Forum Non Conveniens and the "Flat" Globe

Authors

Andrew Filipour

Abstract

The doctrine of forum non conveniens was developed as a pragmatic response to an evolving judicial economy. This sense of pragmatism has continued to define application of the doctrine in the United States. Yet, in the international context, the Supreme Court last outlined the contours of forum non conveniens analysis in 1981 but, in the decades since, technological advancement has significantly altered the litigation playing field. For example, discovery is less burdensome now that documents are digitally transferable. And, even if relevant evidence isn't digitizable, shipping costs have decreased significantly. Echoing these facts, critics argue forum non conveniens has lost the pragmatism that once defined the doctrine.

Recommended Citation

Andrew Filipour, Forum Non Conveniens and the "Flat" Globe, 33 Emory Int'l L. Rev. 587 (2019).
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/eilr/vol33/iss4/4