Case Brought by UK Citizen Re: Death in Dubai Dismissed on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds

Over a substantial dissent, the Second Department affirmed Supreme Court’s grant of a dismissal motion on forum non conveniens grounds.  Plaintiff’s decedent died of Legionnaire’s disease after staying in defendant’s hotel in Dubai.  The only connection with New York was defendant’s global headquarters in White Plains. The plaintiffs were citizens of the UK:

The doctrine of forum non conveniens permits a court to stay or dismiss an action when, although it may have jurisdiction over a claim, the court determines that “in the interest of substantial justice the action should be heard in another forum” (CPLR 327[a]…). A defendant bears the burden on a motion to dismiss on the ground of forum non conveniens to “demonstrate relevant private or public interest factors which militate against accepting the litigation” … . “On such a motion, the Supreme Court is to weigh the parties’ residencies, the location of the witnesses and any hardship caused by the choice of forum, the availability of an alternative forum, the situs of the action, and the burden on the New York court system” … . “No one factor is dispositive” … . “The Supreme Court’s determination should not be disturbed unless the court improvidently exercised its discretion or failed to consider the relevant factors” … . Boyle v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, 2013 NY Slip Op 06830, 2nd Dept 10-23-13