Piper Aircraft Company v. Reyno (1981)
- Docket
- 80-848
- Decided
- 1981-01-01
Summary
Question: Does the possibility of an unfavorable change in law bar dismissal under forum non conveniens ? Conclusion: No. In a 4-3 majority opinion authored by Justice Thurgood Marshall, the Court held that the District Court properly weighed private and public interests using the Gulf Oil v. Gilbert test to determine that the trial should be held in Scotland. The possibility of a change in substantive law should ordinarily not be given conclusive or even substantial weight in the forum non conveniens inquiry. Justices Lewis Powell and Sandra Day O'Connor did not participate.