Piper Aircraft Co. vs. Reyno Digest
Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno Forum non-conveniens Facts: 1. Reyno was the representative of the estates of citizens and decedents who were residents of Scotland. The decedents were killed in a plane crash (mechanical failure) in Scotland during a chartered flight of an aircraft manufactured by the petitioner. 2. Petitioner is a company in Pennsylvania, while Hartzel, the one maintaining the propeller was from Ohio. The aircraft was registered in United Kingdom. It was operated by a UK company owned by McDonald (of Scotland). Meanwhile, the plane pilot who also died is of Scottish descent. 3. The UK government conducted an investigation. The representatives of five (5) passengers who perished filed an action against Piper Corp and Hartzel in California while the survivors filed a separate action in UK against Air Navigation, McDonald and the pilot's estate. Hartzel was properly served with process. The petitioner Piper and Hartzell both moved to dismiss on g...