Fish Market Restaurants, Inc. v. Riverfront, LLC
196 So. 3d 1167
Ala.2015Background
- Riverfront, LLC and Fish Market Restaurants, Inc. entered a lease with a forum-selection clause designating Tuscaloosa County for litigation.
- Fish Market filed a declaratory-judgment action in the Etowah Circuit Court; Riverfront moved to dismiss or transfer to Tuscaloosa per the clause.
- Riverfront I held the forum-selection clause enforceable and that Tuscaloosa was not a 'seriously inconvenient' forum, directing transfer to Tuscaloosa or dismissal.
- Etowah Circuit Court transferred the case to Tuscaloosa; Fish Market later sought to transfer back to Etowah arguing inconvenient forum and using § 6-3-21.1.
- Tuscaloosa Circuit Court granted Fish Market’s transfer motion, citing both unenforceability due to inconvenience and § 6-3-21.1 transfer rights.
- Riverfront petitioned for a writ of mandamus; the Alabama Supreme Court granted relief directing vacatur of the Tuscaloosa order and honoring Riverfront’s mandate.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Tuscaloosa violated Riverfront I mandate | Riverfront asserts Tuscaloosa overruled Riverfront I. | Tuscaloosa contends it addressed forum non conveniens independently. | Mandamus granted; Tuscaloosa vacate transfer. |
| Applicability of § 6-3-21.1 | Riverfront I already fixed venue; § 6-3-21.1 not applicable. | Etowah/Etowah transfer basis invoked § 6-3-21.1 for convenience. | § 6-3-21.1 not applicable; enforceable forum clause controls. |
Key Cases Cited
- Ex parte Riverfront, LLC, 129 So.3d 1008 (Ala. 2013) (mandamus enforcing forum-selection clause; transfer direction)
- Ex parte D.M. White Constr. Co., Inc., 806 So.2d 370 (Ala.2001) (forum-selection clause unenforceable if seriously inconvenient)
- Ex parte Soprema, Inc., 949 So.2d 907 (Ala.2006) (seriously inconvenient standard cited)
- Ex parte Northern Capital Res. Corp., 751 So.2d 12 (Ala.1999) (test for seriously inconvenient forum)
- Ex parte Rymer, 860 So.2d 339 (Ala.2003) (framing seriously inconvenient standard)
- Ex parte Edwards, 727 So.2d 792 (Ala.1998) (mandamus scope and mandate execution)
- Ex parte Alabama Power Co., 431 So.2d 151 (Ala.1983) (mandate compliance principles)
- Ex parte Indiana Mills & Mfg., Inc., 10 So.3d 536 (Ala.2008) (§ 6-3-21.1 analysis in forum transfers)
- Riverfront I, 129 So.3d 1008 (Ala.2013) (enforceability of forum-selection clause; not a seriously inconvenient forum)