Court Opinion

ID: 4429195
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:19:44.906801+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:44.753905
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NOS. A-4989-16T1
                                                                     A-4990-16T1
                                                                     A-4991-16T1
                                                                     A-3204-17T1

RAYMOND REBBECK and SHELIA
MARY REBBECK,

          Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL,
INC., f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.,
as Successor in the Interest
to the Bendix Corporation,

     Defendant-Respondent.
____________________________

DAVID HARVEY and SHARON
HARVEY,

          Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL,
INC., f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.,
as Successor in the Interest
to the Bendix Corporation,
     Defendant-Respondent.
______________________________

ROGER WILLIAMS and SARAH
BEAUCHAMP-WILLIAMS,

     Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL,
INC., f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.,
as Successor in the Interest
to the Bendix Corporation,

     Defendant-Respondent.
______________________________

LESLIE JAMES GARDNER,

     Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL,
INC., f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.,
as Successor in the Interest
to the Bendix Corporation,

     Defendant-Respondent.
______________________________

           Argued January 23, 2019 – Decided March 5, 2019

           Before Judges Hoffman, Suter and Firko.

                                                             A-4989-16T1
                                    2
           On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
           Division, Middlesex County, Docket Nos. L-4286-16,
           L-6318-15, L-2314-16 and L-6817-16.

           Daniel J. Woodard argued the cause for appellants
           Raymond and Sheila Mary Rebbeck in A-4989-16,
           David and Sharon Harvey in A-4990-16, and Roger
           Williams and Sarah Beauchamp-Williams in A-4991-
           16 (Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein, Blader, PC, and
           Brendan J. Tully (Phillips & Paolicelli) of the New
           York bar, admitted pro hac vice, attorneys; Robert E.
           Lytle, on the briefs).

           Daniel J. Woodard argued the cause for appellant Leslie
           James Gardner in A-3204-17 (Phillips & Paolicelli,
           LLP, attorneys; Daniel J. Woodard, on the briefs).

           John C. Garde argued the cause for respondents
           (McCarter & English, LLP, and Gibbons PC, attorneys;
           John C. Garde and Ethan D. Stein, of counsel; Jean P.
           Patterson and Elizabeth K. Monahan, on the brief).

PER CURIAM

     In this appeal, we address the dismissal of the asbestos-related product

liability claims of now-deceased residents of the United Kingdom (U.K.),

plaintiffs 1 Raymond Rebbeck, David Harvey, Roger Williams, and Leslie James

Gardner, against defendant Honeywell International, Inc. (Honeywell) on the

1
   The spouses of Rebbeck, Harvey, and Williams also sue per quod. We
previously consolidated the Rebbeck, Harvey, and Williams cases for purposes
of this opinion. Since the Gardner appeal was heard back-to-back on the same
calendar, we consolidate it for purposes of this opinion as well.

                                                                     A-4989-16T1
                                     3
ground of forum non conveniens. After careful review, we affirm the Law

Division orders of dismissal in each case, but remand for the entry of a modified

order in the Gardner case to mirror the dismissal orders in the other cases.

      The central facts are not in dispute. Plaintiffs were lifetime residents of

the U.K., where they worked as automobile mechanics. Part of their jobs

entailed installing replacement brakes – plaintiffs contend they predominately

installed Bendix Corporation brakes, which at the time contained asbestos.

Plaintiffs claim that the asbestos dust they inhaled from those br akes caused

them to develop mesothelioma.

      Between October 2015 and November 2016, plaintiffs filed their

complaints against Honeywell as the successor in interest to Bendix

Corporation.2 Incorporated in Delaware, Honeywell maintains its principal

place of business in New Jersey. Plaintiffs' complaints alleged breach of express

and implied warranties, the marketing of an ultra-hazardous product, breach of

the duty to warn, and that Honeywell "willfully . . . with[e]ld information from

[p]laintiff[s] . . . and the general public."

2
 Bendix merged into Allied Corporation, which merged into Allied Signal, Inc.,
which merged into Honeywell, Inc.
                                                                          A-4989-16T1
                                           4
      The parties conducted limited discovery, including the depositions of

plaintiffs before they died. Honeywell then filed motions to dismiss based on

the doctrine of forum non conveniens. The parties submitted voluminous factual

materials in support of and in opposition to the motions, including affidavits

from asbestos litigation experts in the U.K.: Patrick Gerard Walsh and Harry

David Glyn Steinberg, on behalf of plaintiffs; and Nicholas Aidin Pargeter on

behalf of Honeywell.

      After hearing oral argument, Judge Jane B. Cantor issued an oral opinion

granting Honeywell's motion to dismiss in the Rebbeck, Harvey, and Williams

cases based on forum non conveniens. After hearing oral argument in the

Gardner case, Judge Ana C. Viscomi granted Honeywell's motion to dismiss,

also based on forum non conveniens. She issued a written opinion setting forth

the reasons for her decision. These appeals followed.

      Forum non conveniens is an equitable doctrine, and its application is left

to the sound discretion of the trial judge. Kurzke v. Nissan Motor Corp. in

U.S.A., 164 N.J. 159, 165 (2000). Accordingly, we will not intervene absent a

clear abuse of discretion. Civic S. Factors Corp. v. Bonat, 65 N.J. 329, 332

(1974). The essence of forum non conveniens is that a court may decline

jurisdiction "whenever the ends of justice indicate a trial in the forum selected

                                                                         A-4989-16T1
                                       5
by the plaintiff would be inappropriate." D'Agostino v. Johnson & Johnson,

Inc., 225 N.J. Super. 250, 259 (App. Div. 1988).

      The defendant,

            as the entity invoking the doctrine of forum non
            conveniens, bears the burden of establishing that New
            Jersey is not a convenient forum for this litigation.
            [Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 255
            (1981).] However, less deference is accorded to [the]
            plaintiffs' forum choice in this case than would
            normally be accorded because of [the] plaintiffs'
            residence in the U.K., not in this State. Id. at 255-56.
            When the home forum has been chosen, it is reasonable
            to assume that this choice is convenient. When the
            plaintiff is foreign, however, this assumption is much
            less reasonable. Because the central purpose of any
            forum non conveniens inquiry is to ensure that the trial
            is convenient, a foreign plaintiff's choice deserves less
            deference. Ibid.

            [In re Vioxx Litig., 395 N.J. Super. 358, 364-65 (App.
            Div. 2007).]

      The first inquiry by the court on a dismissal application based on forum

non conveniens is whether there is an adequate alternative forum for the case

where the defendant is amenable to service of process and the subject matter of

the dispute may be litigated. Varo v. Owens-Illinois, Inc., 400 N.J. Super. 508,

519-20 (App. Div. 2008). Assuming a proper alternative forum, the court must

consider and weigh both public and private interest factors to determine whether

                                                                        A-4989-16T1
                                       6
the plaintiff's choice of forum is appropriate for the matters in issue. Gulf Oil

Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 508-09 (1947).

      The public interest factors are as follows:

            (1) the administrative difficulties which follow from
            having litigation "pile up in congested centers" rather
            than being handled at its origin, (2) the imposition of
            jury duty on members of a community having no
            relation to the litigation, (3) the local interest in the
            subject matter such that affected members of the
            community may wish to view the trial[,] and (4) the
            local interest "in having localized controversies
            decided at home."

            [Aguerre v. Schering-Plough Corp., 393 N.J. Super.
            459, 474 (App. Div. 2007) (quoting Gulf Oil Corp., 330
            U.S. at 508-09).]

      The private interest factors are:

            (1) the relative ease of access to sources of proof, (2)
            the availability of compulsory process for attendance of
            unwilling witnesses and the cost of obtaining the
            attendance of willing witnesses, (3) whether a view of
            the premises is appropriate to the action[,] and (4) all
            other practical problems that make trial of the case
            "easy, expeditious and inexpensive," including the
            enforceability of the ultimate judgment.

            [Ibid.]

      Judge Cantor stated in her oral opinion that the U.K. is a proper alternative

forum since plaintiffs were residents of the U.K., and they have the right to bring

suit against Honeywell in the U.K. She added that if a U.K. court should reject

                                                                           A-4989-16T1
                                          7
plaintiffs' claims on the basis that the U.K. does not hear product liability cases

brought by claimants who used an allegedly defective product during the course

of their employment, then she would "invite these cases back." In her written

opinion, Judge Viscomi found the U.K. constitutes an adequate alternative

forum because the parties agree the U.K. processes workplace asbestos litigation

against claimants' employers.

      Having found an adequate alternative forum, the judges went on to address

the public and private interests.     Judge Cantor stressed the administrative

difficulties having the cases in New Jersey, and that the U.K "has a much greater

local interest in the international impact of products [imported] into [its]

country."

      Applying the public interest factors, Judge Viscomi found:

            1) . . . . Middlesex is the [Multicounty Litigation]
            jurisdiction for asbestos cases. Presently pending are
            over 400 cases with approximately 100 [attorneys]
            representing living mesothelioma plaintiffs. Their
            cases are expedited. Opening the docket to European
            residents who have an adequate alternative forum
            would delay the disposition of United States residents[']
            claims, particularly those who have been diagnosed
            with mesothelioma. 2) . . . . The Middlesex jurors
            would be asked to sit on a case involving a foreign
            plaintiff and a foreign defendant. The products at issue
            were manufactured in Europe. 3) . . . . There would
            be no local interest in the Middlesex jurors given that
            both . . . plaintiff and . . . defendant's products are

                                                                           A-4989-16T1
                                        8
            foreign. The public interest would inure to the
            plaintiff's community in the [U.K.] to observe the
            proceeding there. And [4)] the local interest in having
            localized controversies decided at home. This factor
            inured to the localized interest in the [U.K.] and not
            Middlesex County.

      In addressing the private interest factors, Judge Viscomi found:

            1) The relative ease of access to sources of proof rests
            primarily, if not exclusively in the [U.K.] Plaintiff has
            never been in New Jersey. Pursuing a product liability
            claim would require extensive discovery process in the
            [U.K.] as to alternate exposure and medical treatment.
            2) . . . . All of the witnesses, with the exception of
            perhaps some, if any, corporate witnesses are in the
            [U.K.] Would they all come to the United States:
            Would the court be able to secure their attendance? 3)
            Whether a view of the premises is appropriate to the
            action. . . . generally does not apply in asbestos
            litigation. 4) . . . . This court would have to apply
            [U.K.] law and instruct the jury as to [U.K.] law.

However, she declined to dismiss Gardner's complaint without prejudice,

instead entering a "with prejudice" dismissal.

      Contrary to plaintiffs' arguments on appeal, we find no clear showing of

an abuse of discretion by either trial judge. There is no suggestion that the U.K.

would not provide a proper forum to adjudicate this matter, particularly via

claims against plaintiffs' former employers. Plaintiffs did not establish that their

claims cannot be filed against Honeywell in the U.K., conceding that such claims

are "technically possible," although with "practical impediments."

                                                                            A-4989-16T1
                                         9
      Honeywell's expert explained that bringing a suit such as plaintiffs'

against a former employer is more common than filing against the product

manufacturer, as

            the level of damages which a plaintiff will receive is the
            same whether the claim is brought in [employer
            liability], public liability[,] or product liability. The
            principle of compensatory damages [in the U.K.]
            mandates that a claimant will be no better or worse off
            depending upon which cause of action his claim is
            based. Simply put[,] once a plaintiff in the [U.K.] has
            been compensated by an employer, the plaintiff cannot
            successfully make an additional claim against a
            manufacturer[,] because the claimant would be seeking
            damages for the same harm[,] and is not entitled to
            double compensation.

Honeywell's expert went on to explain the additional costs and financial risks

that claimants such as plaintiffs would incur while suing a product manufacturer

such as Honeywell, as opposed to their employers. The additional cost and risk,

combined with the availability of essentially the same remedy against

employers, explain why it is more common and practical for U.K. claimants to

sue their employers as opposed to the product manufacturer; however, this

reality does not make the U.K. an inadequate alternative forum.          As we

previously held:

            [W]e have difficulty accepting the position of a group
            of residents of the U.K. that perceived inadequacies in
            the tort and damages laws and the rules for funding and

                                                                         A-4989-16T1
                                       10
            cost allocation of their countries of residence entitle
            them to seek justice in New Jersey where the law and
            fee arrangements are more favorable.           By this
            argument, plaintiffs essentially contend that the U.K.
            provides an inadequate forum for the resolution of the
            disputes of the English and Welsh living within its
            borders. We do not regard the claimed inadequacies of
            one country's system of funding suits and allocating
            costs as a ticket to relief elsewhere, but rather, as a
            subject for legislative or court reform, should such be
            warranted.

            [In re Vioxx Litig., 395 N.J. Super. at 373-74.]

      We are further satisfied there was no clear showing of an abuse of

discretion regarding either judge's evaluation of the private and public interest

factors. The case is "localized" in the U.K., not New Jersey, as all of the alleged

claims arose from employment in the U.K., where most witnesses in the cases

reside.   We also acknowledge Judge Viscomi's summary of the extent of

asbestos litigation currently pending in Middlesex County, and the potential

floodgates that could open if we begin importing cases from European countries

with adequate forums, and the effect that would have on our courts and the

claims of our residents. Since the public factors are sufficient to sustain a forum

non conveniens application, we need not consider the private factors. See id. at

379-80.

                                                                           A-4989-16T1
                                       11
      Lastly, we agree with Judge Cantor's view that this matter should return

to New Jersey if the U.K. should decline to accept jurisdiction over plaintiffs'

claims. Such a conditional order of dismissal without prejudice was correctly

entered in the Rebbeck, Harvey, and Williams cases. We conclude the order

dismissing the Gardner case should contain the same conditional language as

the orders entered in the other cases. 3

      Affirmed but remanded for the entry of an amended order of dismissal in

the Gardner case. We do not retain jurisdiction.

3
  At oral argument, Honeywell's counsel consented to this amendment to the
order dismissing the Gardner case.
                                                                        A-4989-16T1
                                           12