Case 1:20-cv-04438-DLC Document 97
Case 1:20-cv-04438-DLC Document 97
APPEARANCES:
Joseph S. Alonzo
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10036
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Ryan M. Moore
Dechert LLP
2929 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
granted.
Background
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with CL Bank and BLC Bank. CL Bank and BLC Bank are both
that
United States bank accounts and their BLC Bank and CL Bank
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BLC Bank and included the words “BLC Bank” or “CL Bank” in
several banks in the United States, but each bank rejected the
deposits.
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opened the second while in the United States. Upon opening each
States. As was the case when a similar request was made to BLC
the AM Bank check was drawn on BDL, but included the signature
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Discussion
forum non conveniens. BLC Bank and AM Bank have also moved to
Fed. R. Civ. P.
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Atl. Marine Const. Co. v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for W. Dist. of Texas,
negotiations and may have affected how they set monetary and
other contractual terms.” Id. at 66. “In all but the most
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Martinez v. Bloomberg LP, 740 F.3d 211, 217 (2d Cir. 2014)
(citation omitted).
if
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upon her return to Lebanon, suggesting that they face the same
to Lebanon.
law because it binds only the plaintiffs and not AM Bank. While
foreign law may govern certain questions regarding the
interpretation of forum selection clauses, “[f]ederal law must
govern the ultimate enforceability of a forum selection clause”
in federal court. Martinez, 740 F.3d at 218. Under federal
law, a forum selection clause is enforceable even if it binds
only one party. See Karl Koch Erecting Co., Inc. v. New York
Convention Center Development Corp., 838 F.2d 656, 659-60 (2d
Cir. 1988).
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v. Nak Naftogaz of Ukraine, 311 F.3d 488, 499 (2d Cir. 2002).
Lebanon. 5
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Co., Ltd. v. MAN B&W Diesel AG, 121 F.3d 24, 33 (2d Cir. 1997).
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the parties are domiciled here and almost none of the relevant
dispute may not involve the application of New York law. To the
premised on federal law and Florida law, not New York law. It
would make little sense to burden a New York court and jury with
Bank and BLC Bank and the public interest factors weigh in favor
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Welsh Gov't, 961 F.3d 555, 559 (2d Cir. 2020) (citation
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1603(e).
Pablo Star, 961 F.3d 559-60. But once a prima facie case is
immunity applies.” Id. at 560. “Once the plaintiff has met its
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complaint is absent.
Ziraat Bankasi A.S., 602 F.3d 69, 74 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting
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(citation omitted).
felt in the United States was contingent on, inter alia, the
States.
granted.
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defendant.” SPV Osus Ltd. v. UBS AG, 882 F.3d 333, 342 (2d Cir.
the case. Friedman v. Bloomberg L.P., 884 F.3d 83, 90 (2d Cir.
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732 F.3d 161, 168 (2d Cir. 2013) (Licci II). In order to show
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A. Frequency of Transactions
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transactions).
See Khalife v. Audi Saradar Private Bank SAL, 129 A.D.3d 468
Lebanese bank where “all four claims [were] based solely upon
Conclusion
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____________________________
DENISE COTE
United States District Judge
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