Federal Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Action to Enforce Foreign Court’s Judgment, N.Y. Federal Judge Rules

NEW YORK — Section 203 of the Federal Arbitration Act and the New York Convention do not provide subject matter jurisdiction over actions seeking enforcement of a foreign court's judgment, even where a party contends that the foreign court's judgment is inconsistent with an earlier arbitration award or an agreement to arbitrate, a New York federal judge has ruled.

On March 10, Judge Paul G. Gardephe of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York remanded the action to state court.

In 1997, Italian company BEG S.p.A. obtained a concession from the Republic of Albania to construct …