Article

Factual Summary:To pay for retail goods, Applicant caused its bank, located in Chicago, to issue five commercial LCs payable to Beneficiary. When Beneficiary presented the documents to Issuer in Chicago, it dishonored, and Beneficiary sued Issuer for wrongful dishonor in New York state court. The case was removed on Issuer's motion to the federal court in New York City. On Issuer's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and forum non conveniens, the court denied the motion to dismiss and transferred the case to federal court in northern Illinois.


Legal Analysis:

1. Personal Jurisdiction: Issuer contended that it had insufficient contact with the forum state, New York, to justify the exercise of personal jurisdiction, and moved for dismissal. The court denied Issuer's motion because it found Issuer was present and doing business in the jurisdiction. Issuer had operated a subsidiary in NY that the court ruled was not independent but a "mere department" based on factors such as sole ownership, absence of distinct financial statements, identical executive personnel, apparent control of subsidiary's marketing and operational policies, and the exclusive sale of the subsidiaries services through the issuer's web site.

2. Forum Non Conveniens: Issuer contended that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois was the most convenient forum and, in the alternative, moved for transfer of the case there. The court granted this motion, finding transfer to be in the interest of justice because Issuer had its principle place of business in Illinois, all documents and witnesses were located in Illinois, no documents or witnesses were located in NY, and Beneficiary was a foreign corporation.

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