Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno
United States Supreme Court
454 U.S. 235, 102 S.Ct. 252, 70 L.Ed.2d 419 (1981)
- Written by DeAnna Swearingen, LLM
Facts
A British company’s airplane crashed in Scotland, killing its Scottish pilot and five Scottish passengers. A British investigation did not determine the crash’s cause but found pilot error was likely. Piper Aircraft Company (Piper) (defendant) had manufactured the plane in Pennsylvania, and Hartzell Propeller, Inc. (Hartzell) (defendant) had manufactured its propellers in Ohio. On behalf of the passengers’ estates, Gaynell Reyno (plaintiff) sued both manufacturers in California state court, choosing an American court because American tort and damages laws were more favorable to the estates than Scottish law. The manufacturers removed the case to federal court, and it was transferred to a Pennsylvania federal district court. However, the plane’s wreckage and key witnesses were located overseas, out of reach of the American courts. Additionally, in the American court, Pennsylvania law would apply to Piper, but Scottish law would apply to Hartzell. The manufacturers moved to dismiss the case under the common-law doctrine of forum non conveniens. Finding the case was overwhelmingly connected to Scotland, the district court granted the motion. The Third Circuit reversed, ruling the case could not be dismissed on forum non conveniens grounds because the alternative forum’s law was less favorable to the plaintiffs. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Marshall, J.)
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