Court Opinion

ID: 9463848
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 23:17:38.621977+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:38:18.519863
License: Public Domain

SEITZ, Chief Judge,
concurring.
While I concur in the result reached by the majority, I feel compelled to express my view of New Jersey law from my reading of Heavner v. Uniroyal, Inc., 63 N.J. 130, 305 A.2d 412 (1973). Plaintiffs’ sole contention is that New Jersey has a substantial interest in the application of its statute of limitations in the present case. I agree with plaintiffs that, under Heavner, if it is determined that New Jersey has a substantial interest in applying its law, the New Jersey courts would, without more, apply New Jersey’s own limitation period. They would not, in this situation at least, balance among all five of the Heavner factors.
Plaintiffs argue that New Jersey’s substantial interest in applying its own law arises from the fact that one of the defendants is incorporated in and has its principal place of business in New Jersey. It is my view that such facts alone are not of the type visualized by the New Jersey court as the basis for concluding that New Jersey has a substantial interest in the present factual and legal context. I do not believe New Jersey would say that making its corporations respond to claims would in itself constitute the requisite substantial interest. To postulate that New Jersey would recognize such a broad-ranging interest would largely result in the negation of the salutary purpose of the Heavner rule, particularly in product liability cases.