Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. v. Oberflex, Inc.

909 F. Supp. 345, 29 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 406, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13116, 1995 WL 545331
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. North Carolina
DecidedAugust 15, 1995
Docket1:94CV00194
StatusPublished
Cited by41 cases

This text of 909 F. Supp. 345 (Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. v. Oberflex, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. v. Oberflex, Inc., 909 F. Supp. 345, 29 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 406, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13116, 1995 WL 545331 (M.D.N.C. 1995).

Opinion

*347 MEMORANDUM OPINION

ELIASON, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on defendant Societe IndustrieUe Ober’s (hereinafter “SIO”) motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff, Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, brought this action against the defendants, SIO and Oberflex, Inc., for breach of contract, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, and breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Defendant SIO moves for summary judgment on all claims.

Basic Facts

1. Plaintiff is an Arkansas corporation engaged in the business of customizing and selling aircraft. Defendant SIO is a French corporation which manufactures laminate veneer paneling. Defendant Oberflex is a North Carolina corporation, wholly owned by SIO, which imports and distributes SIO paneling within the United States.

2. Oberflex’s sole business involves importing SIO products into North Carolina, and then selling them to wholesalers around the United States. Oberflex has not sold or shipped any products to a North Carolina company. (Pleading No. 23, Ex. A, Califano Depo. at 23)

3. Prior to 1992, Larry Califano, national sales manager for Oberflex, called plaintiffs office to solicit business. (Califano Depo. at 24) On January 24,1992, plaintiff responded to Califano’s solicitation and placed an order for veneer paneling to be installed in its aircraft. (Id. at Ex. D) Plaintiff placed the order by telephone.

4. Oberflex shipped plaintiffs order, along with an invoice, on January 24, 1992.

(Id. at Exs. D & E) The shipment was “F.O.B. North Carolina.” 1 (Pleading No. 23, p. 9) Oberflex’s invoice allegedly contained a choice of law provision selecting North Carolina law for the governance of the contract. Plaintiff mailed a written purchase order to Oberflex on January 27, 1992, which allegedly contained a choice of law provision selecting Arkansas law. 2 (Id.) Neither party notified the other of its acceptance or objection to either choice of law provision.

5.In January or February 1993, plaintiff notified Oberflex and SIO of problems it was allegedly experiencing with the veneer paneling. (Id. at Ex. E) In June 1993, Larry Califano visited plaintiff’s Little Rock, Arkansas, facility to examine the product. (Id.) In July 1993, Oberflex ceased business operations and sold all assets. (Id.) Oberflex currently possesses no assets and SIO still owns 100% of its stock. (Id. at Ex. D)

Discussion

In late 1992 and early 1993, plaintiff contends it began experiencing problems with the veneer paneling, and determined the product was defective and unsuitable for its use. (Id. at Ex. E) Plaintiff has now brought this action for breach of contract and breach of express and implied warranties against Oberflex. Defendant SIO has been made a defendant under theories of direct and derivative liability.

Plaintiff claims that SIO is liable for breach of contract, breach of express warranty, and breach of implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. It alleges that SIO is indirectly liable under the theory that Oberflex was the mere agent or alter ego of SIO, thereby allowing plaintiff to pierce Oberflex’s corporate form. Defendant SIO is also alleged to be directly liable for breach of the warranties. Defen *348 dant SIO has moved for summary judgment against both theories. Defendant SIO contends that there are not sufficient facts from which a jury could pierce the corporate veil under North Carolina law. As to the warranty claims, SIO alleges that North Carolina law requires privity of contract for breach of warranty actions and that there was no privity between itself and plaintiff.

A motion for summary judgment shall be rendered “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2509-10, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). “Genuineness means that the evidence must create fair doubt; wholly speculative assertions will not suffice.” Ross v. Communications Satellite Corp., 759 F.2d 355, 364 (4th Cir.1985). In considering the evidence, all reasonable inferences are to be drawn in favor of the non-moving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. at 2513.

The resolution of SIO’s summary judgment motion requires the Court to determine what state law to apply. A federal court applies the law of the forum state in a ease premised upon diversity of citizenship jurisdiction. This includes the state’s choice of law principles. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941). For this Court, the forum state is North Carolina.

In the instant ease, SIO argues for the application of North Carolina law with respect to the issues of piercing the corporate veil and breach of warranties. Plaintiff claims that Arkansas law should apply to both issues.

Piercing the Corporate Veil

Defendant SIO contends that under North Carolina law there are insufficient facts from which a jury could pierce the corporate veil of Oberflex in order to hold SIO liable. Neither party briefed the choice of law matter for piercing the corporate veil separately from the warranty provision. Defendant SIO requests the court to apply North Carolina law on the grounds that the purchase order contained a choice of law provision electing North Carolina law. However, a choice of law provision in a contract is not binding on what law to apply for piercing the corporate veil. The reason for this is that the issue of piercing the corporate veil is collateral to and not part of the parties’ negotiations or expectations with respect to the contract. It involves imposing liability on third-party shareholders as opposed to governing the parties’ obligations under the contract. Kalb, Voorhis & Co. v. American Financial Corp., 8 F.3d 130, 132 (2d Cir.1993) (New York law was applicable only to claims arising under debentures, but issue of veil piercing was governed by the state of incorporation); United Trade Associates Ltd. v. Dickens & Matson (USA) Ltd., Inc., 848 F.Supp. 751, 759 (E.D.Mich.1994).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

P1 Group, Inc. v. RipKurrent, LLC
W.D. North Carolina, 2024
Bartlett v. Burke
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2022
WALLS v. FORD MOTOR COMPANY
M.D. North Carolina, 2022
Young v. Carter
E.D. North Carolina, 2020
FAGAN v. FISCHER
D. New Jersey, 2019
Bartels v. Saber Healthcare Grp., LLC
352 F. Supp. 3d 522 (E.D. North Carolina, 2018)
Kerry Bodenhamer Farms, LLC v. Nature's Pearl Corp.
2018 NCBC 83 (North Carolina Business Court, 2018)
Red Fox Future, LLC v. Holbrooks
2014 NCBC 8 (North Carolina Business Court, 2014)
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. v. Lauer Ltd.
918 F. Supp. 2d 835 (N.D. Iowa, 2013)
Leica Geosystems, Inc. v. L.W.S. Leasing, Inc.
872 F. Supp. 2d 1191 (D. Colorado, 2012)
Pan-American Products & Holdings, LLC v. R.T.G. Furniture Corp.
825 F. Supp. 2d 664 (M.D. North Carolina, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
909 F. Supp. 345, 29 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 406, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13116, 1995 WL 545331, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dassault-falcon-jet-corp-v-oberflex-inc-ncmd-1995.