Summary
granting a motion to dismiss on the ground of forum non conveniens in part because "almost all of the relevant evidence [was] located in Turkey"
Summary of this case from Aenergy, S.A. v. Republic of AngolaOpinion
20cv02648 (DLC)
02-16-2021
JAMES OWENS; VICTORIA J. SPIERS; GARY ROBERT OWENS; BETTY OWENS; BARBARA GOFF; FRANK B. PRESSLEY, JR.; YASEMIN B. PRESSLEY; DAVID A. PRESSLEY; THOMAS C. PRESSLEY; MICHAEL F. PRESSLEY; BERK F. PRESSLEY; JON B. PRESSLEY; MARC. Y. PRESSLEY; SUNDUS BUYUK; MONTINE BOWEN; FRANK PRESSLEY, SR.; BAHAR BUYUK; SERPIL BUYUK; TULAY BUYUK; AHMET BUYUK; DOROTHY WILLARD; ELLEN MARIE BOMER; DONALD BOMER; MICHAEL JAMES CORMIER; ANDREW JOHN WILLIAM CORMIER; ALEXANDRA RAIN CORMIER; GEORGE KARAS; NICHOLAS KARAS; PAUL HIRN; ELOISE HUBBEL; MARGARET BAKER; LINDA O'DONNELL; ESTATE OF LEROY MOOREFIELD; LORETTA PAXTON; LORA MURPHY; LINDA SHOUGH; LAURA HARRIS; ESTATE OF ROGER MOOREFIELD; ESTATE OF RODNEY MOOREFIELD; RICHARD PATRICK; ESTATE OF EULOGIO QUILACIO; EDILBERTO QUILACIO; ROLANDO QUILACIO; SUSAN NICHOLAS; CANDELARIA FRANCELISO; WILLIAM MWILA; EDWINA MWILA; HAPPINESS MWILA; PATRICIA FEORE; CLYDE M. HIRN; ALICE M. HIRN; PATRICIA K. FAST; INEZ P. HIRN; JOYCE REED; WORKLEY LEE REED; CHERYL L. BLOOD; BRET W. REED; RUTH ANN WHITESIDE; LORIE GULICK; PAM WILLIAMS; FLOSSIE VARNEY; LYDIA SPARKS; HOWARD SPARKS; TABITHA CARTER; HOWARD SPARKS, JR.; MICHAEL RAY SPARKS; GARY O. SPIERS; VICTORIA Q. SPIERS; JULITA A. QUALICIO; JUDITH ABASI MWILA; DONTE AKILI MWAIPAPE; DONTI AKILI MWAIPAPE; VICTORIA DONTI MWAIPAPE; ELISHA DONTI MWAIPAPE; JOSEPH DONTI MWAIPAPE; DEBORA DONTI MWAIPAPE; NKO DONTI MWAIPAPE; MONICA AKILI; AKILI MUSUPAPE; VALENTINE MATHEW KATUNDA; ABELLA VALENTINE KATUNDA; VENANT VALENTINE MATHEW KATUNDA; DESIDERY VALENTINE MATHEW KATUNDA; VEIDIANA VALENTINE KATUNDA; DIANA VALENTINE KATUNDA; EDWINE VALENTINE MATHEW KATUNDA; ANGELINA MATHEW FELIX; EDWARD MATHEW RUTAHESHELWA; ELIZABETH MATHEW RUTAHESHELWA; ANGELINA MATHEW RUTAHESHELWA; HAPPINESS MATHEW RUTAHESHELWA; ERIC MATHEW RUTAHESHELWA; ENOC MATHEW RUTAHESHELWA; ANGELINA MATHEW-FERIX; MATHEW-FERIX; MATHEW RTAHESHELWA; TIRISA THOMAS; SAMUEL THOMAS MARCUS; CECILIA SAMUEL MARCUS; CORONELLA SAMUEL MARCUS; KULWA RAMADHANI; RIZWAN KHALIQ; JENNY CHRISTIANA LOVBLOM; IMRAN KHALIQ; TEHSIN KHALIQ; KAMRAN KHALIQ; IMTIAZ BEDUM; IRFAN KHALIQ; YASIR AZIZ; NAURIN KHALIQ; KENNETH SPENCER, JR.; SAMUEL P. RICE; STEVEN JOSEPH DIAZ; ESTATE OF DAVID BROWN; ESTATE OF JESSE JAMES ELLISON; ROBERT SWORD; STEVEN SIBILLE; DONALD HOWELL; FRANCES SPENCER; ESTATE OF KENNETH SPENCER, SR.; AMY MORROW; KAREN BROWN; KRIS BOERGER; SAMUEL O. RICE; BELINDA RICE; AMY COGSWELL; DAVID RICE; TODD RICE; VALERIE TRAIL; DANIEL RICE; LISA SCHULTZ; STEVEN JAMES DIAZ; JANE ASTRID DIAZ; ROBERT DIAZ; TERESA DIAZ; MAGDALENA MARY DIAZ; RAUL DIAZ; EDWARD DIAZ; ESTATE OF DANIEL P. DIAZ; CARMELLA WOOD; PATSY MCENTIRE; LEWIS BROWN; LISA MAYBIN; RONNY BROWN; CYNTHIA BURT; ESTATE OF THERISA EDWARDS; ESTATE OF ANDRES ALVARADO MIRBAL; ESTATE OF NERIDA TULL BAEZ; ESTATE OF MARGARET O'BRIEN; MITCHELL ANDERSON; ESTATE OF VIRGINIA ELLISON; ESTATE OF KENNETH ELLISON; KIMBERLY CARLSON; GARY CARLSON; DANIEL CARLSON; WILLIAM CARLSON; PENNY NELSON; BEULAH SWORD; WILLIAM SWORD; JOHN SWORD; JERRY SWORD; CAROLINE BROADWINE; ESTATE OF VERIAN SIBILLE; ESTATE OF VICTOR SIBILLE, JR.; VICTOR SIBILLE IV; VICTOR WATORO; KEVIN SIBILLE; VALERIE UNKEL; PAMELA SCHULTZ; STEPHANIE HARDY; MARY JANE HOWELL; RONALD HOWELL; DONNA BLACK; MARIO H. VASQUEZ; DENNY WEST; THE ESTATE OF JOHN CHIPURA; EILEEN CHIPURA; NANCY CHIPURA; GERARD CHIPURA; SUSAN COHEN; ESTATE OF ROSCOE HAMILTON; FREDA SUE GAYHEART; RAMONA GREEN; ROBERT HAMILTON; JAMES EDWARDS; RAY EDWARDS; BETTY SUE ROWE; GARY EDWARDS; RALPH EDWARDS; ESTATE OF LARRY EDWARDS; ESTATE OF DAVID WORLEY; NANCY WORLEY; DAVID WORLEY; BRYAN WORLEY; ESTATE OF JOHN BUCKMASTER; ESTHER BUCKMASTER; GREGG BUCKMASTER; VICKIE BUCKMASTER; ARLEY BUCKMASTER; ESTATE OF MALKA ROTH; FRIMET ROTH; PESIA ROTH; RIVKA ROTH RAPPAPORT; ZVI ROTH; SHAYA ROTH; PINCHAS ROTH; ESTATE OF JACOB FRITZ; NOALA FRITZ; ESTATE OF LYLE FRITZ; ETHAN FRITZ; DANIEL FRITZ; ESTATE OF BRYAN CHISM; ELIZABETH CHISM; DANNY CHISM; VANESSA CHISM; JULIE CHISM; ESTATE OF SHAWN FALTER; LINDA FALTER; MARJORIE FALTER; ESTATE OF RUSSELL J. FALTER; RUSSELL C. FALTER; ANDREW LUCAS; DAVID LUCAS; TIMOTHY LUCAS; MARSHA NOVAK; JASON SACKETT; JOHN SACKETT; ESTATE OF AHMED AL-TAIE; HATHAL K. TAIE; KOUSAY AL-TAIE; NAWAL AL-TAIE; MONICAH OKOBA OPATI, in her own right, as executrix of the estate of CAROLINE SETLA OPTI; SELIFAH ONGECHA OPATI; RAEL ANGARA OPATI; SALOME RATEMO, in his own right, as executor of the ESTATE OF SALLY CECILIA MAMBOLEO; KEVIN RATEMO; FREDRICK RATEMO; LUIS RATEMO; STACY WAITHERA; MICHAEL DANIEL WERE; JUDITH NANDI BUSERA; ROSELYNE KARSORANI; GEORGE MWANGI; BERNARD MACHARI; GAD GIDEON ACHOLA; MARY NJOKI MUIRIRI; JONATHAN KARANIA NDUTI; ANNE NGANGA MWANGI; ESTER NGANGA MWANGI; GITIONGA MWANIKI; ROSE NYETTE; ELIZABETH NZAKU; PATRICK NYETTE; CORNELIUS KEBUNGO; PHOEBE KEBUNGO; JOAN ADUNDO; BENARD ADUNDO; NANCY NJOKI MACHARIA; STANLEY KINYUA MACHARIA; SALLY OMONDI; JAEL NYOSIEKO OYOO; EDWIN OYOO; MIRIAM MUTHONI; PRISCAH OWINO; GREG OWINO; MICHAEL KAMAU MWANGI; CHRISTINE MIKALI KAMAU; JOSEPH GATHUNGA; JOSHUA O. MAYUNZU; ZACKARIA MUSALIA ATING'A; JULIUS M. NYAMWENO; POLYCHEP ODHIAMBO; DAVID JAIRUS AURA; CHARLES OLOKA OPONDO; ANN KANYAHA SALAMBA; ANN SALAMBA; ERASTUS MIJUKA NDEDA; CECILIA NDEDA; TECHONIA OLOO OWITI; JOSEPH INGOSI; WILLIAM W. MAINA; PETER NGIGI MUGO; SIMON MWANHI NGURE; JOSEPH K. GATHUNGU; DIXON OLUBINZO INDIYA; PETER NJENGA KUNGU; CHARLES GT. KABUI; JOHN KISWILI; FRANCISO KYALO; ROSE NYETTE; PATRICK NYETTE; CHARITY KITAO; LEILANI BOWER; WINNIE NDIODA KIMEU;; MICHAEL NGANGA KIMEU; AUDREY MAINI NASIEKU PUSSY; KENNEDY OKELO; HELLEN OKELO NYAIEGO; RONALD OKELO; ELIZABETH M. AKINYI OKELO; LESLIE ONONO; LAURA ONONO; STEPHEN ONONO; ANDREW ONONO; LESLEY HELLEN ACHIENG; RISPAH JESSICA AUMA; STEPHEN JONATHAN OMANDI; ANDREW THOMAS OBONGO; LAURA MARGARET ATIENO; WALLACE NJOREGE STANLEY NYOIKE; PETER KINYANJUI; LUKAS NDILE KIMEU; JACKSON KTHUVA MUSKOYA; GLADYS MUNANIE MUSYOKA; TITUS MUSYOKA; ARCY MUSYOKA KITHUVA; JANE MUTUA; MARY NZISIVA SAMUEL; SYUINDO MUSYOKA; KILEI MUSYOKA; KEELIY MUSYOKA; MANZI MUSYOKA; CONCEPTOR ORENDE; GRACE BOSIBERI ONSONGO; NEPHAT KIMATHI; LEONARD SHINENGAH; CAROLINE WANGU KARIGI; STEVE MARUNGI KARIGI; MARTIN KARIGI; WYCLIFFE OKELLO KHABUCHI; IRENE KHABUCHI; MARY SALIKU BULIMU; HESBON BULIMU; JACKSON BULIMU; GODFREY BULIMU; MILLICENT BULIMU; LYDIA BULIMU; RODGERS BULIMU; FRIDA BULIMU; EMMILY BULIMU; MERCY BULIMU; HESBON LIHANDA; WINIFRED MAINA; BETTY KAGAI; KATIMBA MOHAMED; FRIDA YOHAN MTITU; GEOFFREY L. TUPPER; OMAR ZUBERI OMAR; ASHA R. MAHUNDI; EMMA R. MAHUNDI; MWAJUMA R. MAHUNDI; SHABAN R. MAHUNDI; JUMA R. MAHUNDI; AMIRI R. MAHUNDI; YUSUPH R. MAHUNDI; MWAJABU R. MAHUNDI; ALLY R. MAHUNDI; SAID R. MAHUNDI; MWAJUMBA MAHUNDI; ASHA SHABANI KILUWA; LEVIS MADAHANA BUSERA; EMMANUEL MUSAMBAYI BUSERA; CHRISTINE KAVAI BUSERA; AGNES TUPPER; AGNES WANJIKU NDUNGU; SHADRACK TUPPER; DONNIE GAUDENS; SELINA GAUDENS; MARY ESTHER KIUSA; LEONARD RAJAB WAITHIRA; JOSEPH NDUNGU WAITHIRA; GRACE WANJIRU WAITHIRA; BADAWY ITATI ALI; FRIDAH MAKENA ALIJAH; RUTH GATWIRI MWIRIGI; JOAN KENDI NKANATHA; FRANCIS JOSEPH KWINBERE; IRENE FRANCIS KWIMBERE; FREDRICK FRANCIS KWIMBERE; SANI BENJAMIN FRANCIS KWIMBERE; BARBARA WOTHAYA OLAO; ALLAN COLLINS OLAO; LEVINA VALERIAN R. MINJA; VIOLET TIBRUSS MINJA; EMMANUEL TIBRUSS MINJA; NICKSON TIBRESS MINJA; REHANA MALIK; ELIZABETH CLIFFORD TARIMO; MARAGET CLIFFORD TARIMO; MERCY NYOKABI NDIRITU; CHRISTOPHER NDIRITU; EDWIN KAARA MAGOTHE; SEDRICK JEROME KEITH NAIR; TANYA NAIR; SEDRICK NAIR; VALENTINA HIZA; CHRISTOPHER HIZA; CHRISTANTSON HIZA; CHRISTEMARY HIZA; SALIMA ISUMAIL; JOSEPH FARAHAT ABDALLAH; MAJDOLINE SARAH ABDALLAH; RISPAH AYSHA ABDALLA; CHRISTINE BWAKU; EPHRAIM BWAKU; FLAVIA HIYANGA; DIANA FREDERICK KIBODYA; MARGARET NJERU MURIGI; BELONCE WAIRIMU MURIGI; FAITH NJERI MURIGI; MISCHECK NDUATI MURIGI; ERIC WAMBUA MWAKA; PETER MULWA MWAKA; FELIX MATHEKA MWAKA; CIVILIER WAYUA MWAKA; AGNES AKIWAL KUBAI; COLLINS KUBAI; CELESTINE KUBAI; SALINE KUBAI; HELLEN JEPKORIR MARITIM; ALICE JEROP MARITIM; RUTH CHERONO MARITIM; ANNE CHEPKEMOI MARITIM; SHARONE MARITIM; EDGAR MARITIM; SHEILA CHEBET MARITIM; GIDEON MARITIM; EDGAR KIPLINO MARTIN; RAMMY KIPYEGO ROTICH; WAMBUI E. KUNGU; LORNA N. KUNGU; EDWARD G. KUNGU; ONEAL EZEKIEL MDOBILU; ONAEL DAVID MDOBILU; PETER LOUS MDOBILU; JOHN GEORGE MDOBILU; KATHERINE ANNE MDOBILI; KATHERINE MWAKA; IMMANUEL SETVEN MDOBILU; ANIPHA SOLLY MPOTO; JOSHUA DANIEL MDOBILU; INOSENSIA MPOTO; VICTOR MPOTO; DENIS MATERN MPOTO; ANTHONY MUNGAI; BARBARA MUTHONI; EDDIE KIARIE KIBURU; ANTHONY KIARIE; BARBARA KIARIE; JOANNE NATALIE AWUOR OPORT; YVONNE NATASHA AKINYI OPORT; SALLY RISSY AUMA OPORT; MILICENT MALESI; CHARITY KIATO; JUDY KIARIE; GODFREY JADEVERA; LYDIA ANDEMO; RODGERS AKIDIVA; FRIDA MWANURU; EMMILY MMBONE; JACKSON MADEGWA; MERCY MAKUNGU; LYDIA OSEBE GWARO; DEBORA MOIGE GWARO; EMMANUEL OGORO GWARO; JAMES OGWERI GWARO; EUCABETH GWARO; JOHN NDIBUI MWANGI; GIDEON WABWOBA OFISI; ANDREW NHULI MAKAU; FRANCIS WABUTI OFISI; GEOFFREY MBUURI MBUGUA; ALEX JOHN MJUGUNA MBUGUA; ANNE WAMBUI NG'ANG'A; ESTHER NJERI NG'ANG'A; CATHERINE NJERI MWANGI; JACKSON NDUNGU; JOHN NGURE; LUCY KAMBO; JACKLINE WAMBUI; JEFF RABAR ORIARO; BETTY ORIARO; FELIX MUNGUTI; PETRONILA KATHEO MUNGUTI; ALEX KITHEU MUNGUTI; ZAKAYO MATIKO; JACOB GATI; VALENTINE JEMO; MAUREEN KADI; BEVERLYNE KADI; BEVERLYNE NDEDA; CECILIA DAYO; DICKSON ULLETA LIHANDA; RUTH KAVERERI; BERYL SHIUMBE; IRENE KHASANDE; MICHAEL TSUMA; LESLIE SAMBULI; PETER KUNIGO; HARRIET CHORE; JAMES JANDY MURABU; STANLEY CHAKA MURABU; STACY CHAKA; JAMES CHAKA; STACEY NZALAMBI MURABU; IFURAIM ONYANGO OKUKU; CHRISTINE NABWIRE OKUKU; JOSPEH KAMBO; VALLEN ANDEYO; PETER MUYALE KUYA; PENINAH AKWALE MUCII; DANIEL AMBOKO KUYA; LOISE KUYA; NORMAN KAGAI; TABITHA KAGAI; CHARLES KAGAI; WENDY KAGAI; PAULINE AKOTH ADUNDO; SAMUEL ODHIAMBO; THERESA ACHIENG ADUNDO; ISIDORE OPONDO ADUNDO; ANNE WASONGA ADUNDO; THOMAS ADUNDO; JANE KHABUCHI; HENRY ALIVIZA SHITIAVAI; JUDY ALIVIZA SHITIAVAI; HUMPHREY ALIVIZA; COLLINS MUDAIDA ALIVIZA; JACQUELINE ALIVIZA; JARUHA YASHIEENA MUSALIA; FLORENCE MUSALIA; ELLY MUGOVE MUSALIA; VALLEN ANDEYO; JURUHA MUSALIA; GLADIS LIHANDA; RUTH LIHANDA; HESBON LIHANDA; JANE ISIAHO SHAMWAMA; BEATRICE HOKA; BEATRICE AMDUSO; JOAB ANDAYI MISANGO; JUSTIN AMDUSO; IREEN SEMO; JOHNSTONE MUKABI; ANN WAIRIMU; MARYANN NJOKIE; DANIEL KIONGO; SAMMY NDUNGU KIARIE; FAITH MUTINDI; JOYCE MUTHEU; BEATRICE ATINGA; SAMMY OKERE; PURITY MUHONJA; VICTOR ADEKA, BRIAN KUBAI; JOHN ZEPHANIA MBOGE; JOYCE THADEI LOKOA; MERESIANA (MARY) PAUL; GRACE PAUL; RASHID SELEMANI KATIMBA; SAID SELEMANI KATIMBA; ASHA OMARI ABDULLAH; AUGUST MAFFRY; CAROLINE S. MAFFRY; ALISON D. MAFFRY; ALICEMARY TALBOT; ENNA JOHN OMOLO; LYNETTE OYANDA; LINDA OYANDA; FELOGENE OYANDA; VERA JEAN OYANDA; CLAIRE OWINO, KENNETH OWINO; LEAH OWINO; GERALD OWINO; ORA COHEN; MEIRAV COHEN; SHIRA COHEN; DANIEL COHEN; ELCHANAN COHEN; ORLY COHEN; ORLY MOHABER; SHALOM COHEN; SHOKAT SADIAN; RONIT MOHABER; NERIA MOHABER; JOSEPH MOHABER; NETHANIEL CHAIM BLUTH; SHOSHANA ROSALYN BLUTH; EPHRAIM BLUTH; TSIPORA BATYA BLUTH REICHER; ISAAC MENAHEM BLUTH; YIGAL AMIHAI BLUTH; ARIEH YAHUDA BLUTH; CHANINA SAMUEL BLUTH; ABRAHAM BLUTH; JOSEPH BLUTH; WINIFRED WAIRIUMU WAMAI, in her own right, as personal representative of the ESTATE OF ADAMS TITUS WAMAI; DIANA WILLIAMS; TITUS WAMAI; ANGELA WAMAI; LLOYD WAMAI; JOHN MURIUKI GIRANDI; SARAH ANYISO TIKOLO, individually and for the ESTATE OF MOSES GEOFREY NANIAI; NEGEEL ANDIKA; GRACE NJERI KIMATA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF FRANCIS WATORO MAINA; GITAU CATHERINE WAITHIRA; EARNEST GICHIRI GITAU; FELISTER WANJIRU GITAU; GRACE NJERI GICHO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF PETER KABAU MACHARIA; DIANA NJOKI MACHARIA; NGUGI MACHARIA; LUCY KAMAU, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATES OF JOSEPH KAMAU KIONGO and TERESIA WAIRIMU; JANE KAMAU; ALICE MUHONI KAMAU; NEWTON KAMAU; PAULINE KAMAU; PETER KAMAU; MERCY KAMAU WAIRIMU; ANN WAMBUI KAMAU; DANIEL KIOMHO KAMAU; NYANGORO WILFRED MAYAKA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF MAYAKA LYDIA MUKIRI; DOREEN MAYAKA; DICK OBWORO; DIANA NYANGARA; DEBORAH KERUBO; DEBRA MAYAKA; JACOB AWALA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATES OF JOSIAH OWUOR and EDWINA OWUOR; WARREN AWALA; VINCENT OWOUR; MORDECHAI THOMAS ONONO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF LUCY GRACE ONONO; PRISCILLA OKATCH, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF MAURICE OKATCH OGOLA; DENNIS OKATCH; ROSEMARY ANYANGO OKATCH; SAMSON OKATCH; JENIPHER OKATCH; JOSINDA KATUMBA KAMAU, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF VINCENT KAMAU NYOIKE; CAROLINE WANJIRU KAMAU; FAITH WANZA KAMAU; ELIZABETH VUTAGE MALOBA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF FREDERICK YAFES MALOBA; KENNETH MALOBA; MARGARET MALOBA; ADHIAMBO SHARON; OKILE MARLON; LEWIS MAFWAVO; MARLONG OKILE; MARY MUTHEU NDAMBUKI, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF KIMEU NZIOKA NGANA; GRACE NJERI GICHO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF PETER KABAU MARCHARIA; STANLEY NJAR NGUGI; MARGARET NJOKI NGUGI; ANN RUGURU; NAGUGI MACHARIA; DAVID KARIUKI NGUGI; PAUL MWANGI NGUGI; JOHN MUNGAI NGUGI; PETER NGUGI; GRACE NJERI KIMATA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF FRANCIS WATORO MAINA; MAINA VICTOR; WAMBUI RACHEL; OLE PUSSY SAMUEL KASHOO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF RACHEL MUNGASIA PUSSY; ANDREW PUSSY; SAMUEL PUSSY; DOREEN NASIEKU; ELSY PUSSY; ROSEMARY ANYANGO OLELE, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF FRANCIS OLEWE OCHILO; WENDY ACHIENG; JULIET AWUOR; JANE KATHUKA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF GEOFFREY MULU KALIO; BERNICE MUTHEU NDETI; DAEN NTHAMBI MULU; TABITHA NTHAMBI KALIO; AQUILAS MUTUKU KALIO; CATHERINE MBATHA; LILIAN MBELU KALIO; CATHERINE GITUMBO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF JOEL GITUMBO KAMAU; EUNICE MUTHOUI; ELIZABETH WANJIKU; DAVID KAMAU; PETER KIBUE KAMAU; PHILIP KARIUKI GITUMBO; KAMALI MUSYOKA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF DOMINIC MUSYOKA; BEATRICE MARTHA KITHUVA; BENSON MALUSI MUSYOKA; WASON MUSYOKA; CAROLINE KASUNGO MGALI; TITUS KYAW MUSYOKA; VELMA BONYO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF KLYELIFF C. BONYO; DORINE BONYO; ELIJAH BONYO; ANJELA BONYO; WINNIE BONYO; JOYCE ABUR, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF ERIC ONYANGO; TILDA A. ABUR; KELESENDHIA APONDI; BARNABAS ONYANGO; PAUL JABODA ONYANGO; FAITH KIHAFIO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF TONY KIHATO IRUNGU; JACQUILINE WANGECI; STEVE MBUKU; ANNAH WANGECI IRUNGU; ALI HUSSEIN ALI, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF HINDU OMAR IDDI; FATHMA IDDI; OMAR IDDI; HAMIDA IDDI; RASHIHID IDDI; MAHMOUD IDDI; SUSAN HIRSH, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF ABDULRAHMAN M. ABDALLA; SELINA SAIDI, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF SAIDI ROGATH; ESTATE OF VERONICA ALOIS SAIDI; JOHN SAIDI; DANIEL SAIDI; IDIFONCE SAIDI; ESTATE OF AISHA MAWAZO; ADABETH NANG'OKO; HANUNI NDANGE, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF YUSUF NDANGE; MAUA MDANGE; HALIMA NDANGE; JUMA NDANGE; MWHAJABU NDANGE; ABDUL NDANGE; RAMAHDANI NDANGE; JUDITH MWILA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF WILLIAM ABBAS MWILA; MOHAMED Y. MNYOLYA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF ABDALLAH M. MNYOLYA; NURU H. SULTANI; AISHA KAMBENGA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF BAKARI NYUMBU; KULWA RAMADHANI, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF DOTTO RAMADHANI; MENGO RAMADHANI; REHENA RAMADHANI; UPENDI RAMADHANI; KASSIM RAMADHANI; MAJAHWA RAMADHANI; SAIDI MTUYLA; ABDUL MTULYA; MAGDALENA PAUL, ESTATE OF ELISHA E. PAUL; SHABANI MTULYA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF MTENDEJE RAJABU; HUSSEIN RAMADHANI, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF RAMADHANI MAHUNDI; RUKIA MUNJIRU ALI; MILKE W. MACHARIA; BEUNDA KEBOGO J. CHAKA; GEORGE M. MIMBA; MARY OFISI; MONICA MUNYORI; NICHOLAS M. MUTISO; DAVID K. KIBURU; JECINTA W. WAHOME; JOSEPH WAHOME; BELINDA AKINYI ADIKA; KIRIUMBU WMBURU MUKURIA; ELIZABETH MULI KIBUE; MARY WANJUGU GITONGA; LAYDIAH WANJIRU MWANGI; CHARLES MWAKA MULWA; BONIFACE CHEGE; LUCY CHEGE; CAROLINE W. GICHURU; LIVINGSTONE MADAHANA; WELLINGTONE OLUOMA; MARINI KARIMA; ELSIE W. KAGIMBI; SAMUEL O. ORIARO; GIDEON K. MAZITIM; MARGARET W. NDUNGU; MENELIK KWAMIA MAKONNEN; JOHN MUIRU NDUNGU; CHARLES NKANATHA; PERIS GITUMBU; STACY WAITHERE; CAROLINE NGUI NGUGI; PATRICK OUMA OKECHI; RAPHEL N. KIVINDYO; TOBIAS O. OTIENO; AARON MAKAU; RAMDAN KIMAM JURAU; CAROLINE N. OCHIENG; OLAMBO CHARLES; EMILY K. MINAYO; FRANCIS MAINE NDIBUL; CHARLES M. NDIBUL; MOSES M. KUIYVA; MARINA KIRIMA; THOMAS OHUORO; LIMMLES I. KASUI; MICHAEL N. MWORIA; JOASH O. OKENDO; JULIUS OGORO; AGGREY N. ABUTI; RENSON M. ASHIKA; ABDULRAHMAN R. BASHIR; JENNIFER J. CHEBOL; JOSEPH T. GATHECHA; IDDI A. KAKA; JAMES KANJA; BERNARD M. KASWII; DAVID M. KIMANI; SAMUEL KIVINDYO; PETER N. KUNG'U; WAMBUI KUNG'U; RACHEL WAMBUI WATORO; LORNA KUNG'U; EDWARD KUNG'U; GITONGA MWANIKE; THOMAS G. KURIA; JAMES M. MACHARIA; MILKA WANGARI MACHARIA; TOITORO O. MASANGA; ROBERT M. MATHEKA; RICHARD N. MAWEU; MATTHEW M. MBITHI; FRANCIS N. MBURU; PAUL K. MUSAU; EDWARD M. MUTHAMA; THOMAS M. MUTUA; JAMES M. MUTUKU; PAUL G. MWINGI; LUCAS M. NDILE; ANTHONY NGINYA; ALEXANDER C. NJERU; ENOS NZALWA; JULIUS M. NZIVO; FREDERICK O. OBANGA; JUSTUS M. WAMBUA; MAKONNEN K. MENERIC; JAMES BABIRA NDEDA; PAULINE D. ABDALLAH; JOHN NDUATI; WUNNIE W. GICHURU; BLASIO SHIKAMI; BLASIO KUBAI; CYNTHIA KIMBLE; HENRY KESSY; EVITTA KWIMBERE; ELIZABETH SLATER; NAFISA MALIK; VALERIE NAIR; LAUREL MCMULLEN; CHRISTANT HIZA; FREDERICK KABODYA; JUSTINA MDOBILU; BENJAMIN WINFORD; CHRISTOPHER MCMULLEN; HOSIANNA MMBAGA; TIBRUSS MINJA; SAJJAD GULAMALI; ANNASTACIAH LUCY BOULDEN; CLIFFORD TARIMO; SITA MAGUA; EDDIESON KAPESA; VALENTRY KATUNDA; EDSON MAUMU; ZEPHANIA MBOGE; EDWARD RUTASHEHERWA; VICTOR MPOPO; ALLY KINDAMBA; GAUDENS THOMAS; MARY ONSONGO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF EVANS ONSONGO; ENOCH ONSONGO; PERIS ONSONGO; VENICE ONSONGO; ONSONGO MWEBERI; SALOME ONSONGO; BERNARD ONSONGO; EDWIN NYANGAU ONSONGO; GEORGE ONSONGO; VENIS ONSONGO; EUNICE ONSONGO; PENINAH ONSONGO; GLADYS ONSONGO; IRENE KUNG'U; OSBORN OLWCH AWALLA, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATES OF JOSIA OWUOR and EDWINA OWUOR; WARREN AWALA; VINCENT OWUOR; MARTHA ACHIENG ONYANGO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF ERIC ONYANGO; JULIANA ATIENO ONYANGO; MARITA ONYANGO; IRENA KUNG'U; MILLY MIKALI AMDUSO; JOYCE AUMA OMBESE ABUR, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF ERIC ABUR ONYANGO and on behalf of her child TILDA ABUR; JOYCE ONYANGO; JAMES ANDAYI MUKABI; HAMSA SAFULA ASDI, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF ABALIAH MUSYDKYA MWILU and on behalf of her children HAMIDA MWILU, VONZAIDRISS MWILU, and ASHA MWILU; GERALD BOCHART; YVONNE BOCHART; JOMO MATIKO BOKE; SELINA BOKE; MONICAH KEBAYI MATIKO; VELMA AKOSA BONYO, individually and as personal representative for the ESTATE OF CHRISPINE BONYO; DOREEN BONYO; ELIJAH BONYO; ANGELA BONYO; WINNIE BONYO; BENSON OKUKU BWAKU; BEATRICE MUGEMI BWAKU; BELINDA CHAKA; MURABU CHAKA; LUCY WAIRIMU; CATHERINE LUCY NYAMBURA MWANGI; ANASTASIA GIANOPULOS, as executrix of THE ESTATE OF PHAEDRA VERONTAMITIS and on behalf of the children LEON VERONTAMITIS, PAUL VERONTAMITIS, and ALEXANDER VERONTAMITIS; GRACE NJERI GICHO, in her own right and as executrix of THE ESTATE OF PETER KABAU MACHARIA, and on behalf of the child DIANA NJOKI; LUCY MUTHONI GITAU, in her own right, as executrix of the ESTATE OF LAWRENCE AMBROSE GITAU, and on behalf of the children MARGARET WAMBUI GITAU, SUSAN NJERI GITAU, CATHERINE WAITHERA GITAU, FELISTER WANJIRU GITAU, and ERNEST GIGHIRI GITAU; JAPETH MUNJAL GODIA; MERAB A. GODIA; JOTHAM ODIANGO GODIA; GRACE AKANYA; OMARI IDI, in her own right and as executrix of the ESTATE OF HINDU OMARI IDI, and on behalf of the children MAHAMUD IDI, RASHID IDI, and HAMIDA IDI; CAROLINE NGUHI KAMAU; KIMANI KAMAU; HANNAH NGENDA KAMAU, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF VINCENT KAMAU KYOIKE, and on behalf of the children STANLEY NYOIKE, SIMON NGUGI, MERCY WANJIRU, JENNIFER NJERI, and ANTHONY NJOROGE; JANE KAMAU, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF JOSEPH NDUTA KAMAU, and on behalf of the children MONICAH WAIRIMO KAMAU, and JOAN WANJIKO KAMAU; JOSINDA KATUMBA KAMAU, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF VINCENT KAMAU KYOIKE, and on behalf of the children FAITH WANZA KAMAU, CHRISTINE M. KAMAU, CAROLYNE W. KAMAU, DUNCAN NYOIKE, and RUTH NDUTA; JANE KAVINDU KATHUKA in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF GEOFFREY MULU KALIO; DAWN NTHAMBI MULU; IKONYE MICHAEL KIARIE; JANE MWERU KIARIE; HUMPHREY KIBIRU; JENNIFER WAMBUI; MICHAEL KIBUE KAMAU; DAVID KIBURU; HUMPHREY KIBURU; JUDY WALTHERA; FAITH WAMBUI KIHATO, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF TONY KIHATO IRUNGU, and on behalf of the children JACQUELINE IRUNGU, and STEVE INRUGU; HARRISON KARIUKI KIMANI; GRACE WANJIKU KIMANI; GRACE NJERI KIMATA, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF FRANCIS WATORO MANAI, and on behalf of the children VICTOR MANAI and RACHEAL WAMBUI; ALICE MUZHOMI KIONGO, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF JOSEPH KAMAU KIONGO, and on behalf of the children NEWTON KAMAU, PETER IKONYA, TERESIA WAITIMER, PAULINE WANKIA KAMAU, and the ESTATE OF TERESIA WAIRIMU KAMAU; LUCY KAMAU KIONGO, as Executrix of the ESTATE OF TERESIA WAIRIMU KAMAU; ELIZABETH VICTORIA KITAO; RAPHAEL N. KIVINDYO; MARGARET MWIKALI NZOMO; LUKA MWALIE LITWAJ; MARY VUTAGWA MWALIE; DENNIS KINYUA; MOSES KINYUA; NANCY N. MACHARI; ELIZABETH VUTAGE MALOBA, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF FREDERICK MALOBA YAFES, and on behalf of the children MARLON OKILE MALOBA, LEWIS MAFWAVO MALOBA, and SHARON ADHIAMBO MALOBA; MARGARET ONYACHI MALOBA, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF FREDERICK MALOBA YAFES, and on behalf of the children KENNETH MALOBA, FAITH ACHEING, DERRICK MAOAKITWE, STEVEN ODHIAMBO, and BELINDA ADHIAMBO; SARA MWENDIA MBOGO, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF FRANCIS MBOGO NJUNGE, and on behalf of the children MESHARK IRERI, ISACK KARIUKI, REUBEN NYAGA, NANCY WANJERU, EPHANUS NJAGI, STEPHE NJUKI, and ANNE MUCHOGO; STELLA WAMBUI MBUGUA; SOLOMON MBUGUA MBUUN; SAMUEL MBUGUA NDUNGU; GEORGE MAGAK MIMBA; NANCY MAGAK; EMILY KANAIZA MINAY; HUDSON CHORE MAKIDIAH; BARBARA E. MULI; STEPHEN MULI; CHARLES MWAKA MULWA; CATHERIN NDUKI MWAKA; RAPHAEL PETER MUNGUTI; MARY MBENEKA MUNGUTI; BENSON NDEGWA MURUTHI; PHOEBA NYAGUTHI NDEGWA; ANGELA MWONGELI; SAMMY NG'ANG'A MWANGI; LUCY N. NG'ANG'A; SARA TIKOLO NANIAI, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF MOSES NAMAI, and on behalf of the children NIGEEL ANDIIKA NAMAI; JAMES NDEDA; VALENTINE NDEDA; MAUREEN NDEDA; ROSELYNE KASORANI; CHARLES MWANGI NDIBUI; MARGRET MWANGI NDIBUI; FRANCIS MAINA NDIBUI; WINFRED MAINA; AARON MAKAU NDIVO; LYDIAH MDILA MAKAU; MARY MUTHONI, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF FRANCIS NDUNGU MBUGUA, and on behalf of the children EDITH NJERI, SAMUEL MBUGWA, ANGES WANJIKU, JAMLECK GITAU, JOHN MWIRY, and ANASTASIAH LUCY MUGURE; OMUCHIRWA CHARLES OCHOLA; RAEL OCHOLA; MARY MAKAU OFISI; JOHN MAKAU OFISI; JULIUS GWARDO OGORO; ELIZABETH KERUBO GWARO; PRISCILLA NDULA OKATCH, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF MAURICE OKATUH OGOLLA, and on behalf of the children JACKLINE ACHIENG, ROSEMARY ANYANGO, SAMSON OGOLLA, and DENNIS OKOTH; CAROLINE OCHI OKECH; JOHNATHAN GILBERT OKECH; PATRICK OUMA OKECH; PHELISTER OKECH; MISCHECK MBOGO; PHAEDRA VRONTAMITIS; LEONIDAS VRONTAMITIS; ALEXANDER VRONTAMITIS; ISAAC KARIUKI MBOGO; REUBEN NYAGA MBOGO; NANCY MBOGO; EPHANTUS MBOGO; STEPHEN MBOGO; ANN MBOGO; NEPHAT MBOGO; JOASH OTAO OKINDO; LYDIA NYABOKA OTAO; ROSEMARY A. OLEWE, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF FRANCIS OLEWE OCHILO, and on behalf of the children CHARLES OLEWE, JULIET OLEWE, and WENDY OLEWE; DANIEL OWITI OLOO; MAGDALINE ANYANGO OWITI; MARY AKOTSI MUDECHE; FLORENCE PAMELA OMORI, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF EDWIN OPIYO OMORI, and on behalf of the children BRYAN BOAZ OMORI, and JERRY ORETA OMORI; DOREEN ATIENO OPORT; PHILEMON OPORT; OPORT OPORT; SAMUEL ODHIAMOB ORIARO; BETTY OBUNGA; RACHEL OYANDA; MARGARET KANINI OTOLO, in her own right and as Executrix of the ESTATE OF ROGER TOKA OTOLO, and on behalf of the children VICTOR OTOLO, ABRAHAM OTOLO, and RICHARD OTOLO; TRUSHA PATEL; PANKAY PATEL; HILARIO AMBROSE FERNANDES; ROSELYNE NDEDA; ANNAH WANGECHI; MICHAEL WARE; HANNAH WAMBUI; and JACINTA W. WAHOME, Plaintiffs, v. TURKIYE HALK BANKASI A.S., a/k/a "HALKBANK," Defendant.
APPEARANCES For plaintiffs: Robert L. Weigel Jason W. Myatt Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166 Chantale Fiebig Matthew D. McGill Noah P. Sullivan Suria M. Bahadue Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20036 For defendant: John S. Williams Eden Schiffmann Akhil K. Gola Williams & Connolly LLP 725 Twelfth Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Mehmet Baysan Omer Er Michelman & Robinson, LLP 800 Third Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10022
OPINION AND ORDER APPEARANCES For plaintiffs:
Robert L. Weigel
Jason W. Myatt
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166 Chantale Fiebig
Matthew D. McGill
Noah P. Sullivan
Suria M. Bahadue
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036 For defendant:
John S. Williams
Eden Schiffmann
Akhil K. Gola
Williams & Connolly LLP
725 Twelfth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005 Mehmet Baysan
Omer Er
Michelman & Robinson, LLP
800 Third Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10022 DENISE COTE, District Judge:
The plaintiffs in this case, judgment creditors of Iran, bring suit against defendant Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. ("Halkbank"), a Turkish bank, seeking turnover of funds that allegedly belonged to Iranian state-owned enterprises and were fraudulently conveyed by Halkbank in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions. Halkbank has moved to dismiss this action. For the reasons described in this Opinion, plaintiffs' claims are conditionally dismissed under the doctrine of forum non conveniens.
Background
The following facts are taken from the Second Amended Complaint ("SAC"), documents integral to the complaint or incorporated therein, and where appropriate, the parties' submissions on Halkbank's motion to dismiss. I. The Parties
The 876 plaintiffs in this action are judgment creditors of Iran. Each plaintiff is either a direct victim of an overseas terrorist attack committed by a group linked to Iran or a surviving family member of a deceased victim of an overseas terrorist attack committed by a group linked to Iran. Most of the plaintiffs do not reside in the United States: of the 670 plaintiffs for whom residency information is known, 468 reside in a foreign country. Of the 202 plaintiffs known to reside in the United States, only nine are known to reside in New York.
The attacks at issue occurred in Lebanon, Tanzania, Kenya, Israel, a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, and Iraq.
Each plaintiff sued Iran in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia pursuant to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1605 et seq., seeking damages stemming from these attacks. In each instance, Iran defaulted, and in each instance, the district court awarded a default judgment to the plaintiffs. The awards consist of both compensatory and punitive damages. Collectively, the plaintiffs in this action are owed over $10 billion by Iran. Iran has not satisfied any of the judgments.
Defendant Halkbank is a Turkish financial institution, organized under Turkish law and headquartered in Turkey. Halkbank operates almost entirely in Turkey: only a tiny percentage of its branches are located outside of Turkey, and Halkbank has no branches or employees in the United States. A significant majority of the shares in Halkbank -- greater than 75 percent of the outstanding shares -- are owned by the Turkey Wealth Fund, while the remaining shares are publicly traded. The Turkey Wealth Fund, in turn, is controlled by the Turkish government. Halkbank is subject to other mechanisms of control by the Turkish government: the Halkbank Board of Directors is elected by the Turkish General Assembly, and the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance supervises Halkbank's operations. II. Halkbank's Relationship to Iran
Between 2011 and 2013, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran's overseas financial transactions related to its proceeds from its trade in oil and precious metals. In 2011, Congress enacted a law that prohibited, in most instances, foreign financial institutions from facilitating petroleum transactions with Iran. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-81, §§ 1245(d)(1)-(4), 125 Stat. 1298, 1647-49 (Dec. 31, 2011). Then-President Obama issued an Executive Order implementing the sanctions statute and authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to impose restrictions on foreign financial institutions that engaged in significant financial transactions with the National Iranian Oil Company ("NIOC") or the Central Bank of Iran. Exec. Order No. 13622, 77 Fed. Reg. 45,897, 45,899 (Aug. 2, 2012). Similar restrictions were also imposed on precious metal transactions with Iran. 22 U.S.C. § 8804(a)(1)(A). Foreign financial institutions that violated these restrictions could be prohibited from maintaining correspondent accounts in the United States. 22 U.S.C. § 8804(c).
After the sanctions were implemented, plaintiffs allege that the government of Iran conspired with Halkbank and third parties to evade U.S. sanctions. According to plaintiffs, NIOC sold oil to Turkish purchasers, and the proceeds were deposited at Halkbank. At NIOC's direction, the money would be transferred within Halkbank to Halkbank correspondent accounts belonging to an Iranian bank. The Iranian bank would then order the money transferred from the Iranian bank's Halkbank account to a Halkbank account belonging to a shell company. After the money had been transferred to the shell company, a confederate would use the shell company's funds to purchase gold in Turkey, export the gold to Dubai, sell the gold in Dubai, and deposit the proceeds in Iranian accounts at banks based in Dubai. Iran could then use the funds in the Dubai accounts to make international payments. According to the plaintiffs, over $900 million in funds were derived from these fraudulent transactions and directed through correspondent accounts at U.S. financial institutions between December 2012 and October 2013. At least some of these funds passed through accounts at banks based in New York. Even after stricter U.S. sanctions were implemented in February 2013, Iran continued to make fraudulent transactions via Halkbank, but, with Halkbank's assistance, falsely represented that the transactions involved the purchase of food, as food purchases were not covered by U.S. sanctions. Halkbank retained hundreds of millions of dollars in payment for its role in the scheme.
In 2016, Reza Zarrab, a participant in the scheme, was arrested upon attempting to enter the United States and charged with several crimes in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. United States v. Zarrab et al., No. 15 Cr. 867(RMB). In 2017, Mehmet Atilla, deputy general manager of Halkbank, was arrested and charged with similar crimes. Zarrab pleaded guilty, while Atilla was convicted by a jury after trial in 2018 and was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Halkbank general manager Suleyman Aslan and another Halkbank employee, Levent Balkan, were also indicted and remain fugitives.
In 2019, Halkbank itself was indicted in the Southern District of New York. The district court has denied Halkbank's motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds of foreign sovereign immunity. The denial of the motion to dismiss is on appeal. United States v. Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S., No. 20-3499 (2d Cir.). III. Procedural History
On March 27, 2020, the plaintiffs filed their complaint under seal. On July 1, the plaintiffs filed an ex parte motion for a temporary restraining order and for an order of attachment pursuant to Rule 64, Fed. R. Civ. P. and N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 6210. This Court granted the temporary restraining order later that day, ordered the plaintiffs to post a bond of $100,000 pursuant to Rule 65, Fed R. Civ. P., and ordered the plaintiffs to serve Halkbank's criminal defense counsel and registered process agent with the relevant filings. The case was unsealed on July 16, and the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. With permission, the plaintiffs filed the SAC on August 14.
The SAC asserts four causes of action. First, it brings a claim for rescission and turnover of fraudulent conveyances, pursuant to N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law § 273-a. Second, it brings a claim for rescission and turnover of fraudulent conveyances made with actual intent, pursuant to N.Y. Debt. & Cred. Law § 276. Third, it brings a claim for turnover under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 5225. Finally, it seeks turnover pursuant to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, § 201(A), 28 U.S.C. § 1610(f)(1)(A).
On April 4, 2020, after the filing of the initial complaint in this action, a new version of New York's fraudulent conveyance statute took effect. Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, 2019 Sess. Law News of N.Y. Ch. 580 (A. 5622)(McKinney's). Since the new statute "shall not apply to a transfer made" before its effective date, id. at § 7, references to the New York fraudulent conveyance statute in this Opinion are to the version that was in effect prior to April 4, 2020.
On September 10, this Court denied the plaintiffs' motion for attachment and vacated the temporary restraining order it had issued in July. On September 25, Halkbank moved to dismiss the SAC. The motion became fully submitted on December 16, 2020.
Discussion
Halkbank has moved to dismiss on several grounds. Halkbank argues that it is entitled to sovereign immunity as an agency or instrumentality of Turkey under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act ("FSIA"), 28 U.S.C. § 1604, requiring dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), Fed. R. Civ. P.; that this Court lacks personal jurisdiction over Halkbank, requiring dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2), Fed. R. Civ. P.; that this Court should dismiss pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens; and that the Court is obligated to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), Fed. R. Civ. P.
Three of these arguments present threshold issues of jurisdiction. "A federal court has leeway to choose among threshold grounds for denying audience to a case on the merits." Sinochem Int'l Co. v. Malaysia Int'l Shipping Corp., 549 U.S. 422, 431 (2007) (citation omitted). Forum non conveniens is one such threshold ground. As such, a district court "may dispose of an action by a forum non conveniens dismissal, bypassing questions of subject-matter and personal jurisdiction, when considerations of convenience, fairness, and judicial economy so warrant." Id. at 432. For the reasons discussed below, this action is dismissed based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens.
Halkbank argues that this case should be litigated in Turkey. The Second Circuit has set forth a three-part test for evaluating motions to dismiss on the basis of forum non conveniens. The first step requires a court to "determine[] the degree of deference properly accorded the plaintiff's choice of forum." Norex Petroleum Ltd. v. Access Indus., Inc., 416 F.3d 146, 153 (2d Cir. 2005). The second part of the analysis involves "consider[ing] whether the alternative forum proposed by the defendants is adequate to adjudicate the parties' dispute." Id. "Finally, at step three, a court balances the private and public interests implicated in the choice of forum." Id. District courts have "broad discretion" in evaluating and weighing these factors. Iragorri v. United Technologies Corp., 274 F.3d 65, 72 (2d Cir. 2001) (en banc) (citation omitted). Here, these factors weigh in favor of dismissing the complaint on the grounds of forum non conveniens. I. Deference to the Plaintiffs' Choice of Forum
"[T]here is ordinarily a strong presumption in favor of the plaintiff's choice of forum." Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 265-66 (1981). But the strength of that presumption can "var[y] with the circumstances." Iragorri, 274 F.2d at 71. The Second Circuit has instructed that the strength of the presumption in favor of the plaintiff's choice of forum "moves 'on a sliding scale' depending on the degree of convenience reflected by the choice in a given case." Norex, 416 F.3d at 154 (quoting Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 71). Courts are instructed to give greater deference to the plaintiff's choice when "it appears that . . . [the] choice of forum has been dictated by reasons that the law recognizes as valid," such as genuine considerations of convenience and "the plaintiff's or the lawsuit's bona fide connection to the United States." Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 71-72.
The deference analysis ultimately depends on "the totality of circumstances supporting a plaintiff's choice of forum," Norex, 416 F.3d 154, but the Second Circuit has set forth factors to guide a district court's determination of the appropriate level of deference. A district court should consider "the convenience of the plaintiff's residence in relation to the chosen forum, the availability of witnesses or evidence to the forum district, the defendant's amenability to suit in the forum district, the availability of appropriate legal assistance, and other reasons relating to convenience or expense." Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 72. By contrast, a court should give little deference when the plaintiff's choice of forum is motivated by "attempts to win a tactical advantage resulting from local laws that favor the plaintiff's case, the habitual generosity of juries in the United States or in the forum district, the plaintiff's popularity or the defendant's unpopularity in the region, or the inconvenience and expense to the defendant resulting from litigation in that forum." Id.
Here, the plaintiffs' choice of forum is entitled to minimal deference. Most of the plaintiffs in this action are foreign. There is "little reason to assume that [a U.S. forum] is convenient for a foreign plaintiff." Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 71. While some of the plaintiffs are U.S. residents, and nine reside in New York state, the plaintiffs' choice of forum in cases where the U.S. resident plaintiffs are significantly outnumbered by foreign plaintiffs is entitled to less deference. Additionally, the underlying facts in this litigation involve terrorist attacks in foreign countries and an alleged fraudulent scheme orchestrated primarily in Turkey. The series of judgments were entered in the District of Columbia. In sum, there is little, if any, connection between this action and this forum. This lack of connection between the plaintiffs and the subject matter of the litigation on the one hand, and the forum on the other, weighs against deferring to plaintiffs' choice of forum.
Considering the remaining Iragorri factors, it appears that almost all of the relevant evidence is located in Turkey. Much of the relevant documentary evidence is in the custody of Halkbank, and the documents are stored in Turkey and written in Turkish. Similarly, many of the potentially relevant witnesses are Halkbank employees, and those employees are in Turkey. Those witnesses are outside the subpoena power of this Court. The difficulty of conducting discovery in this litigation if it continues in the United States weighs against deference to the plaintiffs' choice. Further, Iragorri instructs courts to consider the amenability of the defendant to suit in the forum district. It is unclear if Halkbank is even amenable to suit in the United States, as it has contested jurisdiction in both this case and the criminal case.
The plaintiffs stress that the Halkbank scheme permitted the funds to move through New York financial institutions without seizure either by the U.S. Government or by the plaintiffs as judgment creditors. They emphasize that Halkbank representatives repeatedly lied to U.S. bank and government officials to effect transfers of funds through New York. Balancing all of the relevant factors, the plaintiffs' choice of forum is not entitled to substantial deference, but it is entitled to some, albeit minimal, deference. II. Turkey as an Adequate Alternative Forum
"To secure dismissal of an action on grounds of forum non conveniens, a movant must demonstrate the availability of an adequate alternative forum." Norex, 416 F.3d 157. The parties dispute whether a Turkish court can provide an adequate alternative forum for this dispute.
"A forum in which defendants are amenable to service of process and which permits litigation of the dispute is generally adequate." Abdullahi v. Pfizer, Inc., 562 F.3d 163, 189 (2d Cir. 2009). The test is satisfied if there is some available means of litigating the dispute in the alternative forum. "[T]he availability of an adequate alternative forum does not depend on the existence of the identical cause of action in the other forum, nor on identical remedies." Norex, 416 F.3d 158 (citation omitted).
The plaintiffs do not dispute that Halkbank is amenable to service of process in Turkey. Its Chief Legal Advisor has declared that Halkbank will accept service in Turkey and will accept an appropriate Turkish court's exercise of personal jurisdiction. "An agreement by the defendant to submit to the jurisdiction of the foreign forum can generally satisfy the alternative forum requirement." Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc., 303 F.3d 470, 477 (2d Cir. 2002) (citation omitted).
The plaintiffs primarily argue that they cannot obtain relief in Turkey because Turkish courts will not recognize their U.S. default judgments on the grounds that those judgments award punitive damages against Iran (a foreign sovereign) stemming from conduct occurring in a third country. Halkbank disputes this assertion, and the parties have offered competing expert declarations on the amenability of the Turkish courts to plaintiffs' claims.
The parties' declarations regarding Turkish law are properly considered upon a motion to dismiss. The issue of whether plaintiffs can secure relief in a Turkish court presents questions of foreign law, and a district court may determine questions of foreign law by "consider[ing] any relevant material or source." Fed R. Civ. P. 44.1. In doing so, a court may weigh the relative "persuasive force of the opinions" expressed by competing experts. Itar-Tass Russian News Agency v. Russian Kurier, Inc., 153 F.3d 82, 92 (2d Cir. 1998).
Halkbank and its experts have persuasively demonstrated several means by which the plaintiffs may recover from Halkbank under Turkish law for the conduct alleged in the complaint. These Turkish causes of action are not contingent on the recognition of the plaintiffs' U.S. judgments by Turkish courts, and in any event, Halkbank and its experts have shown that plaintiffs' U.S. judgments may be recognized in Turkey. This showing by Halkbank is sufficient to permit a finding that Turkey is an adequate alternative forum.
The analysis presented by the Halkbank experts was far more persuasive than that from the plaintiffs' expert. Halkbank presented the declarations of two Turkish law professors who specialize in Turkish property law and the law of foreign judgments. By contrast, the background of the plaintiffs' expert is primarily in Turkish intellectual property law. In addition to possessing more impressive credentials in relevant areas of Turkish law, the Halkbank experts' statements were far more detailed and supported by more extensive citations and discussion. Plaintiffs' expert declaration focused on the enforcement of plaintiffs' U.S. judgments against Iran in Turkey, while Halkbank's expert declarations addressed in detail both the enforcement of judgments and the equally relevant issue of how Halkbank's alleged conduct could give rise to liability to the plaintiffs under Turkish law.
Next, while the plaintiffs acknowledge that U.S. courts have previously found that Turkey's legal system provides an adequate forum for resolution of civil disputes, they argue that the situation in Turkey has changed. Plaintiffs argue that Turkey is an inadequate forum because the high political salience of the subject matter of this litigation in Turkey -- the participation of a government-connected enterprise, Halkbank, in a scheme to transfer Iran's assets under cover of darkness -- means that they are unlikely to receive a fair hearing in Turkey. This sort of argument is disfavored, as the Second Circuit has held that "it is not the business of our courts to assume the responsibility for supervising the integrity of the judicial system of another sovereign nation." Blanco v. Banco Indus. de Venezuela, S.A., 997 F.2d 974, 982 (2d Cir. 1993) (citation omitted). Plaintiffs describe efforts by Turkish officials to interfere with criminal investigations into Halkbank in both Turkey and the U.S. These allegations are serious and deserve attention. If plaintiffs were to litigate this matter in Turkey, however, the litigation would involve Turkey's civil court system rather than its criminal law enforcement agencies. Plaintiffs' allegations regarding Turkish law enforcement are therefore not sufficient to demonstrate that the Turkish civil court system is an inadequate forum for plaintiffs' claims, especially given the Second Circuit's "reluctan[ce] to find foreign courts 'corrupt' or 'biased.'" In re Arbitration between Monegasque De Reassurances S.A.M. v. Nak Naftogaz of Ukraine, 311 F.3d 488, 499 (2d Cir. 2002). III. Balancing the Private and Public Interests
Courts in this District and elsewhere have concluded that Turkey is an adequate alternative forum in the forum non conveniens context. See, e.g., Can v. Goodrich Pump & Engine Control Systems, Inc., 711 F.Supp.2d 241, 258 (D. Conn. 2010); Turedi v. Coca Cola Co., 460 F.Supp.2d 507, 523-26 (S.D.N.Y. 2006). Plaintiffs argue that political developments in Turkey since a 2016 coup attempt have undermined the adequacy of the Turkish judiciary, so these prior findings are irrelevant. But even in the wake of these political developments, U.S. courts have continued to hold that Turkey is an adequate alternative forum. See, e.g., Roe v. Wyndham Worldwide, Inc., No. 18-1525-RGA, 2020 WL 707371, at *5 (D. Del. Feb. 12, 2020).
Since the plaintiffs' choice of forum is not entitled to significant deference and Turkey is an adequate alternative forum for this litigation, the final step of the forum non conveniens analysis is the weighing of the relevant private and public interest factors. The Second Circuit has described the private interest factors as including "the relative ease of access to sources of proof; availability of compulsory process for attendance of unwilling, and the cost of obtaining attendance of willing, witnesses; . . . and all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive." Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 73-74 (citation omitted). Public interest factors "include administrative difficulties associated with court congestion; the unfairness of imposing jury duty on a community with no relation to the litigation; the interest in having localized controversies decided at home; and avoiding difficult problems in conflict of laws and the application of foreign law." Aguinda, 303 F.3d at 480.
Here, the private interest factors weigh strongly in favor of litigating this case in Turkey. The underlying facts in this litigation involve an alleged fraudulent scheme conducted in large part by a Turkish bank and its Turkish employees in Turkey. The relevant evidence is largely in Turkey. Apart from Zarrab and Atilla, who are incarcerated in the United States for conduct related to the scheme, the potentially relevant witnesses are in Turkey or the surrounding region, as well. These potential witnesses are beyond the subpoena power of this Court. Trying this case in the United States would not be easy, expeditious, or inexpensive.
The plaintiffs take issue with very little of this assessment. They argue that U.S. prosecutors have possession of relevant documentary evidence, but that does not make such evidence accessible to civil litigants in the United States. Plaintiffs also contend that "potential" witnesses will be unable to enter Turkey. The only potential witness identified by the plaintiffs is a former Turkish law enforcement official involved in an investigation into Halkbank who was allegedly forced to flee Turkey. Plaintiffs do not explain why the testimony of this particular law enforcement official is necessary. Otherwise, the plaintiffs' submission does not contest that the witnesses to the alleged Halkbank scheme largely reside in Turkey and are beyond this Court's jurisdiction.
The public interest factors also weigh heavily in favor of litigating in Turkey. There is almost no connection between this case and New York. Plaintiffs have demanded a jury trial in this action, and it would make little sense to burden a New York court and jury with litigation of this action. By contrast, Turkey has a more significant interest in hearing this action, which involves a significant Turkish financial institution.
Additionally, this case presents a choice of law dispute, which further weighs in favor of litigating in Turkey. Halkbank argues that, even if the litigation proceeds in this Court, New York's choice of law rules require the application of Turkish law to the plaintiffs' fraudulent conveyance claims. The plaintiffs contend that New York fraudulent conveyance law applies. The presence of this choice of law dispute and the potential application of Turkish substantive law is a further basis for dismissal, since "the public interest factors point towards dismissal where the court would be required to untangle problems in conflict of laws, and in law foreign to itself." Reyno, 454 U.S. at 251 (citation omitted). IV. Conditions of Dismissal
Because the plaintiffs' choice of forum commands minimal deference, Turkey is an adequate alternative forum for this action, and the private and public interest factors weigh strongly in favor of dismissal, this action is dismissed on the grounds of forum non conveniens. In order to ensure that this case is eventually heard on the merits in Turkey, however, conditional dismissal is proper. Blanco, 997 F.2d at 984 ("[F]orum non conveniens dismissals are often appropriately conditioned to protect the party opposing dismissal.") Dismissal shall be conditioned on Halkbank's agreement to accept service in Turkey, submit to the jurisdiction of Turkish courts, and waive any statute of limitations defense that may have arisen since the filing of this action. The parties shall submit an agreement to litigate in Turkey in accordance with these conditions. A scheduling order accompanies this Opinion.
Conclusion
Halkbank's September 25, 2020 motion to dismiss is conditionally granted. Dated: New York, New York
February 16, 2021
/s/_________
DENISE COTE
United States District Judge