Societe Damenagement et de Gestion De Labri Nautique v. Marine Travelift Inc.

324 F. Supp. 3d 1004
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedMay 30, 2018
DocketCase No. 16–C–785
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 324 F. Supp. 3d 1004 (Societe Damenagement et de Gestion De Labri Nautique v. Marine Travelift Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Societe Damenagement et de Gestion De Labri Nautique v. Marine Travelift Inc., 324 F. Supp. 3d 1004 (E.D. Wis. 2018).

Opinion

William C. Griesbach, Chief Judge

This is an action by a French corporation to recognize a judgment entered by a French court against a Wisconsin corporation. The underlying dispute arises out a the 2004 sale of a boat hoist by Defendant Marine Travel Lift (MTI) to Plaintiff Societe dAmenagement et de Gestion de lAbri Nautique (Sagan) at its facility in Saint-Marie-La-Mere, France. Sagan filed suit in a French court and ultimately obtained a judgment against MTI. While MTI seeks to re-litigate the dispute in this court, Sagan has filed a motion for summary judgment seeking recognition of the judgment it has already obtained. This court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(2). For the reasons that follow, Sagan's motion will be granted.

BACKGROUND

Sagan is a French corporation with its principal place of business located in Saint-Marie-La-Mere, France. Plaintiff's Proposed Findings of Fact (PPFOF), ECF No. 23, at ¶ 1. MTI is a Wisconsin corporation with its principal place of business located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Id. at ¶ 2. In December 2003, Sagan ordered an MTI-manufactured boat hoist and related equipment through a third-party supplier, CEI. Id. at ¶ 3. The boat hoist was installed and inspected at a marina in Saint-Marie-La-Mere, France on April 22, 2004. Id. at ¶ 4; Defendant's Proposed Findings of Fact (DPFOF), ECF No. 29, at ¶ 2. Sometime after the boat hoist was installed and before April 2005, Sagan began to complain about corrosion to CEI. PPFOF at ¶ 5. CEI ultimately contacted MTI about the concerns. Id. at ¶ 6. By mid-2006, *1006CEI entered into bankruptcy receivership. Id. at ¶ 8.

Sagan petitioned the Perpignan Commercial Court in France to appoint an independent expert to inspect the boat hoist and determine the cause of the defect. Id. On November 17, 2006, MTI was notified of the court-ordered expert evaluation of the boat hoist. Id. at ¶ 9. On December 4, 2006, a second inspection of the equipment took place at MTI's request. Id. at ¶ 10. On March 7, 2007, the court-ordered expert filed his report. Court of Appeals of Versailles Op. (English translation), ECF No. 24-4 at 2. The expert's report prompted Sagan to initiate a product-liability suit against CEI and MTI in the Commercial Court of Perpignan, alleging claims under Articles 16411 and 16472 of the French Civil Code. PPFOF at ¶ 13. The Commercial Court of Perpignan was later deemed an incompetent court, and the case was transferred to the Commercial Court of Chartres. Id. MTI appeared and was represented by French counsel. Commercial Court of Chartres Op. (English translation), ECF No. 24-3 at 3.

On September 20, 2011, the Commercial Court of Chartres rendered its judgment. Id. at 3. The Chartres Court found Sagan's claim to be admissible but without merit and dismissed the case. Id. Sagan appealed the decision to the Versailles Court of Appeals. Versailles Opinion, ECF No. 24-4 at 4. MTI, again represented by counsel, participated in the Versailles Court of Appeals proceedings. PPFOF at ¶ 22. The Versailles Court of Appeals deliberated the case in a public hearing on January 29, 2013, without objection from either party. Id. at ¶ 23. On March 28, 2013, the Versailles Court issued its decision, reversing the Chartres Court and finding MTI liable for defects in the boat hoist. Id. at ¶ 24. The Versailles Court declared MTI was liable to Sagan for 58,665 €, not including tax, plus interest at the legal rate beginning on April 9, 2004, plus 4,000 € for non-legal costs, and the costs of Sagan's attorneys' fees throughout the proceedings, as set by the Court's discretion. ECF No. 24-4 at 10-11. MTI did not appeal the Versailles Judgment to the French Supreme Court. PPFOF at ¶ 29. To this date, MTI has not paid any of the damages determined by the Versailles Court. Id. at ¶ 30. On June 22, 2016, Sagan filed this complaint seeking recognition of the Versailles Judgment. ECF No. 1. Sagan amended its complaint on September 12, 2016. ECF No. 2. On November 14, 2017, Sagan filed a motion for summary judgment to recognize the Versailles Judgment. ECF No. 21. The matter is fully briefed and ripe for decision.

LEGAL STANDARDS

Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
324 F. Supp. 3d 1004, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/societe-damenagement-et-de-gestion-de-labri-nautique-v-marine-travelift-wied-2018.