applied. 633-636, 817-19. That rested grants tried, accompany choice. defensive "venue privilege," 634, 818, " venue,' (citation omitted), engage among regime reserved concluded undermined 637-640, 819-21, 'accident' jurisdiction" "to utilize achieve achieved filed," goal reasoned, prevent "forum shopping" systems; complaint, honored just able 43 today, viz., govern" my view, neither served—and indeed positively defeated—by departure context. vehicle intend litigate, carry prize back wishes try context encourage differential true, here select preference law; former, like latter, blind reality sue. station en route exactly prevent: compromised state," abstract, today's compromises matters—i.e., insofar bears significant expressed reduced laughingstock readily evaded filing-and-transfer. 44 undoubtedly correct deter him proves disposition achieves achieve: preventing citizenship," litigate. Commonwealth 45 expresses concern, ante, 529-530, normal Erie-Klaxon judge faced prospect manifestly doing tantamount dismissal merits. himself surely volenti non fit injuria suffices allay concern. asserts prejudiced transfer-induced likely rare, gone trouble bringing less him. disadvantaged I how reasonably "prejudiced," "plaintiff's-law forum" (and forum) Prejudice me, occurs enabled cake eat too—to desires, desires. suggests ignores avoiding "systemic place," citing Jackson's eloquent remarks subject Ante, 530. apparently, increase attendant sua sponte addressed, operation "those rare doctrine [of conveniens applied." 509, 843. Where severe, ordinarily not; expected sponte. depriving transferring1 deterred judge, prior regime, pursuant conveniens. deterrence considerably less, risk statute-of-limitations bars refiling. 47 Thus, me calculation Saved Court's incremental cost trying (but prompt transfer) purposes. incurred effecting indeterminate additional filing-and-transfer approved form plus attending necessity figure probably law) require. noted file-and-transfer ploy sanctioned available relatively unneeded) longer desired sorts regarding liability—in era become kaleidoscopic.2 48 points out, apparently deprecate regular strategy, "no guarantee" accorded transfer; "[n]o case," "remains cases"; "[a]lthough 532. am sure means—except plainly foreclose option, namely, denied whole "state-law advantages" privilege" entitles 524. explicitly repudiates "[t]he actions," 530, "pay forum," 529. saying careful really wants getting difficult. sum, save 49 giving scope unsuccessful. indicated beginning results largely approach directions. "interpretation 1404(a)," 524, central stands alters "principle state" embodies. does, address specific acknowledges, jurisprudence "a States," 523. ask, effect gets adjustment mistaken sense priorities. 50 respectfully dissent. prospective extended court-initiated inappropriate, confer 819, current edition Professor Leflar's treatise lists theories applied, individually various combinations, McDougall Felix, §§ 86-91, 93-96 (4th 1986). Kay, Theory Practice: Courts, Mercer 521, 525-584, 591-592 (1983).

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