Ginter Ex Rel. Ballard v. Belcher, Prendergast & Laporte

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:

Paul and Lisa Ginter, husband and wife, hired Fred Belcher (an attorney) to help guide them through Louisiana’s complicated process for adopting a child. The attorney-client agreement memorializing Bel-cher’s representation contained a forum-selection clause requiring that any suit related to the contract be filed in Louisiana state court. After a dispute arose between the parties, however, the Ginters filed suit in federal court. Belcher moved to have the case dismissed, citing the forum-selection clause. The district court held that the clause was unenforceable and…