Jude v. First National Bank of Williamson

259 F. Supp. 2d 586, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7350, 2003 WL 2012444
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Kentucky
DecidedMarch 31, 2003
DocketCIV.A.02-316-DLB
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 259 F. Supp. 2d 586 (Jude v. First National Bank of Williamson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jude v. First National Bank of Williamson, 259 F. Supp. 2d 586, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7350, 2003 WL 2012444 (E.D. Ky. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION & ORDER

BUNNING, District Judge.

This action is before the Court on Defendant’s motion to dismiss. (Doc. # 3) Defendant contends that in personam jurisdiction before this Court is lacking, and therefore Plaintiffs’ claims against it must be dismissed. Plaintiffs have filed their response, to which Defendant has replied, and the matter is ripe for adjudication.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs Rebecca Jude (Jude) and Robert Layne (Layne) currently reside in Pike County, Kentucky. In October of 1999, while living in West Virginia, Jude and Layne purchased real estate in Pike County on which they intended to construct a residence. To finance the purchase and construction, Jude and Layne obtained financing from Defendant First National Bank of Williamson (First National). First National agreed to loan Jude and Layne the sum of $170,000, which loan was secured by a promissory note and mortgage on the real estate. In addition, First National required Plaintiffs to pledge a $50,000 certificate of deposit.

After Plaintiffs began construction of their home, Layne was seriously injured, from which he was rendered paralyzed. According to Plaintiffs, Defendant shortly thereafter refused to issue all agreed upon funds and instead demanded payment in full on the promissory note for the loan funds that had been disbursed. Plaintiffs allege that as a result of Defendant’s conduct, they were unable to make payment to the vendors and contractors who performed construction services.

Plaintiffs filed suit against First National in the state circuit court in Pike County, Kentucky. Their complaint asserts First National breached the contractual agreement for financing; violated the provisions of the federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z as well as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B; and discriminated against Plaintiffs because of Layne’s disability, in violation of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the federal Fair Housing Act. After being served with the complaint, First National removed the action to this Court. In its notice of removal, Defendant asserts this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ state law claims based upon diversity of citizenship jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, and also over Plaintiffs’ federal claims based upon federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331.

Shortly after the case was removed, First National moved to dismiss this entire action for lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(2). Defendant argues that Plaintiffs cannot rely upon the Kentucky long-arm statute, K.R.S. § 454.210, to establish in personam jurisdiction over it. Specifically, Defendant points out that while the long-arm statute permits exercise of personal jurisdiction for claims arising from a party’s transact *589 ing any business in Kentucky or having an interest in real property, the Kentucky legislature has also expressly provided that a foreign corporation’s activities in lending money are not to be considered as transacting business, for purposes of the long-arm statute. K.R.S. § 287.670. Defendant asserts it engages in activities in Kentucky that are associated with the lending of money pursuant to a loan agreement with a borrower that may reside in Kentucky. It claims the activities associated with loans to Kentucky residents are completed from its facilities and operations located in West Virginia. First National advertises its banking business on a web site reaching Kentucky residents which states in part, “The First National Bank of Williamson’s Board of Directors, Management and Employees are dedicated to serving people in our area. Now we want our bank to be your bank.” First National receives all principal and interest payments on its loans at its Williamson, West Virginia, facilities and decisions and records concerning loan modifications, extensions, or renewals are made at the Bank’s facilities in Williamson, West Virginia.

Plaintiffs oppose the motion to dismiss. They contend that Kentucky’s long-arm statute permits the exercise of personal jurisdiction to the fullest extent permitted by the due process clause. They argue that their claims are not based on Defendant’s loan of monies to them, but upon Defendant’s breach of the agreement to release agreed-upon funds. Plaintiffs’ response also points out that they have asserted a discrimination claim under the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, and that Defendant should be subject to personal jurisdiction thereunder since one of the purposes of that Act is to safeguard Kentucky residents from discrimination. Plaintiffs also argue that their Fair Housing Act discrimination claim permits suit in any appropriate state or federal court, and since the dwelling giving rise to the alleged violation of the Fair Housing Act is in Kentucky, this Court is an appropriate court.

In reply, First National submits that Plaintiffs’ labeling their claim as one for breach of contract rather than being based on the lending of money Is a distinction without a difference. In response to Plaintiffs’ argument that the Fair Housing Act permits suit in any appropriate state or federal court, First National notes that this statutory, provision does not negate the need for personal jurisdiction before Plaintiffs may maintain a state or federal discrimination suit against it.

ANALYSIS

Standard of review

Once a defendant challenges personal jurisdiction, plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that jurisdiction exists. In assessing whether that burden has been satisfied, a district court has three procedural alternatives: “[it] may determine the motion on the basis of affidavits alone; or it may permit discovery in aid of the motion, or it may Conduct an evidentiary hearing on the merits of the motion.” Dean v. Motel 6 Operating L.P., 134 F.3d 1269, 1272 (6th Cir.1998) (quoting Serras v. First Tennessee Bank Nat’l Ass’n, 875 F.2d 1212, 1214 (6th Cir.1989)). If an evidentiary hearing on the motion is not held,

... the court must consider the pleadings and affidavits in,a light most favorable to the plaintiff.... To defeat such a motion, [the plaintiff] need only make a prima facie showing of jurisdiction.
Furthermore, a court ... does not weigh the controverting assertions of the party seeking dismissal....

Id. (quoting CompuServe, Inc. v. Patterson, 89 F.3d 1257, 1262 (6th Cir.1996)).

*590 Personal jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ state law breach of contract claim

Keeping this standard in mind, the Court turns to the challenge to personal jurisdiction raised by First National.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
259 F. Supp. 2d 586, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7350, 2003 WL 2012444, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jude-v-first-national-bank-of-williamson-kyed-2003.