Ex Parte Ford Motor Company; Long-Lewis, Inc.; Mazda Motor Corporation; and Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. (in Re…

Summary

The court held that the Bessemer Act does not prevent a court from transferring an action arising in the Bessemer Division under Alabama's forum non conveniens statute. Because Tuscaloosa County was also a proper venue and the trial court had not decided whether transfer would serve the interest of justice, the court directed the trial court to vacate its denial and reconsider the transfer motion. Justice Murdock, dissenting, would not have allowed further consideration of transfer under the interest-of-justice prong.