United States Fourth Circuit

An order dismissing plaintiff's defamation suit for forum non conveniens is reversed in part and vacated and remanded where: 1) denial of plaintiff's motion to amend to join another defendant is reversed as the district court abused its discretion in preventing plaintiff's amendment as of right; and 2) dismissal of the case for forum non conveniens as to defendant is vacated as the ruling was premature because another defendant was rightfully added as a defendant.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/29/2009
• Decided 01/15/2010
• Published 01/15/2010

Judges

• Before TRAXLER, Chief Judge, and GREGORY and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Frank Alwin Edgar, Jr., Kaufman & Canoles, PC, Newport News, Virginia, for Appellant. Christopher Scott Anulewicz, Balch & Bingham, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia, for Appellee. ON BRIEF:Marc E. Darnell, Kaufman & Canoles, PC, Newport News, Virginia, for Appellant. K. Alex Khoury, Balch & Bingham, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia, for Appellee.