United States Fourth Circuit

In a tort action arising out of a ship collision, the dismissal of the complaint is affirmed where the District Court did not abuse its discretion in applying the doctrine of forum non conveniens, because the accident occurred in Chinese waters and proceedings were already underway in a Chinese court.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/26/2009
• Published 06/26/2009

Judges

• Before NIEMEYER and SHEDD, Circuit Judges, and THOMAS D. SCHROEDER, United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Mary Campbell Broughton, Fowler Rodriguez Valdes-Fauli, Mobile, Alabama, for Appellants.  Gordon D. Schreck, Buist, Moore, Smythe, McGee, PA, Charleston, South Carolina;  Douglas M. Muller, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, Charleston, South Carolina, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  Antonio J. Rodriguez, Alanson T. Chenault, IV, Fowler & Rodriguez, New Orleans, Louisiana;  Paul F. Tecklenburg, Tecklenburg Law Firm, LLC, Charleston, South Carolina, for Appellants.  Adriane M. Belton, Buist, Moore, Smythe, McGee, PA, Charleston, South Carolina, for Appellee MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA.