{ "id": 1033953, "name": "LORI LAMBERT, Independent Personal Representative of the Estate of Randy Lambert, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY et al., Defendants-Appellants", "name_abbreviation": "Lambert v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.", "decision_date": "2002-06-28", "docket_number": "No. 1-01-1877", "first_page": "373", "last_page": "384", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "332 Ill. App. 3d 373" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "111 Ill. 2d 495", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3166328 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "503" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/111/0495-01" ] }, { "cite": "454 U.S. 235", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6185480 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "249-50" }, { "page": "432" }, { "page": "263" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/454/0235-01" ] }, { "cite": "116 Ill. 2d 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5542906 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "227", "parenthetical": "\" '[i]f central emphasis were placed on any one factor, the forum non conveniens doctrine would lose much of the very flexibility that makes it so valuable' \"" }, { "page": "224" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/116/0217-01" ] }, { "cite": "198 Ill. 2d 511", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 29943 ], "weight": 7, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "518" }, { "page": "516" }, { "page": "516-17" }, { "page": "517" }, { "page": "517" }, { "page": "517" }, { "page": "517" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/198/0511-01" ] }, { "cite": "163 Ill. 2d 323", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 478007 ], "weight": 9, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "336-37" }, { "page": "336-37" }, { "page": "337-38" }, { "page": "339-40" }, { "page": "340" }, { "page": "344" }, { "page": "344" }, { "page": "343" }, { "page": "344" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/163/0323-01" ] }, { "cite": "144 Ill. 2d 395", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5592643 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "399", "parenthetical": "the Illinois Supreme Court expressly stated that a dismissal motion based on forum non conveniens should be determined by weighing the private interests at stake in litigating in one forum against the competing public interests" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/144/0395-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 Ill. 2d 338", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3122414 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/98/0338-01" ] }, { "cite": "400 Ill. 185", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5305959 ], "year": 1948, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/400/0185-01" ] }, { "cite": "330 U.S. 501", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 354212 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1947, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/330/0501-01" ] }, { "cite": "84 Ill. 2d 139", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3045393 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "149" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/84/0139-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 Ill. 2d 101", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3255085 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "106" }, { "page": "105-06" }, { "page": "106" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/136/0101-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 Ill. 2d 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3173343 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "118" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/113/0112-01" ] }, { "cite": "144 Ill. 2d 306", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5592505 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "309" }, { "page": "309-10" }, { "page": "310" }, { "page": "311-12" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/144/0306-01" ] }, { "cite": "135 Ill. App. 3d 127", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3600857 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "132" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/135/0127-01" ] }, { "cite": "275 Ill. App. 3d 292", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 906710 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "295" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/275/0292-01" ] }, { "cite": "278 Ill. App. 3d 175", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1156763 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "181" }, { "page": "181" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/278/0175-01" ] }, { "cite": "312 Ill. App. 3d 1070", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 411609 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1083" }, { "page": "1083" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/312/1070-01" ] }, { "cite": "302 Ill. App. 3d 61", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1352952 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "70" }, { "page": "70" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/302/0061-01" ] }, { "cite": "299 Ill. App. 3d 541", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 221448 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "543" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/299/0541-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 Ill. 2d 511", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2932912 ], "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "514" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/54/0511-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 Ill. 2d 338", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3122414 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "351" }, { "page": "348" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/98/0338-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 Ill. 2d 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3173343 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "118" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/113/0112-01" ] }, { "cite": "144 Ill. 2d 306", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5592505 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "310" }, { "page": "309-10" }, { "page": "311" }, { "page": "310" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/144/0306-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1013, "char_count": 27062, "ocr_confidence": 0.807, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.278396524148045e-07, "percentile": 0.6163523433219465 }, "sha256": "f77372b9a818c0c6c3604c4c5740ba4be559478cd4e4e4850d3fab215b5629ac", "simhash": "1:b2eac71777a254c9", "word_count": 4360 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:45:54.915644+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "QUINN, J., concurs." ], "parties": [ "LORI LAMBERT, Independent Personal Representative of the Estate of Randy Lambert, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY et al., Defendants-Appellants." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE GREIMAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendants, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) and Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. (Firestone), appeal from the trial court\u2019s denial of their joint motion to dismiss based upon forum non conveniens. Thus, the issue presently before us is whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion to dismiss. We reverse the decision of the trial court.\nThe plaintiff, the decedent\u2019s widow, filed her complaint against Goodyear, Firestone, Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company, and Interstate Tire and Retread, Inc., on May 10, 1999. The complaint alleged that in the course of the decedent\u2019s employment as a truck stop mechanic, he was injured when he attempted to remove the right front outer tire of a pair of dual truck tires from a trailer in order to service the inner tire of the pair. Plaintiff claims that the flat-base, multipiece truck rim assembly on which the tire was mounted exploded, striking the decedent in the head and leg. The truck trailer from which the decedent attempted to remove the tire was maintained and operated by Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (Burlington Northern); however, the accident occurred on the premises of the decedent\u2019s employer, Sawyer Truck Stop, in Sawyer, Michigan. The decedent died in the local hospital three days later.\nThe flat-base, multipiece truck rim assembly which allegedly exploded consisted of two components, a Goodyear rim base and a Firestone side/lock ring. Plaintiff asserted in her complaint that each of these components was defective and unreasonably dangerous in its design. Plaintiff further alleged that the components contained inadequate warnings and were negligently designed.\nPlaintiff resides in Sawyer, Michigan, which is in Berrien County, and the probate estate of the deceased was created by the Berrien County probate court. Likewise, the decedent was a resident of Sawyer, Michigan, and was employed in Sawyer, Michigan, by Sawyer Truck Stop, where the accident occurred. All of the decedent\u2019s survivors are Berrien County residents.\nThe two police officers who responded to the accident are employees of Chikaming Township, which is located in Berrien County, and they reside in Michigan.\nLakeland Medical Center, the hospital where the decedent was treated, is located in St. Joseph, Michigan, which is located in Berrien County. Each of the doctors who treated the decedent practices in St. Joseph, Michigan.\nSome of the decedent\u2019s coworkers at the truck stop witnessed the accident. The majority of these witnesses, including the decedent\u2019s former employers, Nick and Pat Veit, reside in Michigan.\nGoodyear is an Ohio corporation with its principal place of business in Ohio and is present in Illinois by virtue of doing business in this state. The multirim assembly involved in the explosion was designed, manufactured, distributed, marketed, and sold by Goodyear. The multirim assembly was neither designed nor manufactured in Illinois.\nFirestone is also an Ohio corporation and is present in Illinois by virtue of doing business in this state. The side/lock ring involved in the explosion was designed, manufactured, distributed, marketed, and sold by Firestone. The side/lock ring was manufactured in Wyandotte, Michigan.\nThe Burlington Northern is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Illinois.\nInterstate Tire and Retread, Inc. (Interstate), is an Illinois corporation doing business in Illinois. The subject tire was remanufactured, marketed, sold, and distributed by Interstate.\nIn addition to the foregoing facts, plaintiff alleged in her complaint that Burlington Northern was negligent in failing to properly maintain the subject trailer. More specifically, plaintiff claimed that Burlington Northern was negligent in allowing the trailer to leave its Willow Springs, Illinois, rail yard while equipped with an allegedly defective and dangerous wheel assembly.\nFurthermore, on information and belief, plaintiff alleged in her complaint that either Interstate or Burlington Northern negligently assembled the wheel components with the retread tire and supplied it for use on the trailer.\nPlaintiff also asserted that Burlington Northern and Interstate failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions regarding the assembly, handling, dangers, and defects inherent in the use of the flat-base, multipiece rim. Plaintiff specifically alleged that Interstate failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions regarding the assembly, handling, dangers and defects inherent in the use of its tires and the multipiece rims they require.\nBased on the aforementioned factual allegations, Goodyear and Firestone assert that this action should be litigated in Michigan, while plaintiff contends that this action should remain in Cook County, Illinois. Goodyear and Firestone argue that in denying their joint motion to dismiss, the trial court improperly weighed the factors to be considered under a motion to dismiss based upon forum nonconveniens. We agree.\nIn response to Goodyear and Firestone\u2019s contention that their motion to dismiss should have been granted, plaintiff claims that Goodyear and Firestone ignore the fact that Interstate and Burlington Northern are Illinois residents and that the alleged negligent assembly of the tire and wheel component parts was performed in Illinois. Plaintiff claims that the practical connection between the case at bar and Illinois is further evidenced by the fact that Interstate allegedly delivered the defective tire to Illinois; the truck trailer in question drove on Illinois roads and highways; and Burlington Northern acted negligently in failing to properly maintain the component parts and retread tire when it allowed the trailer to leave the Willow Springs, Illinois, rail yard.\nThe question before us is whether the trial court\u2019s denial of Goodyear and Firestone\u2019s motion to dismiss based on forum non conveniens was an abuse of discretion. Vinson v. Allstate, 144 Ill. 2d 306, 309 (1991). \u201cA trial court\u2019s ruling will not be reversed on review unless it can be shown that the court abused its discretion in balancing the relevant factors.\u201d Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 309-10, citing Meyers v. Bridgeport Machines Division of Textron, Inc., 113 Ill. 2d 112, 118 (1986), and Griffith v. Mitsubishi Aircraft International, Inc., 136 Ill. 2d 101, 106 (1990).\nForum non conveniens is a common law doctrine aimed at achieving effective judicial administration through the implementation of considerations of fundamental fairness. Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 310. Pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens, a court \u201cmay decline to exercise jurisdiction over a case properly before it, whenever it appears that there is another forum that can better serve the convenience of the litigants and promote the ends of justice.\u201d Horn v. Rincker, 84 Ill. 2d 139, 149 (1981).\nIn Illinois, the doctrine of forum non conveniens has two potential applications: interstate forum non conveniens and intrastate forum non conveniens. \u201cThe interstate branch of the doctrine is the traditional doctrine as adopted in 1948.\u201d 3 R Michael, Illinois Practice \u00a7 14.1 (1989); Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 91 L. Ed. 1055, 67 S. Ct. 839 (1947); Whitney v. Madden, 400 Ill. 185 (1948). When addressing the issue of interstate forum non conveniens, the focus of the question is whether Illinois is an appropriate state in which to litigate the controversy. When the issue of intrastate forum non conveniens arises, the focus of the question is whether the case is being litigated in the most convenient county. 3 R. Michael, Illinois Practice \u00a7 14.1 (1989).\nIn 1983, in the case of Torres v. Walsh, 98 Ill. 2d 338 (1983), the Illinois Supreme Court stated that the same considerations of convenience and fairness routinely applied in deciding the issue of forum for a dismissal motion based on interstate forum non conveniens apply equally in deciding a dismissal motion based on intrastate forum non conveniens. The case at bar raises the issue of interstate forum non conveniens: whether Illinois is an appropriate state in which to litigate this controversy. Due to the supreme court\u2019s holding in Torres, case law addressing intrastate forum non conveniens is equally applicable to the case at bar as case law addressing interstate forum non conveniens.\nNearly every Illinois court that has addressed the issue of forum non conveniens since its inception, whether it be interstate forum non conveniens or intrastate forum non conveniens, has discussed a list of factors to be considered in determining whether the venue is proper. These factors fall into one of two categories; they are either private interest factors or public interest factors. The trial courts and reviewing courts of this state have repeatedly weighed the private interests of the litigant against the public factors and, in doing so, have had the blessing of the Illinois Supreme Court. See Washington v. Illinois Power Co., 144 Ill. 2d 395, 399 (1991) (the Illinois Supreme Court expressly stated that a dismissal motion based on forum non conveniens should be determined by weighing the private interests at stake in litigating in one forum against the competing public interests). In 1994, the Illinois Supreme Court held that these factors are no longer to be weighed against one another; rather, the doctrine of forum non conveniens is to be regarded as a flexible doctrine requiring \u201cevaluation of the total circumstances rather than concentration on any single factor.\u201d Peile v. Skelgas, 163 Ill. 2d 323, 336-37 (1994).\nIn First American Bank v. Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d 511, 518 (2002), the Illinois Supreme Court\u2019s first full decision addressing the doctrine of forum non conveniens in seven years, the supreme court clearly stated that, rather than weigh the private interests of a litigant against the public interest factors, a determination of whether a case should be dismissed requires that the trial court \u201cevaluate the total circumstances of the case\u201d in an effort to determine whether the defendant has proven that the balance of factors strongly favors transfer. See Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 336-37; see Bland v. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co., 116 Ill. 2d 217, 227 (1987) (\u201c \u2018[i]f central emphasis were placed on any one factor, the forum non conveniens doctrine would lose much of the very flexibility that makes it so valuable\u2019 \u201d), quoting Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 249-50, 70 L. Ed. 2d 419, 432, 102 S. Ct. 252, 263 (1981). In light of the supreme court\u2019s holding in Guerine, we hold that when deciding a motion based on forum non conveniens, the trial court should apply a totality of the circumstances approach rather than weigh the individual private interest and public interest factors against one another.\nIn Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d at 516, the supreme court held that the factors to be considered when examining the private interests of the parties include:\n\u201c(1) [T]he convenience of the parties; (2) the relative ease of access to sources of testimonial, documentary, and real evidence; and (3) all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious, and inexpensive \u2014 for example, the availability of compulsory process to secure attendance of unwilling witnesses, the cost to obtain attendance of willing witnesses, and the ability to view the premises (if appropriate). See Griffith v. Mitsubishi Aircraft International, Inc., 136 Ill. 2d 101, 105-06 (1990); Bland v. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co., 116 Ill. 2d 217, 224 (1987); see also Adkins [v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R.R. Co.], 54 Ill. 2d [511,] 514 [(1973)] (these factors also may include the relative capacities of the two forums to provide a fair trial).\u201d\nThe Guerine court then went on to hold that the factors to be considered when examining the public interests of the parties include:\n\u201c(1) [T]he interest in deciding localized controversies locally; (2) the unfairness of imposing the expense of a trial and the burden of jury duty on residents of a county with little connection to the litigation; and (3) the administrative difficulties presented by adding further litigation to court dockets in already congested fora. See Griffith, 136 Ill. 2d at 106.\u201d Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d at 516-17.\nIn regard to the congestion of a court\u2019s docket, the supreme court specifically stated that \u201ccongestion is a relatively insignificant factor, especially where the record does not show the other forum would resolve the case more quickly.\u201d Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d at 517; see Brummett v. Wepfer Marine, Inc., 111 Ill. 2d 495, 503 (1986).\nIn light of the supreme court\u2019s holding in Guerine, we find that no single private interest or public interest factor carries greater weight than another factor, with the exception of the congestion of a court\u2019s docket. Under Guerine, we hold that it is improper for a court to find that one factor, such as location of the accident, is more significant than a competing factor, such as the location of the witnesses. Guerine tells us that the proper approach in determining a motion based on forum non conveniens requires us to take all of the factors into consideration and decide which forum, overall, is the better choice of venue. Thus, a movant on a forum non conveniens motion can no longer necessarily expect to succeed merely where the majority of the factors fall in favor of the party defending the current forum. An approach based on the totality of the circumstances must be followed because it is the only way we can remain true to the flexible nature of this doctrine.\nIt is well settled that the plaintiffs initial choice of forum will prevail, provided venue is proper and the factors highlighting any inconveniences, as a whole, do not greatly outweigh the plaintiff\u2019s right to try the case in the chosen forum. Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d at 517. If, however, the defendant shows that the litigation has no practical connection to the forum, the motion to dismiss based on forum non conveniens should be granted. Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d at 517.\nIn Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 337-38, the Illinois Supreme Court decision immediately preceding Guerine, the court stated:\n\u201c[T]hat plaintiff\u2019s choice of forum is entitled to less deference where the situs of the injury is not located in the chosen forum [citation] and the plaintiff is not a resident of the chosen forum [citations].\u201d\nSee Guerine, 198 Ill. 2d at 517.\nFurthermore, in Peile, the supreme court observed that the trial court \u201cfound that St. Clair County had \u2018a substantial interest\u2019 in the case because acts of alleged negligence occurred in that county.\u201d Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 339-40. The supreme court went on to observe that the appellate court also paid special attention to the fact that several of the plaintiff\u2019s claims centered around the defendants\u2019 alleged negligence occurring at the storage and odorization facility in St. Clair County. Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 340.\nThe Peile court held that the fact that the alleged negligence might have occurred in St. Clair County (the plaintiff\u2019s choice of forum), even when viewed in conjunction with the need for the jury to view the storage and odorization facility and the congestion of the trial court\u2019s docket, was not a sufficient reason for the trial court t\u00f3 deny the defendant\u2019s motion to transfer the lawsuit from St. Clair County to Pike County. Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 344. The supreme court held that the totality of the circumstances strongly favored transferring the case back to Pike County. Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 344. The Peile court based its decision \u201con such traditional convenience factors\u201d as the ease of access to the sources of proof, the substantial distance that the Pike County witnesses would be required to travel if the trial was conducted in St. Clair County, the interest of Pike County in having the controversy decided locally, the plaintiffs resided in Pike County, the accident occurred in Pike County, and, lastly, \u201cthe lack of significant connection of St. Clair County to the litigation.\u201d Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 343.\nIn addition to holding that a plaintiffs choice of forum cannot be centered around allegations of where the negligence might have occurred, the Illinois Supreme Court has held that a plaintiff cannot successfully refute a forum non conveniens motion by arguing that the selected forum is the proper forum merely because the defendant does business in that state. In Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 311, the supreme court stated:\n\u201cBecause it is assumed on a forum non conveniens motion that the court has jurisdiction over the defendant, the fact that Allstate conducts business within the county is not the only factor the court should consider in its analysis. \u2018A forum non conveniens motion *** causes a court to look beyond the criterion of venue when it considers the relative convenience of a forum.\u2019 (Emphasis added.) [Citation.]\u201d (Emphasis added.)\n\u201c[I]t is assumed on a forum non conveniens motion that the court has jurisdiction over the defendant\u201d; therefore, the Vinson court held that the trial court abused its discretion when it weighed the fact that the defendant does business in Alexander County in conjunction with the other relevant private and public interest factors. Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 311-12.\nMindful of the foregoing guidelines for determining whether a motion to dismiss based on forum non conveniens should be granted, we will now determine whether the trial court properly denied the motion to dismiss at bar by examining the private interest and public interest factors that are relevant to the case at bar. Initially, we find that the plaintiffs choice of forum in the case at bar, that being Illinois, is entitled to less deference because the accident did not occur in Illinois and plaintiff is not a resident of Illinois.\nThe first private interest factor to be considered is the convenience of the parties. Since plaintiff chose Illinois as the forum, we assume that the chosen forum is convenient for plaintiff. As for Goodyear and Firestone, they both claim that Michigan is a more convenient location.\nNext, we consider the relative ease of access to sources of testimonial, documentary, and real evidence. Plaintiff and Goodyear and Firestone dispute whether it is more convenient for the witnesses to testify in Illinois or Michigan. While plaintiff has obtained the affidavits of several witnesses who state that they do not mind traveling to Illinois, Firestone calls to our attention that of the 13 affidavits offered by plaintiff, one affidavit is of plaintiff herself. An additional affidavit is from a witness who resides neither in Illinois nor in Michigan. Also included in the 13 affidavits are several affidavits by the decedent\u2019s family members and one from a private investigator hired by plaintiff. In an effort to undermine the credibility of these affidavits, Firestone specifically names 14 witnesses who reside in Michigan and whose affidavits have not been offered.\nIn consideration of the public interest factors, we first examine whether Michigan has an interest in deciding this action. Due to the fact that the accident occurred in Michigan, the decedent resided in Michigan, the plaintiff resides in Michigan, and the decedent\u2019s place of employment is in Michigan, we find that the State of Michigan has an interest in deciding this matter locally. We recognize that Illinois has an interest in this litigation since the truck trailer in question was traveling on Illinois roads and highways; however, it is clear from the facts at bar that Michigan possesses a far greater interest than Illinois.\nAlthough congestion of a court\u2019s docket is a factor that carries very little weight, we do note that the Cook County court dockets are more highly congested than those of Berrien County, Michigan.\nA simple evaluation of the total circumstances results in Goodyear and Firestone proving that the balance of the factors strongly favors dismissal. While Illinois has a slight interest in this lawsuit, we hold that the balance of the factors strongly favors dismissal. Moreover, when we apply the facts at hand to not only the private interest and public interest factors, but to the other well-established rules of law governing the doctrine of forum non conveniens that we discussed earlier, we find that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Goodyear and Firestone\u2019s motion to dismiss.\nPlaintiff claims that for two additional reasons beyond the private interest and public interest factors, this case bears a practical connection to Illinois. First, plaintiff claims that this case bears a practical connection to Illinois because Interstate is an Illinois corporation doing business in Illinois and Burlington Northern\u2019s principal place of business is in Illinois. As previously held by the Illinois Supreme Court, the selected forum does not constitute the proper forum merely because the defendant does business there. Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 311-12. In consideration of this holding, we find it irrelevant that Interstate does business in Illinois and Burlington Northern\u2019s principal office is in Illinois.\nSecond, plaintiff claims that Illinois is the proper forum because the alleged negligence of Interstate and Burlington Northern occurred in Illinois. In a single paragraph of her complaint, plaintiff asserts, on information and belief, that the alleged negligent acts and omissions of Interstate and Burlington Northern occurred in Illinois. As held by the Illinois Supreme Court in Peile, the fact that the alleged negligence might have occurred in the selected forum is not a sufficient reason for the trial court to keep the lawsuit in that forum. Peile, 163 Ill. 2d at 344. We find the Peile holding to be directly on point with the case at bar and, therefore, find it of no consequence that the alleged negligence of Interstate and Burlington Northern might have occurred in Illinois.\nFor the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied Goodyear and Firestone\u2019s joint motion to dismiss based on forum non conveniens. The judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause is remanded to the circuit court of Cook County with directions to grant Goodyear and Firestone\u2019s motion.\nReversed and remanded with directions.\nQUINN, J., concurs.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE GREIMAN" }, { "text": "JUSTICE REID,\ndissenting:\nI dissent. While I agree in principle with the majority\u2019s discussion of the black letter law in the area of forum non conveniens, I cannot concur in the application of those rules to this particular factual situation. \u201c \u2018Forum non conveniens is a doctrine that is founded in considerations of fundamental fairness and sensible and effective judicial administration. \u2019 \u201d Vinson v. Allstate, 144 Ill. 2d 306, 310 (1991), quoting Adkins v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R.R. Co., 54 Ill. 2d 511, 514 (1973). While there may be competing reasons for filing cases in different places, \u201csometimes public policy requires that a trial court decline to exercise jurisdiction.\u201d In re Marriage of Lucht, 299 Ill. App. 3d 541, 543 (1998). As a result, \u201c[t]he trial court is vested with broad discretion to determine whether a motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens should be granted.\u201d Ferguson v. Bill Berger Associates, Inc., 302 Ill. App. 3d 61, 70 (1998); Philips Electronics N.V. v. New Hampshire Insurance Co., 312 Ill. App. 3d 1070, 1083 (2000). Therein lies our mandate. \u201cThis court must only determine whether the trial court abused its discretion.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Ferguson, 302 Ill. App. 3d at 70. While the majority is correct that \u201c[a] trial court\u2019s ruling will not be reversed on review unless it can be shown that the court abused its discretion in balancing the relevant factors\u201d (Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 309-10, citing Meyers v. Bridgeport Machines Division of Textron, Inc., 113 Ill. 2d 112, 118 (1986)), I believe the majority has misapplied the law to these facts. The majority\u2019s analysis, though scholarly, fails to take into account the idea that \u201c[t]his court in balancing the factors outlined [by the majority] must also take into consideration the principle that \u2018unless those factors strongly favor the defendant, then the plaintiff should be allowed to exercise his choice in deciding in what forum to bring the case when venue is proper.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis added.) Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 311, quoting Torres v. Walsh, 98 Ill. 2d 338, 351 (1983). A reviewing court determines whether the court abused its discretion, which can be found only when no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the circuit court. Philips, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 1083.\nI diverge with the majority in that I do not believe these facts support disturbing the ruling of the trial court. Even accepting the majority premise that \u201cthe plaintiffs choice of forum *** is entitled to less deference because the accident did not occur in Illinois and plaintiff is not a resident of Illinois\u201d (332 Ill. App. 3d at 381), the majority cannot use a single factor to reweigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the court below. \u201c[The] common law doctrine [of forum non conveniens] is applicable on an interstate basis and a case can be dismissed where the \u2018case *** has no practical connection to the forum.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis added.) Vinson, 144 Ill. 2d at 310, quoting Torres, 98 Ill. 2d at 348. In short, \u201c[t]he balancing test is an unequal one, weighted in favor of the plaintiffs chosen forum.\u201d Whirlpool Corp. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd\u2019s London, 278 Ill. App. 3d 175, 181 (1996), citing Evans v. MD Con, Inc., 275 Ill. App. 3d 292, 295 (1995). \u201cThat choice will not be disturbed unless the balance of factors strongly favors the defendant who is moving to dismiss on forum non conveniens grounds.\u201d Whirlpool, 278 Ill. App. 3d at 181, citing Stein v. Volkswagen of America, Inc., 135 Ill. App. 3d 127, 132 (1985).\nIn reviewing the materials before us, I must disagree with the majority. I do not believe the appellants have demonstrated that the relevant factors, when viewed in their totality, strongly favor the motion to dismiss on forum non conveniens grounds. I would vote to affirm under all the attendant facts and circumstances of this case.", "type": "dissent", "author": "JUSTICE REID," } ], "attorneys": [ "Williams, Montgomery & John, Ltd., of Chicago (Barry L. Kroll, Alyssa M. Campbell, Thomas H. Neuckranz, and Jeffrey S. Taylor, of counsel), for appellant Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.", "Thomas R. Woodrow, of Holland & Knight, L.L.E, of Chicago, for appellant Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.", "Dom J. Rizzi, of Miller, Faucher & Cafferty, of Chicago, Aaron N. Woods and Randy W. James, both of Risjord & James, EC., of Lee\u2019s Summit, Missouri, and Barry R. Conybeare, of Conybeare Law Office, EC., of St. Joseph, Michigan, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "LORI LAMBERT, Independent Personal Representative of the Estate of Randy Lambert, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY et al., Defendants-Appellants.\nFirst District (5th Division)\nNo. 1 \u2014 01 \u2014 1877\nOpinion filed June 28, 2002.\nWilliams, Montgomery & John, Ltd., of Chicago (Barry L. Kroll, Alyssa M. Campbell, Thomas H. Neuckranz, and Jeffrey S. Taylor, of counsel), for appellant Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.\nThomas R. Woodrow, of Holland & Knight, L.L.E, of Chicago, for appellant Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.\nDom J. Rizzi, of Miller, Faucher & Cafferty, of Chicago, Aaron N. Woods and Randy W. James, both of Risjord & James, EC., of Lee\u2019s Summit, Missouri, and Barry R. Conybeare, of Conybeare Law Office, EC., of St. Joseph, Michigan, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0373-01", "first_page_order": 391, "last_page_order": 402 }