Ill. Court Retains Jurisdiction of Miss. Railroad Worker's Personal Injury Suit

MT. VERNON, Ill. - An Illinois appellate court has affirmed an order denying a railroad defendant's motion to dismiss a personal injury lawsuit on forum non conveniens grounds, holding that the defendant failed to show that the relevant factors "strongly" favor dismissal in favor of a Mississippi forum. Fennell v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., No. 5-10-0504 (Ill. App. Ct., 5th Dist.).

The Fifth District Appellate Court of Illinois said in a Jan. 3 opinion (corrected Jan. 25) that defendants could not prevail by arguing that the forum chosen by Mississippi resident Walter Fennell was inconvenient to him, and note that …