Travelers Insurance Co. v. George McArthur & Sons

130 N.W.2d 852, 25 Wis. 2d 197, 1964 Wisc. LEXIS 559
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 27, 1964
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 130 N.W.2d 852 (Travelers Insurance Co. v. George McArthur & Sons) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Travelers Insurance Co. v. George McArthur & Sons, 130 N.W.2d 852, 25 Wis. 2d 197, 1964 Wisc. LEXIS 559 (Wis. 1964).

Opinion

Heffernan, J.

The pleadings do not reveal how, when, or where the contract between McArthur and Welded Tube was entered into.

The impleaded defendant demurred to the cross complaint on the ground that upon the face thereof the court lacks jurisdiction over the person of Welded Tube, in that “Welded Tube Company of America is not engaged in substantial or in isolated activities within this state, whether such activities are wholly interstate, intrastate or otherwise; and further that ... the action does not arise out of any act or omission within this state by the defendant, . . .”

The trial court overruled the demurrer on the basis that the policy of the law was to avoid multiplicity of suits, and in the event the action could not be maintained here it would mean the commencement of another lawsuit in Pennsylvania.

The circuit court found that jurisdiction was based on sec. 262.05 (3), Stats., in that the contract was entered into in Wisconsin and that this, therefore, constituted an “act or omission” within Wisconsin by the defendant. We cannot agree with the learned trial judge.

Ch. 262, Stats., relates to the commencement of civil actions, and sec. 262.06, Stats., describes methods of obtaining personal service over defendants. No objection is raised to the method of service, but the defendant by its demurrer claims that there are no facts alleged that are sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction as provided in sec. 262.05.

The trial court relied upon sub. (3) of sec. 262.05, Stats., which provides as follows:

*201 “262.05 PERSONAL JURISDICTION, GROUNDS FOR GENERALLY. A court of this state having jurisdiction of the subject matter has jurisdiction over a person served in an action pursuant to s. 262.06 under any of the following circumstances :
“(3) Local act or omission. In any action claiming injury to person or property within or without this state arising out of an act or omission within this state by the defendant.”

The trial court reasoned that this section was applicable since the injury occurred without the state as the result of an act or omission within this state by the defendant, and that act within the state was when they [Welded Tube] stepped across the line and entered into a contract in Wisconsin.

We can find no allegations in the cross complaint, in the stipulation, or elsewhere that lead to the conclusion that this was a Wisconsin contract or that there was an act or omission by Welded Tube in Wisconsin. The only fact that can be gleaned from the cross complaint or stipulation is that McArthur ordered hammock stands from Welded Tube, but that at the request of McArthur these stands never came into Wisconsin and were sent from Pennsylvania to Orange, Connecticut. If jurisdiction is to be predicated on the situs of the contract, the facts as alleged are not dispositive of that question. The facts are not sufficient to resolve this problem on the basis of any rules of contract law.

McArthur in its argument before the circuit court attempted to found jurisdiction upon sec. 262.05 (4), Stats., which provides as follows:

“262.05 Personal jurisdiction, grounds for generally. A court of this state having jurisdiction of the subject matter has jurisdiction over a person served in an action pursuant to s. 262.06 under any of the following circumstances :
*202 “(4) Local Injury; foreign act. In any action claiming injury to person or property within this state arising out of an act or omission outside this state , by the defendant, provided in addition that at the time of the injury either:
“(a) Solicitation or service activities were carried on within this state by or on behalf of the defendant; or
“(b) Products, materials or things processed, serviced or manufactured by the defendant were used or consumed within this state in the ordinary course of trade.”

.We agree with the trial judge that this section does not confer jurisdiction under the facts of this case. There was no injury within this state, and whether the stands were used or consumed in this state, as required by sub. (4) (b) is therefore irrelevant. It would appear, also, that the stipulation of the parties, that the stands never came physically into the state of Wisconsin, but were upon the orders of McArthur shipped directly from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, negates a use or consumption in Wisconsin in the physical sense.

The defendant, McArthur, in its brief on appeal attempts to base jurisdiction upon sec. 262.05 (1) (d), Stats., which provides as follows:

“262.05 Personal jurisdiction, grounds for generally. A court of this state having jurisdiction of the subject matter has jurisdiction over a person served in an action pursuant to s. 262.06 under any of the following circumstances :
“(1) Local presence or status. In any action whether arising within or without this state, against a defendant who when the action is commenced:
“(d) Is engaged in substantial and not isolated activities within this state, whether such activities are wholly interstate, intrastate, or otherwise.”

McArthur claims that its allegation, “That said hammock stands were used or consumed within the state of Wisconsin *203 in the ordinary course of trade at the times mentioned in the complaint,” is an allegation that the defendant, Welded Tube, is “engaged in substantial and not isolated activities within this state.” Professor G. W. Foster in his extensive revision notes dealing with the adoption of sec. 262.05, Stats., and which appear in 30 W. S. A. (1964 pocket part, p. 21), sec. 262.05, points out that this subsection contemplates a recjuirement similar to that of “doing business” within the state which requires not just an isolated contact but “substantial activities” which are “continuous and' systematic.” The facts alleged' by McArthur are not sufficient to ground jurisdiction upon this portion of the statute. In Flambeau Plastics Corp. v. King Bee Mfg. Co. (1964), 24 Wis. (2d) 459, 129 N. W. (2d) 237, the court, though not directly ruling on the point, indicated its doubt that the defendant’s action in entering into the single contract alleged, with a Wisconsin resident and to be performed in Wisconsin, gave the defendant a sufficient local status to subject it to personal jurisdiction under sec. 262.05 (1) (d). We hold that the' facts as herein alleged are not sufficient to give rise to jurisdiction under this portion of the statute.

Under none of the theories advanced by the defendant, or which can be advanced on his behalf giving his pleadings the most favorable construction, are the allegations sufficient for a finding that the court has jurisdiction.

We give full recognition to the expression of legislative intent that ch. 262, Stats., be liberally construed to the end that actions be speedily and finally determined on their merits, and we are fully appreciative of the learned trial judge’s efforts toward that end.

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

Related

Kubin-Nicholson Corp. v. Gillon
525 F. Supp. 2d 1071 (E.D. Wisconsin, 2007)
Ricoh Co., Ltd. v. Asustek Computer, Inc.
481 F. Supp. 2d 954 (W.D. Wisconsin, 2007)
Richard Jennings Cabaniss v. Nancy Turner Cabaniss
620 S.E.2d 559 (Court of Appeals of Virginia, 2005)
Desai v. Sterling Fibers, Inc.
288 A.D.2d 428 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2001)
Miller Brewing Co. v. Acme Process Equipment Co.
441 F. Supp. 520 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1977)
Towne Realty, Inc. v. Bishop Enterprises Inc.
432 F. Supp. 691 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1977)
Modern Cycle Sales, Inc. v. Burkhardt-Larsen Co.
395 F. Supp. 587 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1975)
Canadian Bronze Co. v. Kenzler
64 F.R.D. 79 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1974)
Maes v. Polaris Industries, Inc.
52 F.R.D. 540 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1971)
Nagel v. Crain Cutter Co.
184 N.W.2d 876 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1971)
Balistrieri v. O'Farrell
324 F. Supp. 151 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1971)
Scribbins v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
304 F. Supp. 1268 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1969)
Handlos v. Litton Industries, Inc.
304 F. Supp. 347 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1969)
Uni-Pak, Inc. v. Formex Corp.
300 F. Supp. 527 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1969)
Thill Securities Corporation v. New York Stock Exchange
283 F. Supp. 239 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1968)
Ministers Life & Casualty Union v. Haase
141 N.W.2d 287 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1966)
Pavalon v. Thomas Holmes Corp.
131 N.W.2d 331 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1964)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
130 N.W.2d 852, 25 Wis. 2d 197, 1964 Wisc. LEXIS 559, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/travelers-insurance-co-v-george-mcarthur-sons-wis-1964.