Levin v. Harned

304 F. Supp. 2d 136, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16406, 2003 WL 23193163
District Court, D. Massachusetts·Decided September 17, 2003·No. CIV.A.01-11354-PBS·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

ORDER

SARIS, District Judge.

After hearing and a review of the supplemental submissions, the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation with respect to Newel Art Galleries, Inc. (“Newel”), and concludes that it lacks specific and general personal jurisdiction over Newel. While Newel knew that the shipping company was based in Massachusetts, there is no evidence that Newel knew the end-users of the antiques were residents of Massachusetts. Indeed, the undisputed evidence is that Newel believed the destination was Rhode Island. Finally, plaintiffs have presented no evidence of in-forum contacts relating to the sale of the antiques. In the interest of justice, the Court orders the action against Newel transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). Counsel shall work with the clerk to ensure that the appropriate papers are transferred.

ORDER ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

After hearing and a review of the supplemental submissions, the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation with respect to John J. Nelson Antiques (“Nelson”), and concludes that it lacks specific and general personal jurisdiction over Nelson. (Docket No. 20).

Plaintiffs point to one in-forum contact with Roger J. Harned, the plaintiffs’ interi- or designer, relating to the sale of the antiques. Specifically, Nelson sent photographs to Harned while he was staying with friends at a Boston hotel so that he could make a presentation to his clients the - next day. That one fortuitous forum contact is insufficient to support the exer *142 cise of personal jurisdiction. “The weight of authority among the courts of appeal is that minimal communication between the defendant and the plaintiff in the forum state, without more, will not subject the defendant to the jurisdiction of that state’s court system.” Imo Industries, Inc. v. Kiekert AG, 155 F.3d 254, 260 (3d Cir.1998).

Plaintiffs have not presented a prima facie case that Nelson targeted a Massachusetts resident. Nelson had been told that the Harneds resided on the East Coast, but there is no evidence that Nelson ever shipped goods to Massachusetts or knew the end-users of the antiques were residents of Massachusetts. While the fact that Harned was spending the night at the Ritz for a presentation to his clients was a clue they might live in Massachusetts, that hint is insufficient to suggest that Nelson could reasonably have anticipated being haled into court here.

In the interest of justice, the Court orders the action against Nelson transferred to the United States District Court for the Central District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). Counsel shall work with the clerk to ensure that the appropriate papers are transferred.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs, Mark and Becky Levin (“the Levins”) assert fraud, breach of contract, negligence, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and other common law claims against six defendants: Roger J. Harned, d/b/a Roger Harned Designs (“Harned”); Dalva Brothers, Inc. (“Dalva”); Foster-Gwin, Inc. (“Foster”); John J. Nelson Antiques (“Nelson”); Ed Hardy Antiques, a/k/a Ed Hardy San Francisco (“Hardy”); and Newel Art Galleries (“Newel”).

The Levins hired Harned as an interior designer for their homes in Boston, Massachusetts and Middletown, Rhode Island. The five other defendants are all antique dealers that sold antiques to decorate the Levin homes. Plaintiffs claim that they relied on the deceptive descriptions of the items provided to Harned by the antiques dealers, in spending nearly five million dollars. Each of the five antiques dealers filed separate motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2).

On September 11, 2002, Magistrate Judge Cohen issued a Report and Recommendation on Motions to Dismiss for Want of In Personam Jurisdiction (“Report and Recommendation”). Judge Cohen recommended that the Court allow the motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction filed by the five antiques dealers: Dalva, Hardy, Foster, Nelson, and Newel. The Court assumes familiarity with that opinion. The Court adopts fully the analysis of the magistrate judge concerning general jurisdiction, and will not repeat it here.

After a hearing, supplemental jurisdictional discovery, and review of the voluminous briefing, the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation with respect to Nelson and Newel, both of which had little or no knowledge that the purchasers of the antiques resided in Massachusetts, or that they would receive the allegedly fraudulent descriptions of the antiques in Massachusetts. Thus, they did not purposely avail themselves of the forum. However, the Court declines to adopt the Report and Recommendation with respect to Dalva, Foster, and Hardy, and DENIES the motion to dismiss.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The following facts are gleaned from the allegations in the Amended Complaint construed “in the light most congenial to the *143 plaintiffs jurisdictional claim.” Mass. Sch. of Law at Andover, Inc. v. Am. Bar Ass’n, 142 F.3d 26, 34 (1st Cir.1998). The Court also considers the undisputed facts established during jurisdictional discovery. Id.

1. Antique Lovers.

The Levins live in Boston and own a vacation home in Middletown, Rhode Island. They sought to furnish both homes with authentic and valuable antiques. The Levins hired Harned, an interior designer, to recommend and purchase antiques for both homes. On October 23 and 24, 2000, Harned met with the Levins in Boston to discuss his recommendations as to furnishings. He presented the Levins with photographs and descriptions of various antique items he recommended that they purchase, which he had received from the defendant antique dealers. On October 31, 2000, the Levins wired $4.9 million to Harned to buy antiques.

2. Dalva Brothers.

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Levin v. Harned, 304 F. Supp. 2d 136, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16406, 2003 WL 23193163 (D. Mass. 2003).

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