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The Last Word on Forum Non Conveniens

For the first time in seven years, the Illinois Supreme Court has addressed in detail the doctrine of forum non conveniens. "Unless the balance is strongly in favor of the defendant, the plaintiff™s choice of forum should rarely be disturbed." The defendant must show that the plaintiff™s chosen forum is inconvenient to the defendant, and another forum is more convenient to all parties. Intrastate transfer is appropriate only when the litigation has "no practical connection," no nexus, with the plaintiff™s chose forum. First National Bank v. Guerine, No. 90950, 2002 WL 93146 (Jan. 25, 2002).