Aspsoft, Inc. v. WebClay

983 So. 2d 761, 2008 WL 2388017
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedJune 13, 2008
Docket5D07-2802
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 983 So. 2d 761 (Aspsoft, Inc. v. WebClay) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aspsoft, Inc. v. WebClay, 983 So. 2d 761, 2008 WL 2388017 (Fla. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

983 So.2d 761 (2008)

ASPSOFT, INC., a Florida Corporation, Appellant,
v.
WEBCLAY, etc., et al., Appellee.

No. 5D07-2802.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.

June 13, 2008.

*763 Joy K. Goodyear, Windermere, for Appellant.

Amy S. Tingley and Scott A. Livingston, of Stovash, Case & Tingley, P.A., Orlando, for Appellee.

PALMER, C.J.

Aspsoft, Inc., appeals the final order entered by the trial court dismissing with prejudice its amended complaint against WebClay, Inc., and Larry Allen. Determining that the dismissal was proper as to Larry Allen, but improper as to WebClay, Inc., we affirm in part and reverse in part.

Aspsoft filed an amended complaint which alleged that Allen, on behalf of himself and WebClay, sought out and entered into an oral contract with Aspsoft, hiring Aspsoft to perform software consulting services for WebClay. The complaint asserted *764 that all of the work was performed in Florida and some payments had been made by WebClay to Aspsoft in Florida. The complaint averred that WebClay and Allen had sufficient minimum contacts with Florida because Allen, on behalf of WebClay, contacted Aspsoft and entered into an oral contract and, thereafter, engaged in continuous communications with Aspsoft in Florida. Count I alleged a claim of breach of an oral contract and count II alleged a claim of quantum meruit.

Allen and WebClay filed motions to dismiss Aspsoft's amended complaint. The motions alleged that dismissal was warranted based on lack of personal jurisdiction and the failure to allege cognizable causes of action.

Allen filed an affidavit in which he stated he was the president and registered agent for WebClay; he was a resident of North Carolina; WebClay's principal place of business was in Colfax, North Carolina; WebClay maintained no business locations in Florida; and WebClay did not conduct any business in Florida. The affidavit further stated that WebClay was involved in a business relationship with Aspsoft in connection with software consulting services and that WebClay's server, which was the subject of said services, was located in the State of Washington. The affidavit stated that Allen did not enter into any business relationship with Aspsoft as an individual, and that all services performed by Aspsoft were the result of a business relationship between Aspsoft and WebClay.

Aspsoft responded by filing an affidavit authored by Jonathan Goodyear. In his affidavit, Goodyear stated that he was the president and registered agent of Aspsoft and that the company's place of business was located in Windermere, Florida. The affidavit further stated that Aspsoft was contacted by Allen who requested that Aspsoft assist him in the development of software; the parties entered into an oral agreement to provide consulting services, including the development of software and code to WebClay; it was agreed that Aspsoft would send invoices to WebClay every two weeks for the work completed and that WebClay would pay Aspsoft as indicated on the invoices; all software and development work for WebClay was done by Aspsoft in Florida; and WebClay's Washington State server was not used to develop the software and code produced by Aspsoft for the benefit of WebClay Corporation.

Aspsoft filed a second affidavit authored by Jay Kimble. Kimble's affidavit stated that he was an employee of Aspsoft and that all software and development work for WebClay was done in Florida. He further stated that Allen had contacted him numerous times to discuss the status of the project.

The matter proceeded to a hearing before the General Magistrate. Upon review, the General Magistrate issued a report which recommended that the trial court dismiss Aspsoft's amended complaint with prejudice based on both lack of personal jurisdiction over the defendants and failure to allege valid causes of action. The trial court ratified the report and dismissed Aspsoft's amended complaint.

Aspsoft first argues that the trial court reversibly erred in ratifying the General Magistrate's ruling that dismissal of its amended complaint was warranted based on lack of personal jurisdiction over the defendants. As to WebClay only, we agree.[1]

*765 The standard of review is de novo whenever an appeal arises from the trial court's decision on a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. American Exp. Ins. Services Europe Ltd. v. Duvall, 972 So.2d 1035, 1038 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008).

Under the two-part jurisdictional analysis detailed by the Florida Supreme Court in Venetian Salami Co. v. Parthenais, 554 So.2d 499 (Fla.1989), in order to determine whether personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant in Florida is proper, the trial court must examine the specific factual allegations set forth in a complaint to determine: (1) whether the facts set forth one or more of the predicate acts enumerated in section 48.193 of the Florida Statutes; and, if so, then (2) whether the facts set forth the defendant's minimum contacts with Florida necessary to satisfy federal constitutional due process requirements. Cohn v. Woolin, 971 So.2d 868 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007). Section 48.193 of the Florida Statutes sets forth several actions which subject a non-resident defendant to the jurisdiction of the Florida courts. When analyzing the second prong of the Venetian Salami analysis, our court has explained:

A Florida court obtains specific personal jurisdiction over a nonresident if the nonresident maintains "certain minimum contacts with [the forum state] such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend `traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.'" Execu-Tech [Business Systems, Inc. v. New Oji Paper Co. Ltd.], 752 So.2d [582] at 584 [(Fla.2000)] (quoting International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945)); see also [Glovegold Shipping, Ltd. v. Sveriges Angfartygs Assurans Forening, 791 So.2d 4 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000)]. Adequate minimum contacts are established if the court finds that "the defendant's conduct and connection with the forum State are such that he should reasonably anticipate being haled into court there." Glovegold Shipping, 791 So.2d at 11 (quoting World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297, 100 S.Ct. 559, 62 L.Ed.2d 490 (1980)). The defendants must have purposefully availed themselves of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum state, thus invoking the benefits and protections of the laws of that state.

Northwestern Aircraft Capital Corp. v. Stewart, 842 So.2d 190, 195-196 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003).

*766 Here, as for the first prong of the Venetian Salami analysis, Aspsoft alleged that jurisdiction was proper pursuant to sections 48.193(1)(a) & (g) of the Florida Statutes, which reads, in relevant part:

48.193. Acts subjecting person to jurisdiction of courts of state
(1) Any person, whether or not a citizen or resident of this state, who personally or through an agent does any of the acts enumerated in this subsection thereby submits himself or herself and, if he or she is a natural person, his or her personal representative to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for any cause of action arising from the doing of any of the following acts:

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Bluebook (online)
983 So. 2d 761, 2008 WL 2388017, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aspsoft-inc-v-webclay-fladistctapp-2008.