Print PDF

The arcane rules governing personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens (doctrines governing whether a U.S. court may exercise jurisdiction over the litigants and whether the forum is suitably appropriate) are rarely, if ever, intellectually stimulating. In the political and international context, civil procedure can be mildly topical, however.

According to the Blog of Legal Times:

Bin Laden’s death could open the door to civil litigation targeted directly at him if new assets are uncovered, said Bill Wheeler of Mississippi’s Wheeler and Franks. The firm is pursuing a civil suit pending in Washington federal court stemming from the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa.

If an estate is discovered abroad, said Wheeler’s co-counsel, James Franks, “that would be much easier than trying to get service on bin Laden [when he was alive].” But the ability to access those assets would depend on the probate laws in that country, he added.

(9)