International Greetings USA, Inc. v. Cammack
306 Ga. App. 786
Ga. Ct. App.2010Background
- International Greetings USA, Inc. filed two breach promissory note actions in DeKalb County, Georgia in January 2009 against F. Scott Cammack and Curtis Sigretto.
- The promissory notes contained a forum selection clause requiring exclusive venue in DeKalb County, Georgia state court or the Northern District of Georgia, and included a broad waiver of defenses to the clause.
- Cammack and Sigretto moved to dismiss under OCGA § 9-10-31.1 forum non conveniens.
- The trial court granted the motions, determining forum non conveniens applied despite the forum clauses, and dismissed the actions.
- International Greetings challenged thedismissals on grounds that the forum selection clauses precluded forum non conveniens relief, and the trial court’s analysis should have stopped at clause enforcement.
- The appellate court reversed, holding the forum selection clauses precluded seeking dismissal under the forum non conveniens statute.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Did the forum selection clauses preclude forum non conveniens relief under OCGA § 9-10-31.1? | International Greetings argues clauses enforceable and preclude § 9-10-31.1 analysis. | Cammack/Sigretto argue the statute allows forum non conveniens review despite the clauses. | Yes; clauses preclude § 9-10-31.1 relief, trial court erred. |
| Is Stewart Organization applicable to preclude contract-waived forum questions here? | N/A (plaintiff relies on contract terms) | Stewart Organization should govern when federal change-of-venue statute conflicts with contract terms. | No; Stewart Organization not controlling; waiver of forum non conveniens rights under contract forecloses statutory analysis. |
Key Cases Cited
- The Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., 407 U.S. 1 (1972) (enforcement of forum selection clauses; public policy factors)
- Stewart Organization v. Ricoh Corp., 487 U.S. 22 (1988) (contractual forum selection vs. venue transfer analysis; conflict with federal statute not present here)
- Houseboat Store v. Chris-Craft Corp., 302 Ga.App. 795 (2010) (enforcement of forum selection clauses under Georgia law; Bremen standard applied)
- Jones v. Jones, 280 Ga. 712 (2006) (enforceability of forum selection clauses; public policy considerations)
- Atkinson v. Cook, 271 Ga. 57 (1999) (contractual freedom to set terms; limits by statute)