HB 708 – Specifies how the courts may rule in contractual disputes involving the law of other countries and jurisdictional issues involving other countries

• Sponsor: Nieves
• LR Number: 1642S.02C
• Committee: Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence
• Last Action: 5/13/2011 - S Inf Calendar H Bills for Third Reading--HB 708-Curtman, et al, with SCS (pending) (Nieves)
• Title: SCS HB 708
• Effective Date: August 28, 2011
• House Handler: Curtman

Current Bill Summary

SCS/HB 708 - The act makes contracts that choose to apply a foreign law to contractual disputes or to have disputes settled in another country void and unenforceable in Missouri, if the foreign law would not grant the parties to the contract the same rights as the parties have under the United States and Missouri constitutions.

In some cases, a court may refuse to take jurisdiction over matters, where the court believes there is a more appropriate forum for the dispute. This act requires that the court hear the case in Missouri, if a state resident brings the case and if the court finds that not hearing the case in Missouri violates or would likely violate the rights of the person who brought the case.

This act is similar to SB 308 (2011).

EMILY KALMER