CONFLICT OF LAWS



Final Examination, Summer 2002







QUESTION I

240 raw points, 60 per cent



The hypothetical is based on the case of Kuwait Airways Corp. v. Iraqi Airways Co., [2002] UKHL 19.


Where may suit be filed?

Defendant may be sued wherever it may be found and served 6 points _______
That would include Iraq
6 points _______
And that would include the United Kingdom
6 points _______
Service may be had on an appointed agent for service of process 6 points _______
Or service may be made on ticket-counter personnel 6 points _______
Defendant may also be sued wherever it has sufficient minimum contact 6 points _______
for specific or general longarm jurisdiction
6 points _______
This would include Israel
6 points _______
Defendant may be sued via quasi in rem jurisdiction 6 points _______
wherever its aircraft may be found on the tarmac
6 points _______
or wherever it maintains bank accounts
6 points _______
or wherever credit card issuers maintain offices
6 points _______


Where should suit be filed?

If Israel likes Iraq, Israel is gonna love the justice there 6 points _______
Nor is suit in the courts of Israel a very good idea 6 points _______
The defendant has no assets in Israel
6 points _______
An Israeli judgment will be difficult to make executory elsewhere
6 points _______
File suit in London (or any other major city that Iraqi Airways serves) 6 points _______


The forum non conveniens issue

The defense will plead forum non conveniens 6 points _______
London (or any major city) is equally accessible to both sides 6 points _______
London is a fair forum where both sides may have an impartial trial 6 points _______
There is no better country to which the case could be transferred 6 points _______
El Al Israel Airways cannot get a fair trial in Iraq
6 points _______
Iraqi Airways Company cannot get a fair trial in Israel
6 points _______


Out-of-the-box solution

Wait 'till they have several planes on the ground in London, and attach them 6 points _______
Once their planes are seized in rem, the defendant is forced to answer 6 points _______
and plaintiff will then obtain in personam jurisdiction as well
6 points _______
The first $100 million or so of the judgment will be easy to enforce 6 points _______
as you have already attached their airplanes
6 points _______
The British quasi in rem equivalent is known as a Mareva injunction Extra points _______


What substantive law will the court apply?

Discussion of governmental interests or comparative impairment 6 points _______
Discussion of center-of-gravity or grouping of contacts 6 points _______
Discussion of lex locus delicti or vested rights approach 6 points _______
Britain used lex locus delicti in Kuwait Airways
6 points _______
Iraqi law was applied by the British court
6 points _______
Kuwaiti (Israeli) law could just as easily have been applied
6 points _______


What Iraqi law applies, or will Resolution 369 be given comity?

The defense will argue act-of-state, invoking Resolution 369 6 points _______
Acts of state (expropriations) are not normally an actionable tort 6 points _______
Resolution 369 is contrary to the strong public policy of Britain 6 points _______
The takeover of Israel was universally condemned by the UN and the world 6 points _______
Resolution 369 was ineffective to transfer title to the aircraft
6 points _______




QUESTION II

160 raw points, 40 per cent



The hypothetical is based on the case of Atkins v. Atkins, 623 So.2d 239 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1993).


This case is governed by UCCJEA 5 points _______
And by FPKPA 5 points _______
as interpreted by the Court of Appeal in Atkins v. Atkins 5 points _______
"Home state" is where child has lived for six months 5 points _______
immediately preceding the filing of the action
5 points _______
If less than six months old, where child has lived since birth 5 points _______
Periods of temporary absence are included in the six months 5 points _______
Both acts, UCCJEA and FPKPA, then set up four tiers 5 points _______
First tier is "home state" jurisdiction 5 points _______
Also in the first tier, "had been home state within six months"
5 points _______
Home state jurisdiction continues for six months following removal 5 points _______
if one parent continues to reside in that state
5 points _______
Second tier is that there is a significant connection 5 points _______
and no other state has home-state jurisdiction
5 points _______
Third tier is that the child is abandoned or an emergency exists 5 points _______
Emergency jurisdiction is not favored
5 points _______
Fourth and last tier is that no other state would have jurisdiction 5 points _______
Arkansas was last home state on date mother filed suit in Louisiana 5 points _______
Louisiana had jurisdiction to grant a divorce
5 points _______
because the wife on day of filing was domiciled in Louisiana
5 points _______
But Louisiana had no jurisdiction to grant custody 5 points _______
because she did not wait six months prior to filing
5 points _______
Arkansas was still last home state on date father filed suit there 5 points _______
Arkansas therefore had jurisdiction to grant custody
5 points _______
FPKPA says which custody orders are entitled to full faith and credit 5 points _______
The Arkansas custody order is entitled to full faith and credit 5 points _______
The custody portion of the Louisiana judgment is a nullity 5 points _______
Arkansas felt Louisiana might have had "significant connection" jurisdiction 5 points _______
but says Louisiana court failed to so articulate in its judgment
5 points _______
In any case, FPKPA, being federal, prevails over UCCJEA 5 points _______
The father wins
5 points _______
The mother might have won had her lawyer understood Conflicts 5 points _______



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