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Justice Required: Using A Preservation-Of-Court-Access Approach To Forum Non Conveniens In Five International Product-Injury Case Studies, Jeffrey A. Van Detta
Justice Required: Using A Preservation-Of-Court-Access Approach To Forum Non Conveniens In Five International Product-Injury Case Studies, Jeffrey A. Van Detta
Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business
The American federal courts have used a questionable common law procedural rule to erect a virtually impenetrable barrier for those injured in other countries by products or industrial activities of U.S.-based multinationals. This barrier exists as the forum non conveniens ("FNC") rule. Section II briefly reviews the current problems that the FNC rule causes and explains its origins. In Section III, I describe my doctrinal shift away from the FNC rule to a preservation-of-court-access statute. I demonstrate in Section IV, the focus of the article, how applying that statute would change the outcome of actual product injury cases filed by …
Alcoa Steamship Co. V. M/V Nordic Regent: Narrowing The Scope Of Inquiry In Forum Non Conveniens, R. George Weitz
Alcoa Steamship Co. V. M/V Nordic Regent: Narrowing The Scope Of Inquiry In Forum Non Conveniens, R. George Weitz
Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business
Increases in the amount and complexity of international trade and changes in jurisdictional rules over the last thirty years have often resulted in American courts serving as forums for suits involving non-residents. Very often these suits are the result of transactions that have occurred abroad and may be governed by foreign law as well. Obvious difficulties confront a party compelled to defend in a foreign court. Problems such as unfamiliarity with the language or legal process, unavailability of witnesses, or expenses incurred in bringing evidence from another country have led foreign defendants to seek dismissal of suits on the grounds …