Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert

The questions are whether the United States District Court has inherent power to dismiss a suit pursuant to the doctrine of jorum non conveniens and, if so, whether that power was abused in this case.

The respondent-plaintiff brought this action in the Southern District of New York, but resides at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he operated a public warehouse. He alleges that the petitioner-defendant, in violation of the ordinances of Lynchburg, so carelessly handled a delivery of gasoline to his warehouse tanks and pumps as to cause *503an explosion and fire which consumed the warehouse building to…