Fasano v. PEGGY YU YU
Opinion of the Court
*335Plaintiffs-appellants Altimeo Asset Management, Altimeo Optimum Fund, and Joe Fasano (collectively, "Plaintiffs") appeal from a judgment of the district court entered January 2, 2018, dismissing their complaint against defendants-appellees E-Commerce China Dangdang, Inc. ("Dangdang") and its directors, executives, controlling shareholders, and affiliated companies (collectively, "Defendants"). Suing on behalf of a putative class, Plaintiffs asserted claims for damages under federal and state law in connection with a "going private merger" by which certain controlling defendants purchased American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") from Dangdang's minority shareholders. Plaintiffs contend that the consideration paid by Defendants was below market and grossly unfair. By opinion and order entered December 29, 2017, the district court granted Defendants' motion to dismiss on the ground of forum non conveniens , holding that the Cayman Islands provided an adequate alternative forum. We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts, procedural history, and issues on appeal.
We review dismissals of a complaint for forum non conveniens for abuse of discretion. Martinez v. Bloomberg LP ,
In general, we have recognized that when a defendant moves to dismiss on the ground of forum non conveniens , courts assess: (1) the deference to be accorded the plaintiff's choice of forum; (2) the adequacy of the alternative forum proposed by the defendants; and (3) the balance between the private and public interests implicated in the choice of forum. Norex Petroleum ,
Nevertheless, the presumption of enforceability is not automatic. Instead, a district court must consider three factors in determining whether the presumption of enforceability applies to a forum selection clause: whether (1) the clause was reasonably communicated to the party resisting its enforcement; (2) the clause is mandatory or permissive; and (3) the claims and parties to the dispute are subject to the clause. Magi XXI, Inc. v. Stato della Citta del Vaticano ,
With respect to the deference afforded to Plaintiffs' choice of forum, Defendants acknowledge that the receipts for the ADSs contained a mandatory forum selection clause, which provides that certain controversies, claims, or causes of action arising out of the ADSs "shall be litigated in the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York." J. App'x 389.
On appeal, Defendants make two arguments with respect to the forum selection clause. First, they claim that Plaintiffs waived their reliance on the forum selection clause by failing to raise the issue in the district court. Second, they argue that even if Plaintiffs did not waive their reliance on the forum selection clause, the scope of the clause does not cover the key defendants and claims here. The first argument fails, and the second argument is better considered by the district court in the first instance.
With respect to the argument that Plaintiffs failed to raise the forum selection clause below, the record is clearly to the contrary. In their memorandum in opposition to the motion to dismiss below, Plaintiffs expressly stated:
Such a clause "amounts to a mandatory forum selection clause at least where the plaintiff chooses the designated forum" for purposes of forum non conveniens . Aguas Lenders Recovery Grp. v. Suez, S.A .,585 F.3d 696 , 700 (2d Cir. 2009). It is an abuse discretion for a district court not to consider such a forum clause on a forum non conveniens motion.Id. at 701 . In Aguas Lenders , the Court held that such a forum selection clause was *337not just a factor in favor of a New York forum, but could be binding on a "successor in interest" or a "third-party beneficiary" of such a clause. (Id. ) Aguas Lenders should govern here.
Pls.' Opp. to Mot. to Dismiss, D. Ct. Dkt. No. 48 at 14. Accordingly, it cannot be seriously argued that Plaintiffs waived their reliance on the forum selection clause. See United States v. Harrell ,
Second, as to the scope and enforceability of the forum selection clause, remand to the district court is appropriate. See United States v. Gomez ,
* * *
We conclude that the district court abused its discretion in not considering the forum selection clause and its impact, if any, on the forum non conveniens analysis. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is VACATED , and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
The forum selection clause appears as part of the arbitration provisions in Dangdang's receipts, which provide that claims "relating to or based upon the provisions of the Federal securities law of the United States or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall be submitted to arbitration ... but only if, so elected by the claimant."
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Joe FASANO, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Altimeo Optimum Fund, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Altimeo Asset Management, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Peggy YU YU, Dangdang Holding Company Limited, E-Commerce China Dangdang, Inc., Kewen Holding Company Limited, Science & Culture International Limited, First Profit Management Limited, Danqian Yao, Lijun Chen, Min Kan, Guoqing Li, Ruby Rong Lu, Ke Zhang, Xiaolong Li
- Cited By
- 44 cases
- Status
- Published