Jurisdictional discovery

In the unpublished case of Blake Box v. Dallas Mexican Consulate General, the Fifth Circuit reversed a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction under the Foreign  Sovereign Immunities Act  because discovery was not allowed on whether a Mexican government representative had actual authority.  No. 11-10126 (Aug. 21, 2012).  Acknowledging that the FSIA seeks to reduce litigation involving sovereigns, the Court found that authority “is a discrete issue conducive to limited discovery [and] the relevant documents reside exclusively with the defendant . . . ”  Id. at 7-8.  The analysis and cited cases are of general interest in other jurisdictional discovery situations.  Disclosure: LTPC colleagues Jason Dennis and Sam Hardy represented the successful appellant.