McCray v. Hilton Worldwide, Inc.

Filing 16

ORDER denying 8 defendant's Motion to Dismiss pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens. Signed by District Judge George Caram Steeh (MBea)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
LAUDREY McCRAY,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 13-CV-13850
vs.
HON. GEORGE CARAM STEEH
HILTON WORLDWIDE, INC.,
Defendant.
_____________________________/
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS
PURSUANT TO THE DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS [DOC. 8]

Plaintiff, Laudrey McCray, filed this negligence and breach of contract action
arising out of a burn injury that allegedly occurred when he was staying at Hilton
Yaoundé, in the Republic of Cameroon. Plaintiff claims that he was burned while
utilizing the steam room at the hotel when an unmarked steam outlet discharged steam
directly onto his right leg. Plaintiff is a resident and domiciliary of Florida. Defendant,
Hilton Worldwide, Inc. (“Hilton”), is a Virginia corporation which manages, but does not
own, the Hilton Yaoundé. The Hilton Yaoundé appears to be owned by Cameroon
Hotels Corporation (“CHC”), a Cameroonian entity which is not a named party to this
lawsuit. The matter is presently before the court on Hilton’s motion to dismiss on the
grounds of forum non conveniens.
The court heard oral argument by the parties on February 3, 2014. Now,
therefore, for the reasons stated on the record,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendant’s motion to dismiss for forum non
conveniens is DENIED without prejudice.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED that discovery in this matter shall
commence immediately.
It is so ordered.

Dated: February 3, 2014
S/George Caram Steeh
GEORGE CARAM STEEH
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Copies of this Order were served upon attorneys of record on
February 3, 2014, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
S/Marcia Beauchemin
Deputy Clerk

2