Forum Selection Clause Precluded Consideration of Forum Non Conveniens Argument

On July 13, 2017, the First Department issued a decision in Honeywell International Inc. v. ARC Energy Services, Inc., 2017 NY Slip Op. 05686, holding that a New York forum selection clause precluded consideration of a forum non conveniens argument, explaining:

Plaintiff and defendant ARC entered into a services agreement which included an explicit choice of law and forum provision selecting New York law and New York courts. Supreme Court erred in considering ARC's forum non conveniens argument.

Where a party to a contract has agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of a court, that party is precluded from attacking the court's jurisdiction on forum non conveniens ground.

(Internal citations omitted).