Mabey v. Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O.

CourtSuperior Court of Delaware
DecidedFebruary 6, 2018
DocketN16C-12-015 EMD
StatusPublished

This text of Mabey v. Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O. (Mabey v. Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mabey v. Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O., (Del. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

WARREN K. MABEY, JR. and Krystal ) Mabey, husband and wife, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) C.A. No.: N16C-12-015 EMD v. ) ) CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA, S.R.O., ) CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA, INC. d/b/a ) CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA USA, a New ) York Corporation, HOMEGOODS, INC., ) a Delaware Corporation, THE TJX ) COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware ) Corporation, ) ) Defendants. ) )

Submitted: October 31, 2017 Decided: February 6, 2018

Upon Defendant Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O.’s Motion to Dismiss, Conditionally Granted Pending Jurisdictional Discovery

DAVIS, J.

I. INTRODUCTION

Krystal Mabey purchased a set of Crystalite Bohemia “Barbara” style wine glasses (the

“Glasses”) at a HomeGoods store in Delaware. Ms. Mabey took the glasses home where one

shattered while in the possession of Warren Mabey. As a result, Mr. Mabey suffered injuries

requiring medical treatment.

On December 1, 2016, Ms. Mabey and Mr. Mabey (collectively “The Mabeys”) filed a

complaint (the “Complaint”) against Crystalite Bohemia, S.R.O. (“Bohemia SRO”); Crystalite

Bohemia, Inc. d/b/a Crystalite Bohemia USA (“Bohemia USA”); HomeGoods, Inc., (“HomeGoods”); and The TJX Companies, Inc. (“TJX”). In the Complaint, the Mabeys allege

that Bohemia SRO or Bohemia USA manufactured and distributed the Glasses.

Bohemia SRO filed a Motion to Dismiss (the “Motion”) for lack of personal jurisdiction

and failure to state a claim. Bohemia SRO is a foreign corporation based in the Czech Republic.

Plaintiffs filed an Answering Brief in Partial Opposition to Defendant Crystalite Bohemia,

S.R.O.’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint Pursuant to Rules 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6) (the

“Opposition”). Plaintiffs oppose the Motion claiming Delaware has constitutional jurisdiction

over Bohemia SRO. In the alternative, Plaintiffs request jurisdiction discovery (the “Request”).

For the following reasons, the Court will conditionally GRANT the Motion, pending

limited jurisdictional discovery by the Mabeys of Bohemia SRO.

II. RELEVANT FACTS

Defendant Bohemia SRO “owns and operates glass factories in Czech Republic and

designs, manufactures, sells, markets, ships, exports, and distributes” Crystalite Bohemia

“Barbara” style wine glasses all over the world.1 Bohemia Inc. d/b/a Bohemia USA operates the

United States branch office of Bohemia SRO.2 Bohemia SRO is the parent company of Bohemia

Inc. and Bohemia USA.3

In February 2012, Mrs. Mabey purchased the Glasses at a HomeGoods retail store

located at the Midway Shopping Center, 4607 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Delaware

19808 (“Midway HomeGoods”).4 TJX is the parent company of HomeGoods.5 On December 2,

2014, one of the Glasses spontaneously shattered and injured Mr. Mabey while he used the glass

1 Compl. ¶ 13. 2 Id. at ¶ 14. 3 Id. at ¶ 15. 4 Id. at ¶ 10. 5 Id. at ¶ 9.

2 as “intended and in a manner reasonably foreseeable by Defendants.”6 The broken glass cut Mr.

Mabey’s right wrist and forearm.7 Mr. Mabey required “medical treatment, was caused pain and

suffering, was prevented from pursuing usual activities, has incurred economic loss, and has

permanent disabilities that will affect plaintiff.”8

In the Complaint, the Mabeys assert eleven counts: (i) Negligence against Bohemia SRO;

(ii) Breach of Warranty against Bohemia SRO; (iii) Negligence against Bohemia Inc. d/b/a

Bohemia USA; (iv) Breach of Warranty against Bohemia Inc. d/b/a Bohemia USA; (v)

Negligence against Homegoods, Inc.; (vi) Breach of Warranty against Homegoods, Inc.; (vii)

Negligence against TJX; (viii) Breach of Warranty against TJX; (ix) Vicarious Liability against

Bohemia SRO; (x) Vicarious Liability against TJX; and, (xi) Loss of Consortium against

Defendants.9 The Mabeys seek general damages, special damages, punitive damages relating to

any reckless conduct, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, costs, and any other just and

equitable relief.

On July 26, 2017, Bohemia SRO filed the Motion. Lubor Cerva provided an affidavit

(the “Affidavit”) in support of the Motion.10 On August 18, 2017, the Mabeys filed the

Opposition. On October 23, 2017, the Court held a hearing on the Motion (the “Hearing”). At

the Hearing, Bohemia SRO argued that: (1) Bohemia SRO is a foreign corporation; and (2)

Bohemia SRO transferred the glasses in a foreign country without any intention to target

Delaware. The Court ordered Bohemia SRO to file an additional affidavit to support the

statements made by Bohemia SRO’s counsel at the Hearing.

6 Id. at ¶ 17-18. 7 Id. at ¶ 17. 8 Id. at ¶ 19. 9 Id. at ¶ 22-96. 10 Mot., Ex. A

3 On October 31, 2017, Bohemia SRO filed the Affidavit of Lubor Cerva (“Cerva

Affidavit”). Mr. Cerva is the owner of Bohemia SRO. Mr. Cerva attests that only one factory in

the Czech Republic produced the “Barbara” glasses. A HomeGoods agent contacted Mr. Cerva

in the Czech Republic “to inquire whether it would be possible for HomeGoods to purchase

Crystalite glassware, including the Barbara glasses.”11 HomeGoods purchased glasses from the

factory in the Czech Republic, not FOB. Bohemia shipped the glasses to HomeGoods

warehouse distribution centers. No designated distribution center is located in Delaware.

Finally, Mr. Cerva states that Bohemia SRO “had no marketing plan or effort aimed at either

Delaware specifically or the United States more generally.”12

III. PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

A. MOTION TO DISMISS

Bohemia SRO seeks to dismiss the entire action against Bohemia SRO based on lack of

personal jurisdiction. Bohemia SRO argues that they do not fall within one of the categories of

Delaware’s long-arm statute, 10 Del. C. § 3104 (“Section 3104”). Bohemia SRO further states

that Delaware’s exercise of personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO would violate Due Process.

If the Court does find that Delaware may exercise personal jurisdiction over Bohemia

SRO then Bohemia SRO challenges the Mabeys’ claims for negligence, breach of warranty,

vicarious liability, and loss of consortium. Bohemia SRO argue that the Mabeys failed to plead a

direct injury. Further, Bohemia SRO argue that the breach of warranty claim is time-barred and

fails to state a claim. Next, Bohemia SRO argue that the Mabeys agreed to “discontinue with

prejudice their claims against [Bohemia Inc.], any attempt to hold [Bohemia SRO] vicariously

11 Cerva Aff. ¶ 4. 12 Id. ¶ 8,

4 liable for the alleged conduct of [Bohemia Inc.] . . . must be dismissed as moot.”13 Finally,

Bohemia SRO argues that the Mabeys were not married at the time of the injury; therefore, there

is no cause of action for loss of consortium.

In support of the Motion, Bohemia SRO attached the Affidavit.14 In the Affidavit, Mr.

Cerva states that Bohemia SRO is a foreign company, does not have contacts with Delaware, and

that one of their two factories “never produce the ‘Barbara’ glasses.”15 After the Hearing,

Bohemia SRO submitted the Cerva Affidavit. The Cerva Affidavit states that Bohemia SRO did

not target Delaware and that title of the glasses passed in the Czech Republic.16

B. OPPOSITION

The Mabeys argue that Delaware does have personal jurisdiction over Bohemia SRO

under dual jurisdiction. The Mabeys concede that the Court does not have general or specific

jurisdiction. In the alternative, the Mabeys ask the Court to grant jurisdictional discovery.

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