Diese Klausel ist ein wichtiger Faktor, den die erste Instanz im Rahmen der FNC-Abwägung berücksichtigen muss, erklärte das Bundesberufungsgericht des zweiten Bezirks der USA. Zunächst muss die Klausel wirksam sein: [A] district court must consider three factors in determining whether the presumption of enforceability applies to a forum selection clause: whether (1) the clause was reasonably communicated to the party resisting its enforcement; (2) the clause is mandatory or permissive; and (3) the claims and parties to the dispute are subject to the clause. Wenn die Vermutung zugunsten der Wirksamkeit der Klausel nicht greift, darf das Gericht die FNC-Abwägung nach diesen Merkmalen treffen:
In general, we have recognized that when a defendant moves to dismiss on the ground of forum non conveniens, courts assess:
(1) the deference to be accorded the plaintiff's choice of forum;
(2) the adequacy of the alternative forum proposed by the defendants; and
(3) the balance between the private and public interests implicated in the choice of forum. … Where the parties have contractually selected a forum, however, the forum selection clause "substantial[ly] modifi[es]" the forum non conveniens doctrine and the "usual tilt in favor of the plaintiff's choice of forum gives way to a presumption in favor of the contractually selected forum." AaO 5.