Reversed and Rendered and Opinion Filed August 5, 2024
SIn the Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-23-01287-CV
UNITED STATES EVENTING ASSOCIATION, INC., Appellant V. PEGASUS EVENTING, LLC, ELLEN DOUGHTY-HUME, AND ALISTAIR HUME, Appellees
On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial District Court Kaufman County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 100256-422
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Partida-Kipness, Pedersen, III, and Carlyle Opinion by Justice Carlyle Appellees Pegasus Eventing, LLC, Alistair Hume, and Ellen Doughty-Hume
sued appellant United States Eventing Association, Inc. (1) alleging negligence,
negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty,
and breach of contract and (2) requesting a declaratory judgment. In a single issue,
the Association argues the trial court erroneously denied its special appearance. We
reverse and render due to the absence of personal jurisdiction in this memorandum
opinion. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4. We review issues of personal jurisdiction over nonresident defendants de
novo. TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. v. Ruiz, 490 S.W.3d 29, 36 n.4 (Tex. 2016). “A
nonresident defendant is subject to the personal jurisdiction of Texas courts if (1) the
Texas long-arm statute authorizes the exercise of jurisdiction, and (2) the exercise of
jurisdiction does not violate federal and state constitutional due process guarantees.”
Kelly v. Gen. Interior Const., Inc., 301 S.W.3d 653, 657 (Tex. 2010). Texas’s long-
arm statute permits Texas courts to exercise jurisdiction over nonresident defendants
that do business in Texas. PHC-Minden, L.P. v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 235 S.W.3d
163, 166 (Tex. 2007). A nonresident does business in Texas if it (1) contracts by mail
or otherwise with a Texas resident and either party is to perform the contract in whole
or in part in this state; (2) commits a tort in whole or in part in this state; or (3)
recruits Texas residents, directly or through an intermediary located in this state, for
employment inside or outside this state. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 17.042.
When, as here, the court makes findings of fact and conclusions of law, we review
for legal and factual sufficiency. BMC Software Belgium, N.V. v. Marchand, 83
S.W.3d 789, 794 (Tex. 2002).
As the plaintiffs below, appellees bore the initial burden to plead sufficient
allegations to bring the non-resident Association within the reach of Texas’s long-
arm statute. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 658. To meet its burden, “a plaintiff must show
the act on which jurisdiction is predicated, not a prima facie demonstration of the
existence of a cause of action.” Steward Health Care Sys. LLC v. Saidara, 633 –2– S.W.3d 120, 126 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2021, no pet.) (en banc). If the plaintiff meets
this burden by allegations in its petition, the defendant bears the burden to negate all
alleged bases of jurisdiction. Id. at 129. The plaintiff may then produce evidence to
support its petition; if plaintiff produces evidence supporting jurisdiction but that is
not in the petition, plaintiff must amend its petition to include the additional facts
supported by the evidence. See id. The court struck appellees’ fourth amended
petition, and thus the third amended petition is the live petition.
Appellees’ third amended petition alleges the Association negligently or
fraudulently investigated a third-party’s allegations that Doughty-Hume committed
eventing-related misconduct and breached its fiduciary duty to her. The petition
focuses on the Association failing to follow internal rules and procedures. In
response, the Association filed a special appearance and supporting affidavit from
Susanne Hershey stating she investigated a third-party’s complaints of eventing-
related misconduct against Doughty-Hume on the Association’s behalf, she has been
a resident of Pennsylvania since 1967, she has never been a resident of Texas, the
claims against her in appellees’ live petition do not arise from or relate to her conduct
in Texas, that none of her alleged conduct occurred in Texas, that she conducted her
entire investigation from her home in Pennsylvania, that she never traveled to Texas
in connection with her investigation, and she has otherwise traveled to Texas six
times for matters unrelated to appellees’ claims. Further, Ms. Hershey’s affidavit
states, –3– In all of my communications with Ms. Doughty-Hume and with others involved in the investigation of the complaints concerning Ms. Doughty-Hume’s conduct, I did not make any misrepresentations, and, certainly, did not make any misrepresentations concerning Ms. Doughty-Hume, or the investigation of Ms. Doughty-Hume, or concerning her business, Pegasus Eventing, LLC, or Alistair Hume, and certainly, did not do so in Texas.
The Association also provided an affidavit from its Chief Executive Officer
that stated (1) it does not maintain a place of business in Texas, (2) it has not
transacted business in Texas since 2015, (3) it did not perform an investigation into
Doughty-Hume in Texas, (4) it did not conduct any administrative hearings
involving appellees in Texas, (5) it “has not committed any tort, in whole or in part,
within the State of Texas,” and (6) the claims against it “do not arise from and are
not related to” any of its activities in Texas. Thus, the Association met its burden to
negate appellees’ jurisdictional allegations. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 659 (“Factually,
the defendant can present evidence that it has no contacts with Texas, effectively
disproving the plaintiff’s allegations.”); Michiana Easy Livin’ Country, Inc. v.
Holten, 168 S.W.3d 777, 789–92 (Tex. 2005).
Doughty-Hume also alleged the Association breached a contract with her. The
Association’s special appearance included an affidavit from its “sole authorized
signor on all of [its] contracts” that stated it “does not have any written or oral
contract” with appellees and “has not agreed to nor is it obligated to perform any
services or work for [them] in the State of Texas.” Doughty-Hume had the
–4– opportunity to present additional evidence of Texas contacts related to a contract and
timely amend the petition but failed to do so. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 659.
Doughty-Hume also sought a declaratory judgment that the Association
breached its contract “and in so doing, wrongfully revoked her certification and/or
refused to conduct the rehearing” regarding her teaching certification. This
allegation similarly fails to allege sufficient Texas-based conduct by appellants, and
in any event appellees’ request for a declaratory judgment does not establish personal
jurisdiction over the Association. See Chenault v. Phillips, 914 S.W.2d 140, 141
(Tex. 1996) (UDJA not a grant of jurisdiction but a procedural device for deciding
cases already within a court’s jurisdiction).
The Association negated appellees’ alleged bases of jurisdiction. Even
accepting appellees’ allegations as true, the petition insufficiently establishes
jurisdiction, the Association’s contacts with Texas fall short of purposeful availment,
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Reversed and Rendered and Opinion Filed August 5, 2024
SIn the Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-23-01287-CV
UNITED STATES EVENTING ASSOCIATION, INC., Appellant V. PEGASUS EVENTING, LLC, ELLEN DOUGHTY-HUME, AND ALISTAIR HUME, Appellees
On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial District Court Kaufman County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 100256-422
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Partida-Kipness, Pedersen, III, and Carlyle Opinion by Justice Carlyle Appellees Pegasus Eventing, LLC, Alistair Hume, and Ellen Doughty-Hume
sued appellant United States Eventing Association, Inc. (1) alleging negligence,
negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty,
and breach of contract and (2) requesting a declaratory judgment. In a single issue,
the Association argues the trial court erroneously denied its special appearance. We
reverse and render due to the absence of personal jurisdiction in this memorandum
opinion. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4. We review issues of personal jurisdiction over nonresident defendants de
novo. TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. v. Ruiz, 490 S.W.3d 29, 36 n.4 (Tex. 2016). “A
nonresident defendant is subject to the personal jurisdiction of Texas courts if (1) the
Texas long-arm statute authorizes the exercise of jurisdiction, and (2) the exercise of
jurisdiction does not violate federal and state constitutional due process guarantees.”
Kelly v. Gen. Interior Const., Inc., 301 S.W.3d 653, 657 (Tex. 2010). Texas’s long-
arm statute permits Texas courts to exercise jurisdiction over nonresident defendants
that do business in Texas. PHC-Minden, L.P. v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 235 S.W.3d
163, 166 (Tex. 2007). A nonresident does business in Texas if it (1) contracts by mail
or otherwise with a Texas resident and either party is to perform the contract in whole
or in part in this state; (2) commits a tort in whole or in part in this state; or (3)
recruits Texas residents, directly or through an intermediary located in this state, for
employment inside or outside this state. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 17.042.
When, as here, the court makes findings of fact and conclusions of law, we review
for legal and factual sufficiency. BMC Software Belgium, N.V. v. Marchand, 83
S.W.3d 789, 794 (Tex. 2002).
As the plaintiffs below, appellees bore the initial burden to plead sufficient
allegations to bring the non-resident Association within the reach of Texas’s long-
arm statute. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 658. To meet its burden, “a plaintiff must show
the act on which jurisdiction is predicated, not a prima facie demonstration of the
existence of a cause of action.” Steward Health Care Sys. LLC v. Saidara, 633 –2– S.W.3d 120, 126 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2021, no pet.) (en banc). If the plaintiff meets
this burden by allegations in its petition, the defendant bears the burden to negate all
alleged bases of jurisdiction. Id. at 129. The plaintiff may then produce evidence to
support its petition; if plaintiff produces evidence supporting jurisdiction but that is
not in the petition, plaintiff must amend its petition to include the additional facts
supported by the evidence. See id. The court struck appellees’ fourth amended
petition, and thus the third amended petition is the live petition.
Appellees’ third amended petition alleges the Association negligently or
fraudulently investigated a third-party’s allegations that Doughty-Hume committed
eventing-related misconduct and breached its fiduciary duty to her. The petition
focuses on the Association failing to follow internal rules and procedures. In
response, the Association filed a special appearance and supporting affidavit from
Susanne Hershey stating she investigated a third-party’s complaints of eventing-
related misconduct against Doughty-Hume on the Association’s behalf, she has been
a resident of Pennsylvania since 1967, she has never been a resident of Texas, the
claims against her in appellees’ live petition do not arise from or relate to her conduct
in Texas, that none of her alleged conduct occurred in Texas, that she conducted her
entire investigation from her home in Pennsylvania, that she never traveled to Texas
in connection with her investigation, and she has otherwise traveled to Texas six
times for matters unrelated to appellees’ claims. Further, Ms. Hershey’s affidavit
states, –3– In all of my communications with Ms. Doughty-Hume and with others involved in the investigation of the complaints concerning Ms. Doughty-Hume’s conduct, I did not make any misrepresentations, and, certainly, did not make any misrepresentations concerning Ms. Doughty-Hume, or the investigation of Ms. Doughty-Hume, or concerning her business, Pegasus Eventing, LLC, or Alistair Hume, and certainly, did not do so in Texas.
The Association also provided an affidavit from its Chief Executive Officer
that stated (1) it does not maintain a place of business in Texas, (2) it has not
transacted business in Texas since 2015, (3) it did not perform an investigation into
Doughty-Hume in Texas, (4) it did not conduct any administrative hearings
involving appellees in Texas, (5) it “has not committed any tort, in whole or in part,
within the State of Texas,” and (6) the claims against it “do not arise from and are
not related to” any of its activities in Texas. Thus, the Association met its burden to
negate appellees’ jurisdictional allegations. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 659 (“Factually,
the defendant can present evidence that it has no contacts with Texas, effectively
disproving the plaintiff’s allegations.”); Michiana Easy Livin’ Country, Inc. v.
Holten, 168 S.W.3d 777, 789–92 (Tex. 2005).
Doughty-Hume also alleged the Association breached a contract with her. The
Association’s special appearance included an affidavit from its “sole authorized
signor on all of [its] contracts” that stated it “does not have any written or oral
contract” with appellees and “has not agreed to nor is it obligated to perform any
services or work for [them] in the State of Texas.” Doughty-Hume had the
–4– opportunity to present additional evidence of Texas contacts related to a contract and
timely amend the petition but failed to do so. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 659.
Doughty-Hume also sought a declaratory judgment that the Association
breached its contract “and in so doing, wrongfully revoked her certification and/or
refused to conduct the rehearing” regarding her teaching certification. This
allegation similarly fails to allege sufficient Texas-based conduct by appellants, and
in any event appellees’ request for a declaratory judgment does not establish personal
jurisdiction over the Association. See Chenault v. Phillips, 914 S.W.2d 140, 141
(Tex. 1996) (UDJA not a grant of jurisdiction but a procedural device for deciding
cases already within a court’s jurisdiction).
The Association negated appellees’ alleged bases of jurisdiction. Even
accepting appellees’ allegations as true, the petition insufficiently establishes
jurisdiction, the Association’s contacts with Texas fall short of purposeful availment,
and appellees’ claims do not sufficiently arise from the Association’s contacts with
Texas. See Kelly, 301 S.W.3d at 658–59. Instead, appellees’ live petition focuses on
the Association failing to follow internal procedural rules, though a plaintiff’s burden
is to plead, “in its petition, sufficient allegations to invoke jurisdiction under the
Texas long-arm statute.” Steward, 633 S.W.3d at 129 (emphasis in original). We turn
to the trial court’s findings of fact.
The court’s findings about a Texas resident conducting the investigation or
mentoring Doughty-Hume find no factual support in the petition, as they must. See –5– id. Nor does the petition support the finding that the Association wrote part of the
complaint for a Texas lawyer to review for the Texas defendant, Walker, to resubmit.
See id. The court found the Association engaged in conduct in Texas, including
soliciting memberships here, having a Texas resident member conduct an
investigation, sanctioning and conducting events in Texas, assigning a Texas resident
mentor to Doughty-Hume, and that it is registered with the Texas Secretary of State.
Several of these findings relate to general conduct unrelated to the allegations of this
case, including sanctioning events in Texas, soliciting memberships in Texas,
receiving event entry fees for Texas events, and registering with the Secretary of
State. These facts do not appear in the live petition and are thus legally insufficient
to support jurisdiction. See id. In any event, and without more, these allegations are
legally insufficient to support jurisdiction because they are insufficiently related to
the specific claims appellees make. See Moki Mac River Expeditions v. Drugg, 221
S.W.3d 569, 576 (Tex. 2007) (nonresident defendant’s alleged liability must arise
from or be related to activity conducted in the forum).
And the remainder of the court’s findings are legally insufficient to support a
finding of jurisdiction, particularly when viewed in light of the live petition.
Appellees’ live petition alleges Hershey, the Pennsylvania resident, as the source of
the negligence and misrepresentation claims. Though the court concluded the
Association’s “acts and directives” brought it within the long-arm statute, these acts
did not take place in Texas. The other conduct appellees allege related to those claims –6– occurred outside of Texas, including letters, emails, and phone calls, and even
considered in conjunction with appellees’ other allegations, these fall short in
supporting jurisdiction. See Jani-King Franchising, Inc. v. Falco Franchising, S.A.,
No. 05-15-00335-CV, 2016 WL 2609314, at *4 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 5, 2016, no
pet.) (mem. op.).
To the extent the appellees pled and the court relied on others’ unilateral
conduct—including Doughty-Hume’s, the other defendants, and Rockwall Animal
Control—to support jurisdiction over the Association, it erred. See Michiana Easy
Livin’ Country, Inc., 168 S.W.3d at 785, 787. For example, Doughty-Hume
voluntarily joined and maintained membership in the Association; Hershey, not the
Association, made an email comment to a named defendant about the Association
being sued instead of the individuals cooperating with the investigation being sued;
and Walker, not the Association, initiated the idea of her boyfriend’s father, the
lawyer, reviewing her statement. See id. Finally, the finding regarding the
Association waiting on the Texas courts to resolve issues cannot support jurisdiction,
as this conduct occurred during the pendency of this case. See PHC-Minden, L.P.,
235 S.W.3d at 169.
In the wake of the Association’s special appearance, appellees failed to satisfy
their burden to allege sufficient facts showing the substantial connection between
the operative litigation facts and the Association’s Texas contacts. The court’s
findings and conclusions do not support jurisdiction, and thus we need not consider –7– the traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice component. See Univ. of
Alabama v. Suder Found., No. 05-16-00691-CV, 2017 WL 655948, at *8 (Tex.
App.—Dallas Feb. 17, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.).
We reverse the trial court’s denial of the Association’s special appearance and
render judgment dismissing appellees’ claims against the Association for want of
jurisdiction.
/Cory L. Carlyle/ CORY L. CARLYLE 231287F.P05 JUSTICE
–8– S Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT
UNITED STATES EVENTING On Appeal from the 422nd Judicial ASSOCIATION, INC., Appellant District Court, Kaufman County, Texas No. 05-23-01287-CV V. Trial Court Cause No. 100256-422. Opinion delivered by Justice Carlyle. PEGASUS EVENTING, LLC, Justices Partida-Kipness and ELLEN DOUGHTY-HUME AND Pedersen, III participating. ALISTAIR HUME, Appellee
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the November 28, 2023 judgment of the trial court denying United States Eventing Association, Inc.’s special appearance is REVERSED and judgment is RENDERED granting its special appearance and dismissing appellees’ claims against it.
It is ORDERED that each party bear their own costs of appeal.
Judgment entered August 5, 2024
–9–