Cook
Cook v. CHAMPION SHIPPING As
Opinion
Opinion
Damrell, J.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Plaintiffs Thomas Cook, Jason K. Arnold, Jack L. Durham, John M. Hunter, III, Larz A. Stewart, and Elizabeth H. Zeiger (“plaintiffs”) bring this action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California against defendants Champion Shipping, AS, and Champion Tankers, AS, (collectively “defendants”) seeking damages for injuries allegedly resulting from a collision in international waters off the coast of Taiwan between defendants’ vessel MTV Champion Express (“Champion Express”), a shipping tanker registered in Liberia, and plaintiffs’ vessel, the S/V Princess Taiping (“the Taiping”), a small, replica 15th century Chinese sailing vessel registered in Hong Kong and owned by Tmax Strategy & Marketing Limited. This matter is before the court on defendant Champion Shipping AS’s motion to dismiss on the basis of forum non conveniens. Plaintiffs oppose the motion. For the reasons set forth below, defendant’s motion is GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
This action arises out of an alleged collision between the MV Champion Express and the Taiping that occurred in international waters off the coast of Taiwan on April 26, 2009 (“the Collision”). The Champion…