BARCLAY SURRICK, District Judge.
Presently before the Court are Defendant Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' Complaint Pursuant to F.R.C.P 12(b)(3) (ECF No. 4), and Defendant Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' Complaint Pursuant to F.R.C.P 12(b)(3) (ECF No. 13). For the following reasons, Defendants' Motions will be denied.
On July 26, 2012, Plaintiffs Paige Peabody Yager and her husband, Jeffrey Yager, commenced this action in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against Defendants Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. ("Starwood"), Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort ("Sheraton"), and Baha Mar Properties, Ltd. ("Baha Mar"). (Compl., Notice of Removal, Ex. A, ECF No. 1.)
On August 21, 2012, Starwood removed the action to this Court. (Notice of Removal.) On August 28, 2012, Starwood filed the instant Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3). (Starwood's Mot., ECF No. 4.) Defendant Sheraton also filed a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) on November 26, 2012. (Sheraton's Mot., ECF No. 13.)
On September 11, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a Response in Opposition to Starwood's Motion to Dismiss. (Pls.' Resp. to Starwood, ECF No. 5.) On October 19, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Brief Opposing Defendant Starwood's Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 9.) They also filed a response to Sheraton's Motion to Dismiss on December 7, 2012. (Pls.' Resp. to Sheraton, ECF No. 15.) On January 18, 2013, argument was held on Defendants' Motions. (Jan. 18, 2013 Hr'g Tr., ECF No. 21.)
Plaintiffs argue that Mrs. Yager's injuries resulted from the negligence of Defendants and their agents, servants, workmen, and/or employees. (Am. Compl. ¶ 22.) Plaintiffs assert that Defendants negligent behavior includes:
(Id. at ¶ 22(a)-(g).)
Both Starwood and Sheraton argue that Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint must be dismissed on the basis of forum non conveniens. In support of their Motions, Defendants attached the affidavit of Nicolas Lazarus, a Senior Loss Adjuster for Axis International Inc., who went to the Bahamas and investigated the events surrounding the accident. (Lazarus Aff., Starwood's Mot. Ex. G; Sheraton's Mot. Ex. H.)
Lazarus states that in November 2011, he traveled to Nassau to investigate the incident that gave rise to the claim, and that as part of the investigation he met with several individuals who had knowledge of the incident. (Lazarus Aff. ¶ 3.) As part of his investigation he was provided with incident reports prepared by Athena Carroll and Stephanie Foster, both of whom were Aqua Marine employees at the time of the accident. (Id. at ¶ 5.) Lazarus met with Carroll and Foster during the course of his investigation. (Id. at ¶ 6.) In his affidavit, Lazarus reports that both Carroll and Foster assisted in erecting the waterslide prior to the incident, and were "eyewitnesses" to the events at issue. (Id. at ¶¶ 7-8.) He further reports that Foster provided assistance to Mrs. Yager after the accident. (Id. at ¶ 8.) Lazarus interviewed Taj Bastian, another Aqua Marine employee, who erected the waterslide and responded to Mrs. Yager after the incident occurred. (Id. at ¶ 9.) Lazarus interviewed Jacob Davis, a Sheraton security employee who also responded to the scene of the incident. (Id. at ¶ 10.) Finally, Lazarus reports that Mrs. Yager received initial medical treatment at a Doctors Hospital in the Bahamas, and underwent diagnostic testing at Fourth Terrace Diagnostic Centre Imaging at Grosvenor. (Id. at ¶ 11.)
In further support of its Motion, Starwood provides the affidavits of Rothia Ferguson (Ferguson Aff., Sheraton's Mot. Ex. I) and Taj Bastian (Bastian Aff., Sheraton's Mot. Ex. J.) Ferguson is the Business Development Manager for Aqua Marine, and states that Athena Carroll was nearby the waterslide that landed on Mrs. Yager, and that Carroll attended to her following the accident. (Ferguson Aff. ¶¶ 1-3.) Ferguson does not state that Carroll was an eyewitness to the accident. Ferguson states that Carroll is no longer employed by Aqua Marine. (Id. at ¶ 4.) In Bastian's affidavit, he states that he is still employed with Aqua Marine, and that he attended to Mrs. Yager following the waterslide collapse. (Bastian Aff. ¶ 1, 3.) Again, he does not state that he was a witness to the accident itself. He states that if he were required to travel to the United States for trial, it would be a substantial personal and professional burden. (Id. at ¶ 5.)
In response, Plaintiffs identify several witnesses who will testify on their behalf who are located in the United States. First, Plaintiffs identify Carl Udell, an eyewitness to the incident, who helped to extricate Mrs. Yager from beneath the waterslide, and took photographs of the accident scene immediately following the incident. (Lavner Aff. ¶ 5, Pls.' Resp. Ex. 3.) Udell is a resident of Ohio, and states that he is willing to provide testimony in Philadelphia, but that it would be a substantial hardship if he were required to testify in the Bahamas. (Id.) Plaintiffs also identify several medical professionals who have provided medical treatment to Mrs. Yager following the incident. (Id. at ¶ 4.) These medical providers are all based in and around the Philadelphia area. (Id.) Finally, Plaintiffs state that approximately twenty-five witnesses will provide testimony regarding Mrs. Yager's condition immediately prior to the accident and her subsequent medical and physical condition. (Id. at ¶ 7.) According to Plaintiffs, these individuals reside in Michigan and Pennsylvania and travel to the Bahamas for a trial would create an undue hardship for these individuals. (Id.)
The ultimate inquiry for the district court when deciding whether to dismiss an action on the basis of forum non conveniens is whether retention of jurisdiction "will best serve the convenience of the parties and ends of justice." Lacey v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 862 F.2d 38, 43-44 (3d Cir. 1988) ("Lacey I") (quoting Koster v. Am. Lumbermans Mut. Cas. Co., 330 U.S. 518, 527 (1947). Dismissal is appropriate if maintaining the case in the plaintiff's chosen forum would "impose[] a heavy burden on the defendant or the court, and where plaintiff is unable to offer any specific reasons of convenience supporting his choice." Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 249 (1981). In analyzing motions to dismiss based on forum non conveniens, the court must first determine whether there is an adequate alternative forum in which the case may be heard. Lony v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 935 F.2d 604, 633 (3d Cir. 1991). The court must then determine the amount of deference to be accorded to the plaintiff's choice of forum. Id. If an adequate forum exists, then the court must balance certain private and public interest factors. Id. The district court has considerable discretion in balancing these factors. Van Cauwenberghe v. Biard, 486 U.S. 517, 529 (1988).
If the court finds that "the relevant private and public interest factors are in equipoise, or even if they lean only slightly toward dismissal, the motion to dismiss must be denied." Lacey v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 932 F.2d 170, 180 (3d Cir. 1991) ("Lacey II"). The Third Circuit has established that dismissal for forum non conveniens should be "the exception rather than the rule." Lony, 935 F.2d at 609.
"[T]he defendant bears the burden of persuasion as to all elements of the forum non conveniens analysis." Lacey I, 862 F.2d at 43-44. In order to meet this burden, the defendant "`must provide enough information to enable the District Court to balance the parties' interests.'" Id. at 44 (quoting Piper, 454 U.S. at 258). The court's inquiry into the facts does not "require extensive investigation, and may be resolved on affidavits presented by the parties . . . ." Biard, 486 U.S. at 529.
Defendants must first establish that an adequate alternative forum exists as to all defendants. Lacey II, 932 F.2d at 180. An adequate alternative forum exists where the defendants are amenable to process in another jurisdiction. Id. Defendants Sheraton and Baha Mar are amenable to process in the Bahamas as they are both incorporated in the Bahamas, and have their principal places of business there. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 3, 4.) Defendant Starwood agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of the Bahamian Courts and waive any jurisdictional or venue defenses available to them in the Bahamian Courts or under Bahamian law. (Starwood's Mot. 5.) Accordingly, the Bahamas is an adequate alternative forum.
The plaintiff's choice of forum is ordinarily given considerable deference and "should rarely be disturbed, unless the balance of factors is strongly in favor of the defendant." Lacey I, 862 F.2d at 43. This presumption in favor of the plaintiff's chosen forum is particularly strong when the plaintiff is a United States citizen. Colantonio v. Hilton Int'l. Co., No. 03-1833, 2004 WL 1810291, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 13, 2004) (citing Piper, 454 U.S at 255-56 n.23). As Plaintiffs are United States citizens and residents of this District, their choice of forum is entitled to substantial deference.
The private interest factors to be considered by a court in deciding a forum non conveniens motion are: the relative ease of access to sources of proof; availability of compulsory process for attendance of unwilling, and the cost of obtaining attendance of willing witnesses; possibility of view of premises, if view would be appropriate to the action; and all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive.
Piper, 454 U.S. at 241 n. 6 (quoting Gulf Oil Corp v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 508 (1947)).
In addition to these factors, the court may consider the defendant's ability to implead potential third-party defendants. Id. at 259.
When evaluating the relative ease of access to sources of proof, and the availability of witnesses, "the district court must scrutinize the `substance of the dispute between the parties to evaluate what proof is required, and determine whether the pieces of evidence cited by the parties are critical, or even relevant to, the plaintiff's cause of action and to any potential defenses to the action.'" Lacey I, 862 F.2d at 46 (quoting Biard, 486 U.S. at 528).
Defendants argue that the waterslide is an important "source of proof" and that it is located in the Bahamas. (Sheraton's Mot. 7.) Defendants argue that a "scientific examination" of the waterslide and a view of it by the jury may be "integral to the defense." (Id.) Defendants fail to indicate why they may not conduct a "scientific examination," and present those findings at a trial here in Philadelphia. Moreover, Defendants' suggestion that a jury view of the waterslide may be appropriate in this case is particularly misguided since there is no right to a jury trial under Bahamian law. See Campbell v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., No. 07-61744, 2008 WL 2844020, at *6 (E.D. Pa. July 23, 2008) ("[S]ince there is no right to a jury trial in a civil case in the Bahamas, there is no compelling argument to be made here that a jury needs to view the scene.") In any event, the waterslide and accident scene can be adequately described and presented at trial through photographs, diagrams, and testimony. Hall v. Nat'l Serv. Indus., Inc., 172 F.R.D. 157, 161 (E.D. Pa. 1997) ("[T]he parties will be able to present evidence at trial in the form of verbal descriptions, charts, and photographs depicting the accident scene, thus rendering the necessity of the jury visiting the scene of the accident remote.").
Defendants assert that "all known eye-witnesses to the event . . . except Plaintiffs, are located in the Bahamas." (Sheraton's Mot. 6.) These eyewitnesses include current and former employees of Aqua Marine. (Id.) In addition to these eyewitnesses, Defendants indicate that the individuals who trained the allegedly negligent personnel involved with the waterslide are all located in the Bahamas. (Id. at 6-7.) Defendants maintain that they would incur substantial expense in obtaining the cooperation and attendance of these witnesses. (Id. at 7.) The geographical location of witnesses is not dispositive, however, as "the time and expense of obtaining the presence of the testimony of foreign witnesses is greatly reduced by commonplace modes of communication and travel." Reid-Walen v. Hansen, 933 F.2d 1390, 1397 (8th Cir. 1991) (citing Lehman v. Humphrey Cayman, Ltd., 713 F.2d 339, 343 (8th Cir. 1983)).
Defendants also assert that many of these anticipated witnesses are under the exclusive control of Aqua Marine, a non-party Bahamian company, and since these witnesses are beyond the Court's subpoena power, Defendants have no ability to produce these witnesses for either deposition or trial. (Id. at 7.) Plaintiffs contend that since Aqua Marine is operating on the hotel's premises in the Bahamas, it is indeed likely that Defendants can procure the cooperation of these employees, if in fact, their testimony is necessary and relevant to their defense. (Pls.' Resp. to Sheraton 9.) Moreover, Plaintiffs suggest that there is likely to be an indemnification and hold harmless agreement between Aqua Marine and the Defendants. (Id.) We do not believe that Plaintiffs' contention is wholly unreasonable, and Defendants have failed to provide the Court with any contrary evidence or assertion. Moreover, Defendants have merely shown that these Aqua Marine employees attended to Mrs. Yager after the accident, not that they were crucial eyewitnesses to the accident in question. (Jan. 18 Hr'g Tr. 9.) Accordingly, this particular factor does not militate in favor of dismissal.
Beyond these eyewitnesses, Defendants state that the medical professionals who examined Mrs. Yager immediately following the incident are located in the Bahamas. (Sheraton's Mot. 6.) While these individuals may be able to provide testimony as to the treatment administered immediately following the incident, Mrs. Yager received the vast majority of her treatment from medical professionals located in the Philadelphia area. (Pls.' Resp. to Sheraton 10-11.) Their testimony will be particularly important to establish the nature and extent of Mrs. Yager's injuries, an important factor in determining damages. We also note that even if the testimony of the physicians in the Bahamas is needed, this type of expert medical testimony can be offered through video depositions. See Colantonio, 2004 WL 1810291, at *6 ("[E]xpert medical testimony is frequently offered by way of video depositions and often proves more cost effective and expeditious than live testimony.").
In addition to these aforementioned witnesses, there are several key witnesses located in the United States. As Starwood observes, Mrs. Yager herself is located in Pennsylvania, and will certainly provide critical testimony regarding the events surrounding the accident. Plaintiffs also identify Carl Udell, a resident of Ohio, as an important witness to the event. (Pls.' Resp. to Sheraton 10.) Not only did Udell extricate Mrs. Yager from underneath the slide, he also took photographs of the accident scene. (Id.) In addition, Plaintiffs state that Alex Chamblin, the Sheraton's acting General Manager at the time of the accident, is an important witness since he can provide important information about the Sheraton's property and operations. (Id.) Plaintiffs believe that Chamblin is currently located in the United States, and is working for another major hotel group. (Id. (citing Lavner Aff. ¶ 6).)
In sum, if the case proceeds to trial, there are witnesses from both the United States and the Bahamas who could be important to the disposition of the matter. In either forum these witnesses will be forced to travel or to testify by deposition or video conferencing. The inconvenience of a few witnesses located in the Bahamas is insufficient to overcome the deference we must give to Plaintiffs' chosen forum.
According to Defendants, Aqua Marine could be liable to one or more of Defendants for contribution, but as Aqua Marine is a Bahamian corporation, it would not be subject to the jurisdiction of this Court, and thus Defendants would be unable to implead Aqua Marine in this matter. (Sheraton's Mot. 8-9.) There is little doubt that the collapse of the waterslide was the direct cause of the injuries sustained by Mrs. Yager. However, part of Plaintiffs' allegations relate to the duty that Defendants, as the owners and operators of a hotel, owe to an invitee, such as Mrs. Yager. (See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 18, 22.) This is a separate inquiry from whether or not the owner and operator of the waterslide was negligent. See Reid-Walen, 933 F.2d at 1398 (stating that liability of third party who directly caused the plaintiff's injuries was independent question from whether defendant had duty to provide safe environment). While it may be inconvenient for Defendants to pursue an indemnity or contribution action in the Bahamas, it is certainly not unduly burdensome for Defendants to bring a separate lawsuit against Aqua Marine in the Bahamas. See id. (finding that despite the inconvenience of bringing separate indemnification action in foreign jurisdiction, the inability to implead third-party did not warrant forum non conveniens dismissal); Lehman, 713 F. 2d at 343-44 (concluding that since defendants could bring separate action for indemnification or contribution against third party in foreign jurisdiction the inability to implead the third party did not mandate dismissal); Derensis v. Coopers & Lybrand Chartered Accountants, 930 F.Supp. 1003, 1012 (D. N. J. 1996) (finding that the defendant's inability to implead other parties did not outweigh other factors since the defendant had the ability to pursue indemnification and contribution action in foreign jurisdiction); Mowrey v. Johnson & Johnson, 524 F.Supp. 771, 776 (W.D. Pa. 1981) ("[N]either the inability to implead third parties nor the lack of compulsory process necessarily mandates forum non conveniens dismissal of an action.").
As part of the private interest analysis, the Court should consider "the plaintiff's position, financial and otherwise, and his or her ability as a practical matter to bring suit in the alternative forum." Id. (citing Lehman, 713 F.2d at 343). Plaintiffs argue that they will undergo a substantial financial hardship if forced to litigate in the Bahamas because under Bahamian law, the use of contingency fees is prohibited. See Wilson v. Island Seas Invs. Ltd., 590 F.3d 1264, 1272 (11th Cir. 2009); Kristoff v. Otis Elevator Co., No. 96-4123, 1997 WL 67797, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 14, 1997). Due to the absence of contingency fee arrangements and the financial burden this would impose on Plaintiffs, this factor weighs in favor of Plaintiffs.
A court may grant dismissal where trial would impose a "heavy burden on the defendant." Piper, 454 U.S. at 249. Defendants have failed to demonstrate that litigating this matter in Philadelphia will impose a heavy burden. In fact, according to the Operating Agreement between Baha Mar and Sheraton, the United States is the preferred and more convenient forum. (See Operating Agreement, Sheraton's Mot. Ex. K.) Under the terms provided in that Agreement, all disputes between Starwood and Sheraton shall be resolved in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. (Id. at § 17.1.1.) The Agreement explicitly waives "all defenses based on lack of jurisdiction or inconvenient venue or forum for any litigation or other legal action or proceeding" pursued by the parties in the Southern District of New York. (Id. at § 17.5.1.) Clearly, the provisions of that Agreement refute Defendants' claims that litigating in the United States would create a substantial burden for Defendants.
After consideration of the private interest factors, we conclude that Defendants have failed to establish that the balance of these factors supports dismissal.
The defendant must also demonstrate that the public interest factors favor dismissal. The public interest factors include:
Piper, 454 U.S. at 241 n. 6. (quoting Gilbert, 330 U.S. at 509.)
Defendants do not specifically address the public interest factors that weigh in their favor. Rather, they generally claim that "Pennsylvania has virtually no connection to this incident, other than that the person who allegedly suffered injuries is a Pennsylvania resident," and that "[t]he Bahamas, not the United States, has an interest in regulating the manner in which its hotels and resorts are operated, and in protecting hotel's guests." (Sheraton Mot. 9-10.)
Defendants' suggestion that Pennsylvania has "virtually no connection to the incident" is without merit. Undoubtedly the Bahamas has an interest in a lawsuit involving an accident occurring at one of its resorts, but Pennsylvania has an interest in providing its citizens with a local forum to seek redress for injuries caused by foreign defendants. See Hall, 172 F.R.D. at 161 (concluding that Pennsylvania had an "interest in enabling residents of Pennsylvania to seek relief in a Pennsylvania court."). Since both forums have an interest in the litigation, this factor is at most neutral, and does not weigh in favor of either party.
Defendants did not address which jurisdiction's law would apply to the litigation. If Bahamian law were to apply to this action, there does not appear to be any issue with a federal court in Pennsylvania applying Bahamian law. The application of foreign law by a federal court "is not dispositive on the forum non conveniens issue." Lehman, 713 F.2d at 345. Moreover, there are no language barriers to this Court's understanding of Bahamian law. Bahamian law is derived from English common law, and as such, utilizes familiar legal concepts. See Reid-Walen, 933 F.2d at 1401. Defendants have failed to establish that the public interest factors weigh in favor of dismissal.
After balancing both the private and public interest factors, and in light of the substantial deference afforded to Plaintiffs' chosen forum, we conclude that dismissal on the basis of forum non conveniens is inappropriate.
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' Motions will be denied.
An appropriate Order follows.
