Ex Parte Allied-Signal, Inc.

Allied-Signal, Inc., petitions for a writ of mandamus directed to the Honorable Jack D. Carl of the Jefferson Circuit Court ordering him to dismiss the declaratory judgment action filed by National Energy Partners (hereinafter "NEP"), based on the doctrine of forum non conveniens, Ala. Code 1975, §6-5-430. Specifically, Allied-Signal contends that California, rather than Alabama, is the more appropriate forum for NEP's suit.

The basis for NEP's action was a purchase agreement entered into between it and the Garrett Corporation on August 18, 1987, in which NEP bought from Garrett all of the…