Woodworks v. Tyler Machinery Co.

907 F. Supp. 1490, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18441, 1995 WL 744998
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedOctober 30, 1995
DocketCiv. A. No. 94-D-1304-N
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 907 F. Supp. 1490 (Woodworks v. Tyler Machinery Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Woodworks v. Tyler Machinery Co., 907 F. Supp. 1490, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18441, 1995 WL 744998 (M.D. Ala. 1995).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

DE MENT, District Judge.

This matter is now before the court on the motion of defendants’ Tyler Machinery Co., Inc. (“Tyler Machinery”), and Dave Tyler (“Tyler”) filed on November 30, 1994, to dismiss or in the alternative to transfer the above-styled case. The plaintiff responded with a brief in opposition on January 9,1995, supported in part by an affidavit of J. Howard Josey, Jr. (“Josey”). On January 10, 1995, the aforementioned defendants filed a motion to strike portions of Josey’s affidavit. The plaintiff responded to the aforementioned defendants’ motion to strike on February 1, 1995. On February 3, 1995, the aforementioned defendants filed a reply to plaintiff’s response to its motion to strike. Defendant Brooks Machinery, Inc. (“Brooks”), filed a response on October 19, 1995, to Tyler and Tyler Machinery’s motion to dismiss or in the alternative to transfer. On October 23, 1995, the plaintiff filed a reply to Brooks’ response of October 19, 1995. On October 24, 1995, Tyler and Tyler Machinery filed a reply to Brooks’ response of October 19, 1995. Also on October 24, 1995, Tyler and Tyler Machinery filed an objection to Burton’s submission of additional evidence, namely the deposition of Brooks’ President Burt Bradley (“Bradley”). On October 25, 1995, the plaintiff filed a response in opposition to Tyler and Tyler Machinery’s objection to its submission of Bradley’s deposition. After careful consideration of the arguments of counsel, the relevant case law, and the record as a whole, the court finds that Tyler and Tyler Machinery’s motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, to transfer is due to be denied. The court further finds that Tyler and Tyler Machinery’s motion to strike the affidavit of Josey is due to be denied and its objection to the submission of Bradley’s deposition is due to be overruled.

FACTS

This is a contract dispute involving three parties. Burton Woodworks, Inc. (“Burton”), purchased a band saw through a local distributor, Brooks. The band saw at issue was manufactured by Tyler Machinery. Tyler Machinery made its sale of the band saw through Brooks. Brooks received a commission on the subsequent sale of the band saw to Burton. This dispute arose because Tyler Machinery failed to deliver the band saw in a timely manner, and, when it finally did deliver the band saw, it failed to work properly.

Both Tyler and Tyler Machinery claim that the court does not have personal jurisdiction over them because they have not had sufficient contacts with the state of Alabama to satisfy the requirements of due process. [1492]*1492Second, Tyler and Tyler Machinery contend that, even if the court has personal jurisdiction over them, the contract at issue contained a binding ehoice-of-forum clause which should compel the court to transfer this action to Indiana.

DISCUSSION

Motion to Dismiss

Tyler and Tyler Machinery first contend that the court should dismiss the plaintiffs action because the court does not have personal jurisdiction over them. In a diversity action, a district court must use a two-part analysis to determine whether it can exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant. Madam v. Hall, 916 F.2d 1510, 1514 (11th Cir.1990). First, a court must determine whether the long-arm statute of the forum state provides for personal jurisdiction over the defendant. Id. If this prong is satisfied, a court must then determine whether sufficient minimum contacts exist between the non-resident defendant and the forum state to meet the requirements of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Id.

According to Rule 4.2(a)(2)(I) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure,

A person has sufficient contacts with the state when that person, acting directly or by agent, is or may be legally responsible as a consequence of that person’s ... having some minimum contacts with this state and, under the circumstances, it is fair and reasonable to require the person to come to this state to defend an action.

The Supreme Court of Alabama has held that jurisdiction under the Alabama long-arm statute “extends to the permissible limits of due process.” Ex Parte Paul Maclean Land Services, Inc., 613 So.2d 1284, 1286 (Ala.1993). Thus, it is clear that the Alabama long-arm statute provides the court with jurisdiction as long as the requirements of due process are met.

According to the Eleventh Circuit, the second prong of the test is satisfied if the plaintiff can show two things: (1) that the defendant had sufficient minimum contacts with the forum state and (2) that “maintenance of the suit [would] not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” Madara, 916 F.2d at 1515-1516 (citing International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 158, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945) (citations omitted)). The Court has sometimes characterized the due process prong of the test as one of foreseeability, namely that “the defendant’s conduct and connection with the forum state [must be] such that he [or she] should reasonably anticipate being haled into court there.” WorldWide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297, 100 S.Ct. 559, 567, 62 L.Ed.2d 490 (1980). While entering into a contract with a party does not provide sufficient minimum contacts to allow that party to bring a lawsuit in the party’s home state, the Court has recognized that “prior negotiations and contemplated future consequences, along with the terms of the contract and the parties’ actual course of dealing” should be considered when deciding whether jurisdiction should be exercised. Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 479, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 2185-86, 85 L.Ed.2d 528 (1985).

Tyler and Tyler Machinery argue that they should not be subjected to the jurisdiction of this court because the initial contact with Burton to sell Burton the band saw was made by Brooks. However, it is apparent that Tyler could “reasonably anticipate” being sued in an Alabama court when considering the circumstances surrounding the sale of the band saw.

At the outset, the court finds that the deposition of Burt Bradley, President of Brooks, taken on October 6, 1995, should be considered by the court because it was not unreasonable for the plaintiff to submit this additional evidence when it became available. Furthermore, the information that the plaintiff relies on from the deposition raises no new issues for the court to consider, but only serves to reinforce the plaintiffs earlier arguments.

Several contacts between Tyler and Tyler Machinery and the state of Alabama militate in favor of the court exercising personal jurisdiction over Tyler and Tyler Machinery. First, although Tyler and Tyler Company did [1493]*1493not make the initial contact with Burton, Brooks was acting as an authorized representative for Tyler when it made its initial contact with Burton.

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171 F. Supp. 2d 1292 (S.D. Alabama, 2001)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
907 F. Supp. 1490, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18441, 1995 WL 744998, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/woodworks-v-tyler-machinery-co-almd-1995.