RECORD IMPOUNDED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-3720-22
E.T.,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HUDSON COUNTY, f/k/a, THE JERSEY CITY BOYS CLUB,
Defendant-Respondent,
and APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION
February 28, 2024 BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA,1 APPELLATE DIVISION
Defendant-Appellant. ______________________________
A.M.,
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF HUDSON COUNTY,
1 Appellant Boys and Girls Clubs of America was improperly pled below as Boys and Girls Club of America, f/k/a Boys Clubs of America. and
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA,
A.R.,
Defendant-Appellant,
and
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF HUDSON COUNTY f/k/a JERSEY CITY BOYS' CLUB, and ARTHUR FREUDENBERG,
Defendants-Respondents. ______________________________
A.R.2,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
A-3720-22 2 Defendant-Appellant,
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HUDSON COUNTY f/k/a JERSEY CITY BOYS CLUB, and ARTHUR FREUDENBERG,
E.R., and R.R.,
Plaintiffs-Respondents,
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HUDSON COUNTY, f/k/a THE JERSEY CITY BOYS CLUB,
J.A., A.M., and G.M.,
A-3720-22 3 THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HUDSON COUNTY, f/k/a, THE JERSEY CITY BOYS CLUB,
Argued January 23, 2024 – Decided February 28, 2024
Before Judges Sumners, Rose and Smith.
On appeal from an interlocutory order of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Hudson County, Docket Nos. L-3355-20, L-1307-21, L-3892-21, L- 4042-21, L-1442-22, and L-1908-22.
Michael L. Eber (Caplan Cobb, LLC) of the Georgia bar, admitted pro hac vice, argued the cause for appellant (Fishman McIntyre Levine Samansky, PC, and Michael L. Eber, attorneys; Mitchell B. Levine and Michael L. Eber, on the briefs).
J. Silvio Mascolo argued the cause for respondents E.T., E.R., R.R., J.A., A.M., and G.M. (Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, LLP, attorneys; J. Silvio Mascolo, of counsel and on the briefs).
Levy Kongisberg, LLP, attorneys for respondent A.M., join in the brief of respondents E.T., E.R., R.R., J.A., A.M., and G.M.
A-3720-22 4 The opinion of the court was delivered by
SUMNERS, JR., C.J.A.D.
This appeal requires us to determine whether an out-of-state non-profit
national youth organization affiliated with a New Jersey non-profit youth
member organization is subject to the jurisdiction of our state courts in a lawsuit
pertaining to the alleged sexual abuse by a counselor of the New Jersey entity
occurring in our state. Based on jurisdictional discovery, the motion court held
our state courts had specific personal jurisdiction over the national organization
regarding plaintiffs' sexual abuse claims. We disagree and reverse.
Jurisdictional discovery revealed the national organization had no
influence or control over the New Jersey entity's hiring, training, or supervision
of the alleged sexual abuser. We thus conclude the national organization did
not purposefully avail itself of benefits in or from New Jersey regarding the
alleged sexual abuser, and hence, our state has no specific personal jurisdiction
over the national organization in this matter.
I.
In six consolidated lawsuits, plaintiffs allege that Arthur Freudenberg,
while a part-time counselor for the Jersey City Boys Club, now known as the
A-3720-22 5 Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County (Hudson County BGC),2 sexually abused
them between approximately 1978 to 1982, when they were members of the
club.3 Seeking compensatory and punitive damages, plaintiffs sued the New
Jersey non-profit, Hudson County BGC and Boys & Girls Clubs of America
(BGCA), the affiliated national organization. 4
After the parties were allowed discovery to determine whether our state
has jurisdiction over BGCA due to its involvement with its member
organization, Hudson County BGC, BGCA moved under Rule 4:6-2(b) to
dismiss the complaints for lack of jurisdiction. The motion was denied. The
court ruled New Jersey does not have general jurisdiction over BGCA but found
specific personal jurisdiction because BGCA purposefully availed itself of New
Jersey through its relationship with Hudson County BGC.
2 For convenience and to avoid confusion, we refer to the Jersey City Boys Club organization as Hudson County BGC throughout the entirety of the period when the alleged assaults occurred. 3 Plaintiffs allege Freudenberg was charged with 493 counts of aggravated sexual assault on boys ages eleven to thirteen but pled guilty to only five charges. 4 Two plaintiffs also sued Freudenberg. Claims against Freudenberg are not involved in this appeal.
A-3720-22 6 On leave to appeal, BGCA contends the motion court erred in determining
New Jersey courts have specific personal jurisdiction over BGCA in these
lawsuits. Specifically, it argues the court's order rests on four incorrect factual
findings: (1) Hudson County BGC, where plaintiffs were allegedly abused, was
under BGCA's control; (2) the alleged abuser was a BGCA employee; (3)
BGCA "marketed" its program in New Jersey when allowing Hudson County
BGC to use BGCA's logo and branding in obtaining membership; and (4) BGCA
provided services to Hudson County BGC.
II.
The issue of whether New Jersey has specific personal jurisdiction over
BGCA due to Freudenberg's alleged sexual abuse of plaintiffs is a mixed
question of law and fact. Rippon v. Smigel, 449 N.J. Super. 344, 358 (App. Div.
2017).5 We therefore determine whether the motion court's factual findings "are
supported by substantial, credible evidence in the record" and review de novo
its legal conclusions. Ibid. (citing Mastondrea v. Occidental Hotels Mgmt. S.A.,
391 N.J. Super. 261, 268 (App. Div. 2007)).
5 We do not address whether New Jersey has general jurisdiction over BGCA because there is no challenge to the motion court's ruling that New Jersey does not have general justification over BGCA.
A-3720-22 7 Due process dictates that for a forum state to have specific personal
jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant, the defendant must "have certain
minimum contacts with [the state] such that the maintenance of the suit does not
offend 'traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.'" Int'l Shoe Co. v.
Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945) (quoting Milliken v. Meyer, 311 U.S.
457, 463 (1940)); see also Lebel v. Everglades Marina, Inc., 115 N.J. 317, 322
(1989). We have held "for a state court to exercise [specific] jurisdiction over
a non[-]resident defendant, the lawsuit 'must aris[e] out of or relat[e] to the
defendant's contacts with the forum.'" Jardim v. Overley, 461 N.J. Super. 367,
376 (App. Div. 2019) (third and fourth alterations in original) (quoting Daimler
AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117, 127 (2014)); accord Waste Mgmt., Inc. v. Admiral
Ins. Co., 138 N.J. 106, 119 (1994), cert. denied sub nom. WMX Techs., Inc. v.
Canadian Gen. Ins. Co., 513 U.S. 1183 (1995).
There must be a "relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the
litigation" to establish minimum contacts. Lebel, 115 N.J. at 323 (quoting
Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U.S. 186, 204 (1977)). A defendant's conduct must be
purposeful and not be caused by the plaintiff's unilateral actions. Ibid. (citing
World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297-98 (1980)); see
also Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253 (1958). The conduct in our state
A-3720-22 8 should be "such that [the defendant] should reasonably anticipate being haled"
into our courts. World-Wide Volkswagen Corp., 444 U.S. at 297. Moreover,
"[a] court must consider the burden on the defendant, the interests of the forum
State, and the plaintiff's interest in obtaining relief." Asahi Metal Indus. Co. v.
Superior Ct., 480 U.S. 102, 113 (1987).
III.
Guided by the above principles, we examine the factual record regarding
the BGCA and Hudson County BGC, particularly the latter's employment of
Freudenberg.
BGCA, a federally charted District of Columbia non-profit corporation
with its principal place of business in Georgia, was established as a Boys Club
of America in 1956 "to promote the health, social, educational, vocational and
character development of all boys throughout the United States." 6 Act of Aug.
6, 1956, Pub. L. No. 84-988, 70 Stat. 1052 (current version at 36 U.S.C. §
6 In 1990, after the Boys Club of America began accepting female members, the organization's charter was amended to adopt its current name. For convenience and to avoid confusion, we do not alter the boys-only reference in the BGCA's charter and by-laws that existed when the alleged abuse occurred. Our Mission & Story, Boys & Girls Clubs of America https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our- mission%20story#:~:text=In%201956%2C%20Boys%20Clubs%20of,amended %20and%20renewed%20our%20charter (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
A-3720-22 9 31102(1)). The organization's activities are "not confined to the place where the
principal office is located but may be conducted throughout the States,
territories, and possessions of the United States." 36 U.S.C. § 31107. BGCA ,
in accordance with its constitution, provides "national leadership in the
development of the Boys' Clubs of America movement [through] activities
which will enable member organizations to render better service to their boy
members; and . . . assistance to communities in the establishment of new Boys'
Clubs."
A "[m]ember [o]rganization" as defined under BGCA's constitution is "a
corporation, association, administrative committee or otherwise named
governing body which operates one or more Boys' Clubs in accordance with the
requirements herein, and which has been admitted to membership in Boys' Clubs
of America." A "Boys' Club" is a club "which meets the requirements
established [under BGCA's Constitution]." BGCA's constitution section ,
"Requirements for Membership," provides that "[a]ny corporation, association,
administrative committee or otherwise named governing body . . . which meets
the minimum requirements established here may be elected to membership
. . . ." Moreover, a member organization's "[f]ailure to comply with membership
requirements could result in an organization having their membership revoked
A-3720-22 10 or leaving membership in [BGCA] during that time, and at that time would not
be able to use the name, logo, or programs associated with BGCA." Member
organizations are required to pay annual dues to BGCA.
BGCA's involvement with its member organizations is limited. Its
constitution provides:
The local governing body shall have control of the Boys' Club buildings or designated Boys' Club rooms; shall have control of the expenditures of the Boys' Club within an established budget; shall have authority to determine policies and establish programs; shall have authority to appoint the executive and fix his compensation, prescribe his duties and the terms of his employment; shall have authority to fix the compensation of other employees; and shall have the authority, or delegate the authority to the executive, to hire and discharge employees and prescribe their duties.
The constitution also provides, the local governing body's executive director
shall "be acceptable to [BGCA], [and] be responsible directly . . . to the local
governing body," and "have executive and administrative control of activities
and personnel of the member organization in accordance with policies and
procedures established by the . . . local governing body."
While BGCA supports its member organizations, it does not provide
services to the local organization's youth members. As for the services made
available to member organizations, John Miller, BGCA's National Vice
A-3720-22 11 President of Field Operations, deposed that "no member or organization is
required to use any of the services that they are provided as part of the[ir]
membership[,] and organizations can determine based on their needs and their
priorities which services they take advantage of." Miller confirmed member
organizations were required to employ workers who were "qualified in
personality, character, experience, education, and training for the leadership and
guidance of boys."
However, according to Miller:
[A]s part of the [BGCA] constitution . . . local organizations have the sole authority for the hiring, evaluation, training, conditioning of employees and [BGCA] has no authority there, so [the local organizations] would determine the suitability of someone for hiring within their organization.
....
Each local organization would be looking at the type of personality, character, experience, education[,] and training that would –– they would need to carry out their program on the local level.
[(Emphasis added).]
During the time of Freudenberg's alleged sexual assaults, Hudson County
BGC was a New Jersey nonprofit corporation and a dues-paying local governing
body member of BGCA. Plaintiffs were members of the Hudson County BGC.
A-3720-22 12 There is nothing in the record indicating that BGCA had any input in Hudson
County BGC's hiring practices or gave direction to Hudson County BGC
regarding the training or supervision of the local governing body's employees.
Nor is there any indication that during the period of the alleged assaults or when
these suits were filed, BGCA owned any real property in New Jersey.
IV.
A.
Plaintiffs' consolidated lawsuits essentially make the same allegations
regarding BGCA's liability for Freudenberg's alleged assaults. They allege
BGCA is liable for their injuries caused by Freudenberg's sexual abuse based on
violation of the Child Sex Abuse Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1, and theories of
negligence, and willful, wanton or grossly negligent conduct. They claim
Freudenberg was an agent, servant, or employee of BGCA, and as such, BGCA
failed to use reasonable care in hiring and supervising him or in protecting them
from his abuse and is vicariously responsible for his conduct. They claim BGCA
failed to train Hudson County BGC to prevent the foreseeable acts of
Freudenberg's sexual abuse. Finally, plaintiffs allege Hudson County BGC was
under the supervision and control of BGCA, and, therefore responsible for
overseeing Hudson County BGC's staff.
A-3720-22 13 B.
The motion court ruled that under principles established in Lebel and
Baanyan Software Services, Inc. v. Kuncha, 433 N.J. Super. 466, 476 (App. Div.
2013), "BGCA purposefully availed itself of the New Jersey forum" which
"relates to the claims by [p]laintiffs." The court further relied on Ford Motor
Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court, 141 S. Ct. 1017, 1022,
1028 (2021), where the United States Supreme Court concluded that Ford was
subject to personal jurisdiction in certain states where Ford systematically
marketed, sold, and serviced its vehicles, even though the Ford vehicles involved
in the accidents in the forum states were not sold in those states. The court
determined the situation here was like that in Ford, reasoning:
BGCA provides to local clubs "marketing support, strategic planning support, leadership development and training, facility, consultations." . . . Moreover, the local clubs use the BGCA logo and branding. Significantly, the local clubs benefit from the "market value in terms of name recognition and public trust" of the BGCA. In return, BGCA collects dues from its member clubs. The alleged wrong—sexual abuse by a [Hudson County BGC] employee against [Hudson County BGC] members—relates directly to the BGCA's conduct in New Jersey. In other words, BGCA marketed its youth clubs in New Jersey, and an employee abused a patron. Accordingly, BGCA is subject to personal jurisdiction in these consolidated matters.
A-3720-22 14 C.
We part company with the motion court's finding that there is specific
personal jurisdiction over BGCA. We agree the record reflects, as the court
recognized: BGCA had contacts with New Jersey through its relationship with
the Hudson County BGC; BGCA received membership dues from Hudson
County BGC to be a member of BGCA; BGCA provided support, including in-
person training, to Hudson County BGC pertaining to sports, fitness, recreation,
education, the arts, leadership, citizenship, and development to enhance Hudson
County BGC's recruitment and retention of members, like plaintiffs; and that
BGCA provided leadership and training to Hudson County BGC to ensure
stability of the local club. These connections, however, do not cause us to
conclude that BGCA availed itself to New Jersey with respect to specific
personal jurisdiction regarding plaintiffs' allegations of Freudenberg's sexual
abuse.
The gravamen of plaintiffs' allegations against BGCA is that it is liable
for Freudenberg's misconduct because it was responsible for his hiring, training,
and supervising. The record does not reflect BGCA maintained control over the
hiring, training, supervising, or termination of any Hudson County BGC
employee. Instead, the record demonstrates, Freudenberg was not an agent,
A-3720-22 15 servant, or employee of BGCA––as plaintiffs pled in their respective
complaints––subject to BGCA's control or supervision. Plaintiffs have
presented no credible evidence contradicting the deposition testimony of Miller
that local clubs, such as Hudson County BGC, solely hire, evaluate, and train
their employees without the oversight of BGCA. There is no evidence that
BGCA monitored or directed Hudson County BGC staff. See Waste Mgmt., 138
N.J. at 126 (citing Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783, 791 (1984)).
While Hudson County BGC's executive director must be "acceptable" to
BGCA, the record does not show BGCA compelled, or could compel, the
executive director or other local club staff to undergo any mandated training for
their roles or the supervision of staff. Hudson County BGC's executive director
managed the local club's operations and reported to the club's trustees, not to
BGCA. Significantly, there is no indication that BGCA had any knowledge
about Freudenberg's abusive propensities or should have known of them based
upon involvement with Hudson County BGC.
Plaintiffs argue Hudson County BGC's affiliation with BGCA, use of the
BGCA brand to market its services to the local community, and access to
BGCA's programmatic and financial guidance establish contact with New Jersey
warranting our state court's jurisdiction over BGCA. This is unpersuasive.
A-3720-22 16 Specific personal jurisdiction does not exist over BGCA merely because it
offered resources to local clubs and "might have predicted" a New Jersey club
would use those resources. See J. McIntyre Mach., Ltd. v. Nicastro, 564 U.S.
873, 882 (2011) ("The defendant's transmission of goods permits the exercise of
jurisdiction only where the defendant can be said to have targeted the forum; as
a general rule, it is not enough that the defendant might have predicted that its
goods will reach the forum State."). BGCA's support must relate to
Freudenberg's alleged sexual abuse for it to avail itself of New Jersey courts.
Since plaintiffs have not shown there are facts indicating minimum contacts in
New Jersey, for which BGCA would have reasonably expected to be a party in
our state, BGCA should not be a defendant in these matters. See Int'l Shoe Co.,
326 U.S. at 316-17 (1945).
The facts here are unlike those in our recent published opinion in JA/GG
Doe 70 v. Diocese of Metuchen, ___ N.J. Super. ___, ___ (App. Div. 2023) (slip
op. at 15-16),7 where we concluded there was substantial credible evidence
showing New Jersey had specific personal jurisdiction over the Diocese of
7 Because Metuchen was issued after the parties submitted their merits briefs, the parties accepted our invitation to submit supplemental briefs regarding the impact of that decision on this appeal.
A-3720-22 17 Richmond in Virginia arising from its connection with a Catholic priest who
sexually abused children in New Jersey while serving in the Diocese of
Metuchen. Judge Gilson, speaking for our court concluded:
[T]he facts here establish that [the Diocese of] Richmond acted with intent to avail itself of a benefit in New Jersey by sending one of its troubled priests to New Jersey. The credible evidence in the record establishes that [the Diocese of] Richmond was not willing to suspend [the priest] from his priestly duties until 2002. In 1970, and again in 1982, [the Diocese of] Richmond purposefully availed itself of New Jersey by encouraging and allowing [the priest] to go and remain as an active priest in New Jersey.
[Id. at 19.]
The Diocese of Richmond was aware the priest sexually abused at least
three children when he served there. Id. at 13. The Diocese of Richmond, as
the priest's ordaining and incardinating 8 diocese, retained sole and ongoing
power to control and terminate the priest. Id. at 12-15.
In contrast with the Diocese of Richmond's involvement with the sexual
abuser in Metuchen, BGCA had no such connection with Freudenberg's
8 "[A]n ecclesiastical term indicating a priest's acceptance into a diocese." Metuchen, ___ N.J. at ___ (slip op. at 3) (citation omitted). "A priest is subject to the authority of the bishop of the diocese where he is incardinated . . . and may only be incardinated in one diocese at a time." Ibid. (citation omitted).
A-3720-22 18 employment at Hudson County BGC. The record does not indicate BGCA hired,
trained, supervised, or had the authority to discipline or terminate Freudenberg's
employment.
Our Legislature has recognized the compelling need for sexual abuse
victims to seek relief in our state courts to address the insidious effects of their
ordeal. See N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2b(a) (permitting individuals to bring otherwise
time-barred claims for sexual offenses committed against them as minors).
Nevertheless, we must be mindful that there are due process restrictions to
extend our courts' jurisdiction over individuals and entities that are allegedly
liable for sexual abuse.
Here, there is no substantial, credible evidence in the record that supports
a finding of specific personal jurisdiction over BGCA. Because no facts indicate
BGCA purposely availed itself to an action related to Freudenberg's employment
with Hudson County BGC, there is no support for plaintiffs' argument that
BGCA would have reasonably expected to be a party to a New Jersey lawsuit
involving his sexual abuse conduct. In parting with the trial court's
determination, we make no judgment regarding the merits of plaintiffs' claims
against BGCA beyond our jurisdiction. Our ruling, which is solely based on the
A-3720-22 19 parties' jurisdictional discovery, is limited to whether New Jersey courts have
specific personal jurisdiction over BGCA given plaintiffs' allegations. We
conclude we do not.
Reversed.
A-3720-22 20