Esters v. Vanguard Clinical, Inc. et al, No. 3:2023cv00820 - Document 19 (S.D. Cal. 2023)
Court Description: AMENDED ORDER GRANTING Defendant Beacon Hill Staffing Group, LLC.'s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 12 ). Signed by Judge Anthony J. Battaglia on 10/18/2023. (maq)
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Esters v. Vanguard Clinical, Inc. et al Doc. 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 FELICIA ESTERS a/k/a ESTERS TRIAL MANAGEMENT FIRM, LLC, Plaintiff, Case No.: 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB AMENDED ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT BEACON HILL STAFFING GROUP, LLC’S MOTION TO DISMISS v. VANGUARD CLINICAL, INC., and BEACON HILL STAFFING GROUP, LLC, Defendant. (Doc. No. 12) 17 18 Presently pending before the Court is Defendant Beacon Hill Staffing Group’s 19 (“Beacon Hill”) motion to dismiss Plaintiff Felicia Esters a/k/a Esters Trial Management 20 Firm, LLC’s (“ETMF”) Complaint pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), 21 12(b)(3), and 12(b)(6). (Doc. No. 12.) Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss, 22 (Doc. No. 14), to which Beacon Hill replied, (Doc. No. 15). Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 23 7.1.d.1, the Court finds the instant matter suitable for determination on the papers and 24 without oral argument. For the reasons stated herein, the Court GRANTS the motion to 25 dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint as to Beacon Hill. 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// 1 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB Dockets.Justia.com 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiff brings the instant action for damages under the provisions of the Fair Labor 3 Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C § 201 et seq. (“FLSA”) and California Labor Codes.1 4 (Complaint (“Compl.”), Doc. No. 1, ¶ 1.) She alleges specifically that Defendants 5 Vanguard Clinical, Inc. (“Vanguard”) and Beacon Hill, as joint employers, failed to pay 6 Plaintiff, on behalf of ETMF, time and one-half hour worked in excess of forty hours per 7 work week. (Id.) 8 Beacon Hill is a Massachusetts limited liability company with its primary place of 9 business in Boston, Massachusetts. (Declaration of Beacon Hill (“B.H. Decl.”), Doc. No. 10 12-1, ¶ 2.) It is a human resources and personnel company that provides staffing services 11 to companies. (Compl. ¶ 16.) Here, Beacon Hill offered Vanguard contracted services with 12 independent contractors. (Id.) In November 2021, Plaintiff submitted “New hire paperwork 13 – Vanguard / Beacon Hill” to set up ETMF as “an approved vendor in a B2B relationship 14 with Beacon Hill” as an independent contractor for Vanguard. (Id. ¶ 17.) Beacon Hill 15 facilitated the contract for ETMF to begin working for Vanguard, with the contract 16 beginning on December 6, 2021, lasting six months with the option for Vanguard to extend 17 the contract or hire Esters as an employee. (Id.) Beacon Hill’s Chicago, Illinois office 18 facilitated the contract between Beacon Hill and ETMF, which according to its records is 19 a Texas-based limited liability company founded by Esters, a citizen of Texas. (B.H. Decl. 20 ¶ 3; Compl. ¶ 4.) ETMF was required to send an invoice and submit timesheets weekly to 21 Beacon Hill’s Boston, Massachusetts office, to be compensated by Beacon Hill, who would 22 not pay overtime for any hours worked in excess of forty hours per week. (Compl. ¶¶ 19, 23 20; B.H. Decl. ¶ 5.) Beacon Hill’s Boston, Massachusetts office paid ETMF for all invoices 24 submitted and issued ETMF a 1099. (B.H. Decl. ¶ 5.) 25 26 27 28 1 Plaintiff’s Complaint does not expressly state which Defendant or Defendants the Counts are directed to, other than Count 4. (See generally Doc. No. 1.) Beacon Hill analyzes its Motion to Dismiss under Counts 1 through 3, (Doc. No. 12 at 7), and Plaintiff does the same, (see generally Doc. No. 14). 2 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 Plaintiff alleges that while she was classified as an independent contractor, “she was 2 doing the work of an employee under the direction of Vanguard and being paid by Beacon 3 Hill.” (Compl. ¶ 18.) Plaintiff further alleges her relationship with Vanguard was 4 controlled by Beacon Hill as a joint employer. (Id. ¶ 20.) 5 II. LEGAL STANDARDS 6 A. 7 Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), a party may move to dismiss a 8 complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2). “Where a defendant 9 moves to dismiss a complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden 10 of demonstrating that jurisdiction is appropriate.” Schwarzenegger v. Fred Martin Motor 11 Co., 374 F.3d 797, 800 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing Sher v. Johnson, 911 F.2d 1357, 1361 (9th 12 Cir. 1990)). If the Rule 12(b)(2) motion “is based on written materials rather than an 13 evidentiary hearing, the plaintiff need only make a prima facie showing of jurisdictional 14 facts to withstand the motion to dismiss.” Mavrix Photo, Inc. v. Brand Techs., Inc., 647 15 F.3d 1218, 1223 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing Brayton Purcell LLP v. Recordon & Recordon, 606 16 F.3d 1124, 1127 (9th Cir. 2010)). While uncontroverted allegations in the complaint are 17 taken as true, the court “cannot ‘assume the truth of allegations which are contradicted by 18 affidavit.’” LNS Enters. LLC v. Cont’l Motors, Inc., 22 F.4th 852, 858 (9th Cir. 2022) 19 (quoting Data Disc., Inc. v. Sys. Tech. Assocs., Inc., 557 F.2d 1280, 1284 (9th Cir. 1977)). 20 Where both sides submit affidavits, conflicts over the statements contained in affidavits are 21 resolved in the plaintiff’s favor. Id. (quoting Boschetto v. Hansing, 539 F.3d 1011, 1015 22 (9th Cir. 2008)). “Additionally, any evidentiary materials submitted on the motion ‘are 23 construed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff[s] and all doubts are resolved in [their] 24 favor.’” Ochoa v. J.B. Martin & Sons Farms, 287 F.3d 1182, 1187 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting 25 Metro Life Ins. Co. v. Neaves, 912 F.2d 1062, 1064 n.1 (9th Cir. 1990)). Rule 12(b)(2) 26 B. 27 A party may file a motion to dismiss on the basis of improper venue. Fed. R. Civ. P. 28 12(b)(3). Plaintiff has the burden of showing that venue is proper. Piedmont Label Co. v. Rule 12(b)(3) 3 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 Sun Garden Packing Co., 598 F.2d 491, 496 (9th Cir. 1979). “In a Rule 12(b)(3) motion, 2 the allegations in the complaint need not be accepted as true and the Court may consider 3 evidence outside the pleadings.” eBay Inc. v. Digital Point Sols., Inc., 608 F. Supp. 2d 4 1156, 1161 (N.D. Cal. 2009). “If the court finds that the case has been filed in the wrong 5 division or district, it must dismiss, or if it be in the interest of justice, transfer such case to 6 any district or division in which it could have been brought.” Allstar Mktg. Grp., LLC v. 7 Your Store Online, LLC, 666 F. Supp. 2d 1109, 1126 (C.D. Cal. 2009) (internal citation 8 and quotation omitted). 9 III. 10 11 DISCUSSION Beacon Hill moves to dismiss each of Plaintiff’s claims against it pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), 12(b)(3), and 12(b)(6). (Doc. No. 12.) 12 A. 13 Plaintiff bears the burden to show the Court has either general personal jurisdiction 14 Lack of Personal Jurisdiction Pursuant to 12(b)(2) or specific personal jurisdiction over Beacon Hill. Boschetto, 539 F.3d at 1015. 15 When there is no applicable federal statute governing personal jurisdiction, as is the 16 case here, the law of the forum state determines personal jurisdiction. See Schwarzenegger, 17 374 F.3d at 800 (“Where, as here, there is no applicable federal statute governing personal 18 jurisdiction, the district court applies the law of the state in which the district court sits.”). 19 California’s long arm statute, Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 410.10, is co-extensive with federal 20 due process requirements, and therefore the jurisdictional analyses under California law 21 and federal due process are the same. See Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 410.10 (“[A] court of this 22 state may exercise jurisdiction on any basis not inconsistent with the Constitution of this 23 state or of the United States.”); Mavrix Photo, Inc., 647 F.3d at 1223 (“California’s long- 24 arm statute . . . is coextensive with federal due process requirements, so the jurisdictional 25 analyses under state law and federal due process are the same.”). 26 For a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant consistent with due 27 process, that defendant must have “certain minimum contacts” with the relevant forum 28 “such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend ‘traditional notions of fair play and 4 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 substantial justice.’” Int’l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945) (quoting 2 Milliken v. Meyer, 311 U.S. 457, 463 (1940)). In addition, “[t]he defendant’s ‘conduct and 3 connection with the forum State’ must be such that the defendant ‘should reasonably 4 anticipate being haled into court there.’” Sher, 911 F.2d at 1361 (quoting World-Wide 5 Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297 (1980)). 6 1. General Jurisdiction 7 Plaintiff first contends the Court has general jurisdiction over Beacon Hill due to its 8 “substantial and continuous business activities within California.” (Doc. No. 14 at 6.) 9 Beacon Hill responds its contacts with California fall far short of “continuous and 10 systematic,” and thus are insufficient for the Court to have general jurisdiction over it. 11 (Doc. No. 12 at 12.) 12 “For general jurisdiction to exist over a nonresident defendant . . . , the defendant 13 must engage in ‘continuous and systematic general business contacts’ that ‘approximate 14 physical presence’ in the forum state.” Schwarzenegger, 374 F.3d at 801 (quoting 15 Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 416 (1984) and Bancroft 16 & Masters, Inc. v. Augusta Nat’l, Inc., 223 F.3d 1082, 1086 (9th Cir. 2000)) (internal 17 citations omitted). A nonresident defendant’s “continuous activity of some sorts within a 18 state,” however, is not enough by itself to support exercise of general jurisdiction. 19 Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 564 U.S. 915, 927 (2011). “Unless a 20 defendant’s contacts with a forum are so substantial, continuous, and systematic that the 21 defendant can be deemed to be ‘present’ in that forum for all purposes,” a forum may not 22 exercise general jurisdiction. Yahoo! Inc. v. La Ligue Contre Le Racisme Et 23 L’Antisemitisme, 433 F.3d 1199, 1205 (9th Cir. 2006). Where general jurisdiction exists, 24 the Court has jurisdiction over the defendant for all purposes, even in cases where the 25 claims arise from dealings unrelated to those that establish jurisdiction. Daimler AG v. 26 Bauman, 571 U.S. 117, 140 (2014). 27 Beacon Hill is a Massachusetts limited liability company with its primary place of 28 business in Boston, Massachusetts. (Compl. ¶ 7; B.H. Decl. ¶ 2.) Thus, to render Beacon 5 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 Hill subject to general personal jurisdiction in California, its contacts must be so 2 “continuous and systematic” as to render them “essentially at home in California.” 3 Daimler, 571 U.S. at 127 (quoting Goodyear, 564 U.S. at 919). Plaintiff pleads only that 4 Beacon Hill “does business in California.” (Compl. ¶ 8.) 5 Beacon Hill asserts that neither its manager nor its members are domiciled or reside 6 in California, it is not incorporated in California, and other than a handful of offices, it has 7 no meaningful physical presence in California. (B.H. Decl. ¶ 2; Doc. No. 12 at 12.) In 8 response, Plaintiff asserts Beacon Hill maintains six offices in California and has at least 9 one client in California. (Doc. No. 14 at 6.) Plaintiff further argues Beacon Hills is also 10 registered to do business in the State of California. (Id. at 7.) 11 The Court recognizes that the state of the current law is such that the Ninth Circuit 12 has “regularly [] declined to find general jurisdiction even where the contacts were quite 13 extensive.” Amoco Egypt Oil Co. v. Leonis Nav. Co., Inc., 1 F.3d 848, 851 n.3 (9th Cir. 14 1993). Although Plaintiff lists various activities that Beacon Hill took in California, the 15 Court cannot consider these in a vacuum, but rather must consider them in light of Beacon 16 Hill’s activities “in their entirety, nationwide and worldwide.” Daimler, 571 U.S. at 139 17 n.20 (“A corporation that operates in many places can scarcely be deemed at home in all 18 of them.”). Here, Beacon Hill’s main operations are not located in California (and 19 accordingly, it is logical to assume they take place elsewhere). (See generally B.H. Decl.) 20 The fact that Beacon Hill may have offices, registration, and one client in California does 21 not render its contacts with the State “so ‘continuous and systematic’ as to render [it] 22 essentially at home” here, in light of the consideration that Beacon Hill’s main operations 23 are located outside of the State. Daimler, 571 U.S. at 139. Accordingly, the Court declines 24 to find general jurisdiction over Beacon Hill. 25 2. Specific Jurisdiction 26 Beacon Hill argues the Court lacks specific personal jurisdiction because Plaintiff 27 fails to allege any facts that her claims against Beacon Hill have any substantial connection 28 to its limited presence in California. (Doc. No. 12 at 13.) In response, Plaintiff states that 6 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 “[o]n information and belief, Plaintiff Esters had an office in California and worked in 2 California at least part of the time when was [sic] jointly employed by . . . Beacon Hill.” 3 (Doc. No. 14 at 8.) Thus, asserts Plaintiff, “Beacon Hill’s action was directed at Plaintiff 4 while Plaintiff was in California, doing work for Beacon Hill’s client in California.” (Id.) 5 To exercise specific personal jurisdiction, courts apply a three-prong test. First, the 6 defendant must either purposefully direct its activities or purposefully avail itself of the 7 benefits afforded by the forum’s laws. Williams v. Yamaha Motor Co., 851 F.3d 1015, 1023 8 (9th Cir. 2017). Second, the claim must arise out of or relate to the defendant’s forum- 9 related activities. Id. Third, the exercise of jurisdiction must be reasonable, such that it 10 comports with fair play and substantial justice. Id. 11 “The plaintiff bears the burden of satisfying the first two prongs of the test.” 12 Schwarzenegger, 374 F.3d at 802. “If the plaintiff meets that burden, ‘the burden then shifts 13 to the defendant to “present a compelling case” that the exercise of jurisdiction would not 14 be reasonable.’” Axiom Foods Inc. v. Acerchem Int’l, Inc., 874 F.3d 1064, 1068–69 (9th 15 Cir. 2017) (quoting Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 476–78 (1985)). 16 The Ninth Circuit has emphasized that under the first prong of the specific personal 17 jurisdiction test, purposeful availment and purposeful direction are two distinct concepts. 18 “The exact form of our jurisdictional inquiry depends on the nature of the claim at issue.” 19 Picot v. Weston, 780 F.3d 1206, 1212 (9th Cir. 2015). For claims sounding in contract, 20 courts generally apply the “purposeful availment” analysis, which considers whether a 21 defendant has purposefully availed themselves of the privilege of conducting business with 22 the forum state. Id. (citing Schwarzenegger, 374 F.3d at 802). For claims sounding in tort, 23 courts apply a “purposeful direction” test, and analyze whether the defendant “has directed 24 his actions at the forum state, even if those actions took place elsewhere.” Id. (citing 25 Schwarzenegger, 374 F.3d at 802–03). 26 As an initial matter, the parties do not indicate which approach applies to the case at 27 bar, although in their respective briefs, the Parties appear to apply the purposeful direction 28 analysis. Plaintiff’s claim against Beacon Hill for failure to pay overtime and willful 7 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) is neither a contract nor tort claim. In 2 an analogous case, Rashidi v. Veritiss, LLC, No. 2:16-cv-04761-CAS(JPRx), 2016 WL 3 5219448 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 19, 2016), the plaintiff asserted similar claims to those asserted 4 here, including violations of the California Labor Code. The district court noted the 5 plaintiff’s “claims are neither tort nor contract claims,” and addressed the first prong of the 6 specific jurisdiction test under both the purposeful availment and purposeful direction 7 approaches. Id. at *5; see Senne v. Kansas City Royals Baseball Corp., 105 F. Supp. 3d 8 981, 1022 (N.D. Cal. 2015) (applying both approaches and noting that “[w]age and hour 9 claims asserted under the [Fair Labor Standards Act] and state law are neither tort nor 10 contract claims.”); Overholt v. Airista Flow Inc., No.: 17cv1337-MMA (AGS), 2018 WL 11 355231, at *10 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 10, 2018) (same). As such, the Court proceeds to analyze 12 the first prong of the specific jurisdiction test under both approaches. 13 a. Prong 1: Purposeful Availment and Purposeful Direction 14 In determining whether a defendant purposefully availed themselves of the forum, 15 there must be “actions by the defendant himself that create a ‘substantial connection’ with 16 the forum State.” Burger King, 471 U.S. at 475 (quoting McGee v. Int’l Life Ins. Co., 355 17 U.S. 220, 223 (1957)). The defendant must have “performed some type of affirmative 18 conduct which allows or promotes the transaction of business within the forum state.” Sher, 19 911 F.2d at 1362 (quoting Sinatra v. Nat’l Enquirer, Inc., 854 F.2d 1191, 1195 (9th Cir. 20 1988)). “Merely ‘random, fortuitous, or attenuated’ contacts are not sufficient.” Picot, 780 21 F.3d at 1212 (quoting Burger King, 471 U.S. at 475). 22 As discussed above, Beacon Hill maintains several offices in California, is registered 23 to do business in the State, and has one client in California. Thus, Beacon Hill has 24 purposefully availed itself of the California market and its citizens, and derives benefits, 25 including economic gain from such availment. See Schwarzenegger, 374 F.3d at 803 26 (purposeful direction “usually consists of evidence of the defendant’s actions outside the 27 forum state that are directed at the forum, such as the distribution in the forum state of 28 goods originating elsewhere”). 8 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 The Court next considers whether Plaintiff can demonstrate specific personal 2 jurisdiction under the purposeful direction analysis. See Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783, 789 3 (1984) (establishing the “effects” test). “Purposeful direction ‘requires that the defendant . 4 . . have (1) committed an intentional act, (2) expressly aimed at the forum state, (3) causing 5 harm that the defendant knows is likely to be suffered in the forum state.’” Morrill v. Scott 6 Fin. Corp., 873 F.3d 1136, 1142 (9th Cir. 2017) (quoting Dole Food Co. v. Watts, 303 F.3d 7 1104, 1111 (9th Cir. 2002)). 8 The Court finds Plaintiff has not adequately demonstrated Beacon Hill either 9 “expressly aimed” its conduct at California or “caused harm likely to be suffered in the 10 forum state.” To satisfy the express aiming element, Plaintiff must allege that Beacon Hill’s 11 labor law violations were expressly aimed at California, rather than at Plaintiff alone. See 12 Picot, 780 F.3d at 1214. Although Plaintiff alleges in her response that, “[o]n information 13 and belief,” she had an office in California and worked in California at least in part while 14 employed by Beacon Hill, there are no allegations within the Complaint supporting her 15 contention and she fails to file any declaration in support of these assertions of fact. 16 Moreover, the Court finds this assertion demonstrates only that Plaintiff’s “unilateral 17 activity” occurred in California; it is otherwise insufficient to discharge Plaintiff’s burden 18 of showing Beacon Hill aimed its conduct at California by failing to pay Plaintiff overtime. 19 See Walden v. Fiore, 571 U.S. 277, 286 (2014) (stating a defendant’s “random, fortuitous, 20 or attenuated contacts” or the “unilateral activity” of a plaintiff are insufficient for a state 21 to exercise jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant); Mewawalla v. Middleman, 601 F. 22 Supp. 3d 574, 593 (N.D. Cal. 2022) (“[K]nowledge alone of a plaintiff’s California 23 affiliation is not sufficient to demonstrate express aiming.”) (citing Axiom Foods Inc., 874 24 F.3d at 1069–70). 25 Plaintiff also has not adequately demonstrated that Beacon Hill caused harm it knew 26 was likely to be suffered in California. “Regardless of where a plaintiff lives or works, an 27 injury is jurisdictionally relevant only insofar as it shows that the defendant has formed a 28 contact with the forum State.” Walden, 571 U.S. at 290. Here, Plaintiff’s injury, i.e., the 9 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 labor law violations, does not sufficiently demonstrate that Beacon Hill caused harm it 2 knew would likely be suffered in California. In fact, the injury is not tethered to California 3 at all; it is instead “entirely personal to [Plaintiff] and would follow [her] wherever [s]he 4 might choose to live or travel,” including Texas, where she is a citizen. See Picot, 780 F.3d 5 at 1215. Therefore, the Court concludes the effects of Beacon Hill’s actions are “not 6 connected to the forum State in a way that makes those effects a proper basis for 7 jurisdiction.” Walden, 571 U.S. at 290. 8 b. Prong 2: Arises Out Of 9 “Under the second prong of our personal jurisdictional analysis, the plaintiff’s claim 10 must be one which arises out of the defendant’s forum-related activities.” Menken v. Emm, 11 503 F.3d 1050, 1058 (9th Cir. 2007). In determining whether Plaintiff’s claims arise out of 12 Beacon Hill’s forum-related conduct, “the Ninth Circuit follows the ‘but for’ test.” Id. 13 (citing Myers v. Bennett Law Offices, 238 F.3d 1068, 1075 (9th Cir. 2001)). 14 Here, Plaintiff offers no argument that her claims arise out of Beacon Hill’s forum- 15 related activities. (See generally Compl. & Doc. No. 14.) Although Beacon Hill is 16 registered to do business in California and maintains offices in California, there are no 17 allegations that Plaintiff’s injuries arose from Beacon Hill’s California presence. First, 18 Beacon Hill’s Chicago, Illinois office facilitated the Contract between it and ETMF, rather 19 than its California office. (B.H. Decl. ¶ 3.) The same Chicago office negotiated ETMF’s 20 rate of pay. (Id. ¶ 4.) Moreover, ETMF sent its invoices from Texas to Beacon Hill’s 21 Boston, Massachusetts office and the invoices were paid by Beacon Hill’s Boston office, 22 not to or from California. (Id.) 23 In sum, the Court finds Plaintiff has failed to satisfy the first two prongs of the 24 personal jurisdiction test. As such, the Court need not reach the third prong of the specific 25 jurisdiction test, Picot, 780 F.3d at 1213 n.2, and the Court finds Plaintiff has failed to 26 make a prima facie showing of specific jurisdiction over Beacon Hill. As such, the Court 27 GRANTS Beacon Hill’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2). 28 /// 10 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 B. 2 Although the Court dismisses Plaintiff’s Complaint based on lack of personal 3 jurisdiction, the Court further analyzes the improper venue claims in Beacon Hill’s motion 4 to dismiss for completeness. Improper Venue Pursuant to 12(b)(3) 5 Beacon Hill asserts the Court must dismiss all claims against it because the Contract 6 between it and Plaintiff contains a forum selection clause, which requires that any claims 7 in connection with the Contract shall be litigated in state or federal court in the 8 Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Doc. No. 12 at 20.) 9 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) permits a defendant to move to dismiss a 10 complaint for improper venue. Similarly, 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) permits a district court to 11 dismiss or transfer an action laying venue in the wrong district. However, a court shall not 12 dismiss an action pursuant to Rule 12(b)(3) or § 1406(a) when venue is established under 13 28 U.S.C. § 1391 in the forum in which the action was initiated. Atl. Marine Constr. Co. v. 14 U.S. Dist. Ct. for the W. Dist. of Texas, 571 U.S. 49, 55 (2013). 15 At the outset, the Court rejects Beacon Hill’s argument that the forum selection 16 clause in the Contract makes venue improper in this District. That clause states: “This 17 Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any 18 litigation in connection herewith shall be filed in state or federal court in said 19 Commonwealth.” (Doc. No. 12-1 at 19.) The parties dispute whether the clause is 20 permissive or mandatory. But, regardless of whether the forum selection clause binds 21 Plaintiff, the U.S. Supreme Court has explicitly rejected the argument that such a provision 22 “may be enforced by a motion to dismiss under . . . Rule 12(b)(3).” Atl. Marine Constr. 23 Co., 571 U.S. at 52. Rather, “[w]hether venue is . . . ‘improper’ depends exclusively on 24 whether the court in which the case was brought satisfies the requirements of federal venue 25 laws, and those provisions say nothing about a forum-selection clause.” Id. at 55. 26 Therefore, “[w]hether the parties entered into a contract containing a forum-selection 27 clause has no bearing on whether a case falls into one of the categories of cases listed in 28 § 1391(b).” Id. As a result, the forum selection clause in the Contract does not dictate the 11 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 propriety of venue in this action, and the Court rejects Beacon Hill’s argument to the 2 contrary. 3 The Court finds, however, that venue is improper in the Southern District of 4 California under § 1391(b)(2) as alleged in the Complaint. (See Compl. ¶ 10.) To the extent 5 Beacon Hill seeks to challenge the propriety of venue in this District under Federal Rules 6 of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3), Plaintiff’s burden is to make a prima facie case that venue is 7 proper under the federal venue statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). Under section 1391(b), venue 8 is proper in: 9 (1) a judicial district in which any defendant resides, if all defendants are residents of the State in which the district is located; (2) a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of the action is situated; or (3) if there is no district in which an action may otherwise be brought as provided in this section, any judicial district in which any defendant is subject to the court's personal jurisdiction with respect to such action. 10 11 12 13 14 15 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). Here, Plaintiff fails to argue whether venue is proper in this District. 16 (See generally Compl. & Doc. No. 14.) Although Plaintiff cites § 1391(b)(2) in her 17 Complaint, (Compl. ¶ 10), she fails to plead any facts to support the assertion that a 18 substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred within this 19 District, (see generally id.). As previously discussed, Beacon Hill’s Chicago, Illinois office 20 facilitated the Contract between it and ETMF, rather than its California office. (B.H. Decl. 21 ¶ 3.) The same Chicago office negotiated ETMF’s rate of pay. (Id. ¶ 4.) Moreover, ETMF 22 sent its invoices from Texas to Beacon Hill’s Boston, Massachusetts office and the invoices 23 were paid by Beacon Hill’s Boston office, not to or from California. (Id.) Accordingly, 24 Plaintiff has not demonstrated that venue is proper in this District pursuant to § 1391(b)(2). 25 Because the Court dismisses Plaintiff’s claims against Beacon Hill pursuant to Rules 26 12(b)(2) and (b)(3), the Court declines to analyze the merits of Beacon Hill’s motion to 27 dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). 28 /// 12 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB 1 IV. CONCLUSION 2 Because Plaintiff has failed to establish (1) the Court’s personal jurisdiction over 3 Beacon Hill, and (2) that this District is the proper venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 4 § 1391(b)(2), Plaintiff’s claims as to Beacon Hill is DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO 5 AMEND. 6 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: October 18, 2023 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13 23-cv-00820-AJB-JLB
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