United States Ninth Circuit

In a tort action arising out of a scuba diving accident, the dismissal of the action on forum non conveniens grounds is affirmed where a claim implicating the Death on the High Seas Act is within the admiralty jurisdiction of the federal courts, and is thus subject to discretionary dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/21/2008
• Decided 10/02/2009
• Published 10/02/2009

Judges

• Before DIARMUID F. O'SCANNLAIN, PAMELA ANN RYMER, and ANDREW J. KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Scott E. Stafne, Stafne Law Firm, Arlington, WA, (argued);  Martin D. Fox, Martin D. Fox, Inc., Seattle, WA, for the plaintiffs-appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Melissa O. White (argued), Rodney Q. Fonda and Douglas Tuffley, Cozen O'Connor, Seattle, WA, for the defendants-appellees., Stephen L. Hewitt and Kevin C. Almeter, Hewitt & Truszkowski, North Hollywood (Los Angeles), CA, for defendants-appellees PADI Worldwide and PADI Americas.