JAMES O. BROWNING, District Judge.
Walker was employed as a Business Office Manager ("BOM") at Defendant THI of New Mexico at Hobbs Center ("THI of Hobbs"), a nursing home in Hobbs, New Mexico, from August 2005 until January 2007. See, e.g., Second Amended Complaint ¶ 3, at 2, filed December 14, 2009 (Doc. 50) ("SAC"). Walker, an African
FLTCH wholly owns THI of Baltimore. See Nursing Facility Licensure Application at 2, 4, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 2, Ex. A) ("Nursing Licensure Application"); Declaration of Eva Gonzalez, ¶ 4, at 2 (dated February 23, 2011), filed February 25, 2011 (Doc. 212-1). FLTCH is the sole member of Defendant Fundamental Administrative Services, LLC ("FAS"), which has no subsidiaries. Defendant Fundamental Administrative Services, LLC's Answers to Plaintiff's First Interrogatories Interrogatory No. 14, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 3) ("FAS' Answers to Interrogatories"). THI of Baltimore is the sole member of Defendant Fundamental Clinical Consulting, LLC ("FCC"), which has no subsidiaries. Defendant Fundamental Clinical Consulting, LLC's Answers to Plaintiff's First Interrogatories Interrogatory No. 15, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 3) ("FCC's Answers to Interrogatories"). THI of Baltimore wholly owns Defendant THI of New Mexico ("THI of New Mexico"). Nursing Licensure Application at 2, 4. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 3, at 2. During the relevant time period, THI of New Mexico wholly owned THI of Hobbs. See Nursing Licensure Application at 2, 4.
FLTCH's address is 930 Ridgebrook Road, Sparks, Maryland. See Deposition of Christine Zack at 183:9-13, Prendergast v. Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC, Civ. No. 07-1265 CEG/LFG (D.N.M.), filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 10). THI of Baltimore's address is 930 Ridgebrook Road, Sparks, Maryland. See Zack Depo. at 170:24-170:3. FAS' address is 930 Ridgebrook Road, Sparks, Maryland. See Electronic Mail Transmission from Wade R. Swanson to Whitney Warner at 1, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 11) ("Swanson Electronic Mail Transmission").
FLTCH is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in Sparks, Maryland. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 3, at 1-2. FLTCH has not filed, nor has it ever sought to file, Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization with the State of New Mexico at any time; it has never been incorporated or regulated to do business in New Mexico at any time; and it is not authorized, and has never been authorized to do business in New Mexico. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 5, at 2. FLTCH maintains that it is not and has never been engaged in the transaction of any business or the performance of any services in the State of New Mexico. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 5, at 2. Since 2006, when FLTCH acquired THI of Baltimore and its subsidiaries, FLTCH "has been treated for federal tax purposes as the holding company for pass through entities." Gonzales Decl. ¶ 6, at 2. The pass-through entities are the individual nursing and rehabilitation facilities. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 6, at 2. "As a practical matter, that means FLTCH files a single tax return in each of the approximately 20 states in which the facilities do business (and in which this method of taxation is allowed), on behalf of all of its subchapter S companies, such as THI of New Mexico at Hobbs Center, LLC." Gonzales Decl. ¶ 6, at 2. FLTCH is not, and has never been, a resident of New Mexico, and it has never been required to maintain, and has never maintained, any mailing address or telephone listing in the State of New Mexico at any time. See
THI of Baltimore is not authorized, and has never been authorized, to do business in New Mexico. See Declaration of Kenneth Tabler ¶ 11, at 2 (dated February 2, 2011), filed February 2, 2011 (Doc. 184-1). THI of Baltimore is not, and has never been, engaged in the transaction of any business or the performance of any services in the State of New Mexico. See id. ¶ 11, at 2. THI of Baltimore has no employees, and thus conducts no operations in New Mexico or anywhere else. See id. ¶ 10, at 2. THI of Baltimore is not, and has never been a resident of New Mexico, and has never been required to maintain, or maintained, a registered agent for service of process in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 12, at 3. THI of Baltimore has never maintained a mailing address, telephone listing, or a place of business in New Mexico, and has never had an agent or employee based in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 12, at 3. THI of Baltimore has never owned or leased any real property, personal property, or equipment in New Mexico, and has never had any accounts with financial institutions in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 15, at 3. THI of Baltimore does not provide goods or services to the general public, including New Mexico, has never contracted to supply goods or services in New Mexico, has never contracted to supply goods or services in New Mexico, and has made no sales in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 17, at 3. THI of Baltimore has never paid any taxes or filed any tax returns in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 19, at 4. THI of Baltimore has never been the licensee of and did not own, operate or control any facility in Hobbs, and has never operated, managed, or controlled any other skilled nursing facilities. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 22, at 4.
FLTCH's two directors are Mary Foreman and Leonard Grunstein. See Zack Depo. at 183:14-16. THI of Baltimore's officers and directors are Kenneth Tabler, W. Bradley Bennett, and Mark Fulchino. See Deposition of Kenneth Tabler at 10:15-17, 12:13-17, Prendergast v. Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC, Civ. No. 07-1265 CEG/LFG (D.N.M.), filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 9); Zack Depo. at 171:3-172:9. FAS' directors are Bennett and Fulchino, and its officers are Bennet, Fulchino, Toni-Jean Lisa, Sean Nolan, Kimberly McCarty, Melissa Warlow, and Tabler. See Swanson Electronic Mail Transmission at 1. The FAS tax department prepares tax filings for THI of New Mexico, THI of Baltimore, and FLTCH. See Tabler Depo. at 56:20-59:2.
Christine Zack is the senior vice president for FAS, and although she has no direct supervisor, she presumes FLTCH
FLTCH has elected to treat THI of Hobbs and similar facilities as "disregarded entit[ies]"
In 2007, FLTCH filed a 2007 PTE New Mexico Income and Information Return for Pass-Through Entities. See 2007 PTE New Mexico Income and Information for Pass-Through Entities, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 8(b)) ("2007 PTE"). The 2007 PTE listed National Registered Agents Inc. as its registered agent in New Mexico. See 2007 PTE at 1. The 2007PTE lists total property within New Mexico as $45,240,777.00, with the average annual value of inventory as $157,623.00, the average annual value of personal property as $1,200,570.00, and the value of rented property as $43,882,584.00. See 2007 PTE at 2. The 2007 PTE listed the total compensation of employees within New Mexico as $23,942,571.00 and the gross receipts within New Mexico as $57,515,744.00. See 2007 PTE at 2.
FLTCH is the plan sponsor of the employee benefits offered to the employees of all entities of which it is either a direct or indirect member. See Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC Employee Benefit Options 2007, filed April 13, 2011 (Doc. 262, Ex. 20) ("Employee Benefits Options").
Walker filed this case on January 22, 2009. See Complaint, filed January 22, 2009 (Doc. 1). The Complaint originally named THI of Hobbs and three Doe Corporations as the Defendants. See Complaint ¶¶ 4-5, at 2. On December 14, 2009, Walker filed an Amended Complaint adding Defendants Diana Melton, Jaime Andujo, Debbie Lothridge, Karen Hood (Miller), THI of New Mexico, FCC, and FAS. See Amended Complaint, filed December 14, 2009 (Doc. 50). On November 15, 2010, Walker filed the SAC, adding THI of Baltimore, Inc., and Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC as Defendants. In her SAC, Walker alleges that "THI-Hobbs and all the other Corporate Defendants acting as a single, integrated enterprise subjected [Walker] to race discrimination and/or to retaliation for having complained internally about race discrimination" in violation of Title VII and of the New Mexico Human Rights Act. SAC ¶¶ 79-80, at 23-24. Walker alleges that the Defendants' conduct violated her rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and "constituted an intentional infliction of emotional distress." SAC ¶ 81, at 24. She also alleges that the Defendants' conduct in terminating her constituted an unlawful breach of her employment contract. See SAC ¶ 82, at 24.
On February 2, 2011, THI of Baltimore filed Defendant THI of Baltimore, Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1), (2), and (6). See Doc. 183. THI of Baltimore moves the Court to dismiss Walker's SAC as to it. On the same day, THI of Baltimore filed the Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant THI of Baltimore, Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rules 12(B)(1), (2), and (6). See Doc. 184. THI of Baltimore argues that New Mexico courts lack personal jurisdiction over it, because it does not have minimum contacts with New Mexico, because it is not THI of New Mexico, LLC's "alter ego," and because the bedrock principle of corporate law—that shareholders are not personally responsible for the acts of a corporation—bars a finding of personal jurisdiction. THI of Baltimore argues that the single-employer test
On February 25, 2011, FLTCH filed the Defendant Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC's Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rules 12(B)(1), (2), and (6). See Doc. 211. FLTCH moved the Court to dismiss Walker's SAC as to it. On the same day, FLTCH filed the Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC's Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rules 12(B)(1), (2), and (6). See Doc. 212. FLTCH argues that New Mexico courts lack personal jurisdiction over it, because it does not have minimum contacts with New Mexico, because it is not THI of New Mexico's "alter ego," because the fact that it filed a tax return in New Mexico on behalf of its pass-through entities does not change the analysis, and because the "bedrock principle" of corporate law that shareholders or members are not personally responsible for the corporation's acts bars a finding of personal jurisdiction. FLTCH
On March 25, 2011, Walker filed the Plaintiff's Response to Defendant Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings's [sic] and Defendant THI of Baltimore's Motions to Dismiss. See Doc. 248 ("Response"). The Response sets out a statement of material facts. In the Response, Walker argues that FLTCH and THI of Baltimore operate as part of a single, integrated enterprise that includes all the corporate Defendants in this case. Walker further argues that the Defendants are collaterally estopped from arguing otherwise. Walker argues that the Court has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore and FLTCH, because they transacted business in New Mexico, because the events addressed in the lawsuit arise out of the business they transacted in New Mexico, and because the Defendants have substantial contacts with New Mexico. Walker further argues that the exercise of personal jurisdiction does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Walker argues that, because THI of Baltimore and FLTCH operate as a part of a single, integrated enterprise, the Court has personal jurisdiction. Walker also argues that she has exhausted her administrative remedies against THI of Baltimore and FLTCH. She argues that the SAC states multiple causes of action against THI of Baltimore and FLTCH that satisfy the federal pleading requirements.
On April 24, 2011, THI of Baltimore and FLTCH filed a single Reply in Support of Motions to Dismiss Filed by THI of Baltimore Inc. and Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC. See Doc. 274 ("Reply"). THI of Baltimore and FLTCH state that Walker's arguments regarding the single-employer theory is irrelevant to the issue of personal jurisdiction. They argue that the facts demonstrate a lack of minimum contacts as to them both. They argue that vaguely referencing a respondent to an ("Equal Employment Opportunity Commission") EEOC charge is inadequate to demonstrate compliance with a condition precedent to suit. They also argue that there are no allegations against them adequate to place them on notice as to the claims against them.
At the hearing, counsel for THI of Baltimore and FLTCH, Faith Reyes, stated that she did not believe that it was necessary for the Court to determine the integrated or single-corporation doctrine at this stage, and that her clients did not have sufficient contacts in New Mexico to support personal jurisdiction. Walker's counsel, Daniel Yohalem, stated that Walker believes the Court has jurisdiction over FLTCH and THI of Baltimore independent of the single integrated-enterprise theory. Walker stated that THI of Baltimore's and FLTCH's contacts with New Mexico are sufficient for the Court to exercise personal jurisdiction over them. See Transcript of Hearing at 53:2-14 (taken April 2, 2011) ("Tr.") (Yohalem) ("We are claiming that the contacts enumerated in our brief . . . taken altogether are sufficient, and that's what the cases hold.").
Tr. at 45:24-47:6 (Court, Yohalem).
"Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction; they are empowered to hear only those cases authorized and defined in the Constitution which have been entrusted to them under a jurisdictional grant by Congress." Henry v. Office of Thrift Supervision, 43 F.3d 507, 511 (10th Cir.1994) (citations omitted). A plaintiff generally bears the burden of demonstrating the court's jurisdiction to hear his or her claims. See Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env't, 523 U.S. 83, 104, 118 S.Ct. 1003, 140 L.Ed.2d 210 (1998) ("[T]he party invoking federal jurisdiction bears the burden of establishing its existence."). Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows a party to raise the defense of the court's "lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter" by motion. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has held that motions to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction "generally take one of two forms: (1) a facial attack on the sufficiency of the complaint's allegations as to subject-matter jurisdiction; or (2) a challenge to the actual facts upon which subject-matter jurisdiction is based." Ruiz v. McDonnell, 299 F.3d 1173, 1180 (10th Cir. 2002).
Alto Eldorado Partners v. City of Santa Fe, No. CIV 08-0175 JB/ACT, 2009 WL 1312856, at *8-9 (D.N.M. Mar. 11, 2009) (Browning, J.) (citations omitted). As the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has stated:
Williamson v. Tucker, 645 F.2d 404, 412-13 (5th Cir.1981) (quoting Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 549 F.2d 884, 891 (3d Cir.1977)).
When making a rule 12(b)(1) motion, a party may go beyond the allegations in the complaint to challenge the facts upon which jurisdiction depends, and may do so by relying on affidavits or other evidence properly before the court. See New Mexicans for Bill Richardson v. Gonzales, 64 F.3d 1495, 1499 (10th Cir.1995); Holt v. United States, 46 F.3d 1000, 1003
Motions to dismiss under rule 12(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure test the plaintiff's theory of personal jurisdiction as well as the facts supporting personal jurisdiction. See Credit Lyonnais Sec. (USA), Inc. v. Alcantara, 183 F.3d 151, 153-54 (2d Cir.1999). Rule 12(b)(2) concerns lack of personal jurisdiction. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2). In determining personal jurisdiction, a court must test not only the complaint's jurisdictional theory, but also the facts on which jurisdiction is predicated. See Credit Lyonnais Sec. (USA), Inc. v. Alcantara, 183 F.3d at 154 (holding that the court "must determine whether the defendant in fact subjected itself to the court's jurisdiction"). Where a defendant raises a timely challenge contesting personal jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that there is personal jurisdiction over the defendant and that the exercise of personal jurisdiction would not violate due-process requirements. See Overton v. United States, 925 F.2d 1282, 1283 (10th Cir.1991); Rambo v. Am. S. Ins. Co., 839 F.2d 1415, 1417 (10th Cir.1988); Jemez Agency, Inc. v. CIGNA Corp., 866 F.Supp. 1340, 1342 (D.N.M.1994) (Burciaga, J). At this stage of the proceedings, it is not for the court to resolve disputed facts. See Daynard v. Ness, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson & Poole, P.A., 290 F.3d 42, 45 (1st Cir.2002). Rather, the court "`must accept the plaintiff's (properly documented) evidentiary proffers as true for the purpose of determining the adequacy of the prima facie jurisdictional showing.'" Daynard v. Ness, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson & Poole, P.A., 290 F.3d at 45 (quoting Foster-Miller, Inc. v. Babcock & Wilcox Can., 46 F.3d 138, 145 (1st Cir.1995)).
Under rule 12(b)(6), a court may dismiss a complaint for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). "The nature of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion tests the sufficiency of the allegations within the four corners of the complaint after taking those allegations as true." Mobley v. McCormick, 40 F.3d 337, 340 (10th Cir.1994). The sufficiency of a complaint is a question of law, and when considering and addressing a rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court must accept as true all well-pleaded factual allegations in the complaint, view those allegations in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, and draw all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. See Moore v. Guthrie, 438 F.3d 1036, 1039 (10th Cir.2006); Hous. Auth. of Kaw Tribe v. City of Ponca City, 952 F.2d 1183, 1187 (10th Cir.1991).
Robbins v. Oklahoma, 519 F.3d 1242, 1247 (10th Cir.2008) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955) (internal citations omitted).
When a defendant couples a 12(b) motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction with other issues, the court must first determine the jurisdictional issue. See OMI Holdings, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Canada, 149 F.3d 1086, 1090 (10th Cir.1998). If jurisdiction is lacking, the court cannot render a valid judgment on the merits of the other issues. See OMI Holdings, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Canada, 149 F.3d at 1090. As the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has explained:
Arrowsmith v. United Press Int'l, 320 F.2d 219, 221 (2d Cir.1963). If a court determines that personal jurisdiction is lacking for some or all of the defendants, all other claims and issues related to those claims brought against those defendants
"Before a federal court can assert personal jurisdiction over a defendant in a federal question case, the court must determine (1) `whether the applicable statute potentially confers jurisdiction' by authorizing service of process on the defendant and (2) `whether the exercise of jurisdiction comports with due process.'" Peay v. BellSouth Med. Assistance Plan, 205 F.3d 1206, 1209 (10th Cir.2000) (quoting Republic of Panama v. BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg) S.A., 119 F.3d 935, 942 (11th Cir. 1997); other citations omitted).
New Mexico's long-arm statute provides:
NMSA 1978, § 38-1-16. The New Mexico long-arm statute is coextensive with constitutional limitations that the due process-clause imposes. See Tercero v. Roman Catholic Diocese, 132 N.M. 312, 316, 48 P.3d 50, 54 (2002). Thus, if jurisdiction is consistent with the due-process clause, then New Mexico's long-arm statute authorizes jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant. See Tercero v. Roman Catholic Diocese, 132 N.M. at 316, 48 P.3d at 54.
New Mexico may have jurisdiction over a defendant who "transacts business" in New Mexico within the meaning of N.M.S.A.1978, § 38-1-16(A)(1). In Monks Own, Ltd. v. Monastery of Christ In Desert, 142 N.M. 549, 168 P.3d 121 (2007), the Supreme Court of New Mexico explained that "[t]ransaction of any business . . . is defined as doing a series of similar acts for the purpose of thereby realizing pecuniary benefit, or otherwise accomplishing an object, or doing a single act for such purpose with the intention of thereby initiating a series of such acts." 142 N.M. at 556, 168 P.3d at 128 (internal quotations omitted). The court must look to the facts of each case to determine if the transaction of business category is met. See Monks Own, Ltd. v. Monastery of Christ In Desert, 142 N.M. at 556, 168 P.3d at 128. Even if a plaintiff receives correspondence or a call from the defendant, this contact may be insufficient to constitute transacting business and to satisfy due process requirements as a matter of New Mexico law. See Diamond A Cattle Co. v. Broadbent, 84 N.M. 469, 471, 505 P.2d 64, 66
To satisfy the requirements of the New Mexico long-arm statute, the court must evaluate a three-prong test: (i) did the defendant commit an act or omission set forth in N.M.S.A.1978, § 38-1-16; (ii) does the plaintiff's cause of action arise out of the alleged acts or omissions; and (iii) does the defendant have sufficient minimum contacts with New Mexico to satisfy due-process concerns. See Tercero v. Roman Catholic Diocese, 132 N.M. at 316, 48 P.3d at 54. New Mexico decisions have consistently recognized that its courts may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant only if sufficient minimum contacts exist between the defendant and the forum state, meaning "the degree to which [the] defendant purposefully initiated activity within the State." Sanchez v. Church of Scientology of Orange County, 115 N.M. 660, 664, 857 P.2d 771, 775 (1993) (internal quotations omitted). "The purposeful activity requirement assumes that a defendant will not be subject to jurisdiction solely as a result of random, fortuitous, or attenuated contacts." Sanchez v. Church of Scientology of Orange County, 115 N.M. at 664, 857 P.2d at 775. "New Mexico has extended the reach of its long-arm statute to the limits of due process." Jemez Agency, Inc. v. CIGNA Corp., 866 F.Supp. 1340, 1342 (D.N.M.1994) (citing United Nuclear Corp. v. General Atomic Co., 91 N.M. 41, 42, 570 P.2d 305, 306 (1977)).
The minimum-contacts inquiry "protects the defendant from having to defend a lawsuit in a jurisdiction where it has no meaningful contacts and therefore may be unfamiliar with both the substantive and procedural law." Origins Natural Res., Inc. v. Ben Kotler and LDI, L.L.C., 133 F.Supp.2d 1232, 1235 (D.N.M. 2001) (Black, J.) (citing OMI Holdings, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Canada, 149 F.3d at 1090). The minimum contacts standard may be met in two ways. Specific jurisdiction exists when the defendant "purposefully avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws." Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. at 253, 78 S.Ct. 1228. The minimum contacts necessary for specific personal jurisdiction are established "if the defendant has `purposefully directed' his activities at residents of the forum, and the litigation results from alleged injuries that `arise out of or relate to' those activities." OMI Holdings, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Canada, 149 F.3d at 1091 (quoting Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. at 471-72, 105 S.Ct. 2174). General jurisdiction, on the other hand, lies when the defendant's contacts with the forum state are so "continuous and systematic" that the state may exercise personal jurisdiction over the defendant even if the suit is unrelated to the defendant's contacts with the state. See Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. at 415-16 & n. 9, 104 S.Ct. 1868. To prove general personal jurisdiction, the plaintiff "need not demonstrate a connection between the defendant's contacts and the cause of action." Zavala v. El Paso County Hosp. Dist., 143 N.M. at 42, 172 P.3d at 179 (internal quotations omitted and alteration in original).
The Court first must "ask whether any applicable statute authorizes the service of process on defendants." Dudnikov v. Chalk & Vermilion Fine Arts, Inc., 514 F.3d 1063, 1070 (10th Cir.2008)(citing Trujillo v. Williams, 465 F.3d 1210, 1217 (10th Cir.2006)). Neither 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e through 2000e-17 nor 42 U.S.C. § 1981 "provides for nationwide service of process, so Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(k)(1)(A) commands the [Court] . . . to apply the law of the state in which the district court sits." Dudnikov v. Chalk & Vermilion Fine Arts, Inc., 514 F.3d at 1070. See Berry v. Lee, 428 F.Supp.2d 546, 551 (N.D.Tex.2006)("Title VII does not provide for nationwide service of process.") (citing Goyette v. DCA Adver., Inc., 830 F.Supp. 737, 742 (S.D.N.Y.1993)). To satisfy the requirements of the New Mexico long-arm statute, the court must evaluate a three-prong test: (i) did the defendant commit an act or omission set forth in N.M.S.A. 1978, § 38-1-16; (ii) does the plaintiff's cause of action arise out of the alleged acts or omissions; and (iii) does the defendant have sufficient minimum contacts with New Mexico to satisfy due process concerns. See Tercero v. Roman Catholic Diocese, 132 N.M. at 316, 48 P.3d at 54. "New Mexico has extended the reach of its long-arm statute to the limits of due process." Jemez Agency, Inc. v. CIGNA Corp., 866 F.Supp. at 1342 (citation omitted). Because New Mexico has extended the reach of its long-arm statute to the limits of due process, the Court will address only whether THI of Baltimore and FLTCH have minimum contacts with New Mexico such that maintenance of Walker's suit against them does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. The Court finds that Walker has not made a prima-facie showing that either THI of Baltimore or FLTCH have minimum contacts with New Mexico such that the maintenance of Walker's suit against them does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
The single-employer theory is a theory courts use to determine whether two entities constitute a single employer for purposes of Title VII liability. See Sandoval v. City of Boulder, Colo., 388 F.3d at 1322. Walker argues that THI of Baltimore and FLTCH operate as part of a single employer, which includes all the corporate defendants in this case. She argues that, because THI of Baltimore and FLTCH operate as part of a single employer, and because there is no dispute that FAS, FCC, THI of New Mexico, and THI of Hobbs are subject to personal jurisdiction in New Mexico, the Court has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore and FLTCH. Walker argues that, even if the Court decides that the single-employer status of THI of Baltimore and
THI of Baltimore and FLTCH argue that the single-employer test is irrelevant to the issue whether the Court has jurisdiction over them. They argue that New Mexico law controls the question whether the Court has personal jurisdiction and that the single-employer concept is absent from New Mexico jurisprudence in the area. They argue that other courts have rejected plaintiffs' attempts to use the single-employer theory to establish personal jurisdiction over a corporate defendant.
Several courts have rejected plaintiffs' attempts to use the single-employer theory to establish personal jurisdiction over corporate defendants based upon subsidiaries' actions. See, e.g., Smit v. Isiklar Holding A.S., 354 F.Supp.2d 260, 267 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) ("Even if ERISA[, 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001 through 1461,] considers all the defendants a "single employer" and a `controlled group' under `common control' with Isiklar Holding—issues I need not reach here—it would not empower this Court to impute the actions of one entity to another for purposes of establishing personal jurisdiction over foreign defendants.").
In Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund v. Reimer Express World Corp., 230 F.3d 934 (7th Cir. 2000), the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's finding that it did not have personal jurisdiction over the defendants, two Canadian companies—Reimer Express Enterprises, Limited ("REE") and Reimer Express World Corporation ("REWCOR"). 230 F.3d at 937. The plaintiff pension fund prevailed in a suit under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments to ERISA against Inter-City Truck Lines, Inc. ("ICTL")—a Canadian corporation that operated a United States trucking enterprise out of Detroit, Michigan and engaged in extensive business in the United States. 230 F.3d at 938. The judgment was not satisfied, however, and after determining that REE and REWCOR were affiliated with ICTL, the plaintiff filed an action in federal district court in Illinois, seeking payment of the judgment. See 230 F.3d at 938. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss under rules 12(b)(1), 12(b)(2), and 12(b)(6). See 230 F.3d at 938.
230 F.3d at 938-39. The district court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss after finding that "personal jurisdiction was absent." 230 F.3d at 939.
230 F.3d at 939. On appeal, the plaintiff argued that the district court had specific personal jurisdiction over the defendants based on their contacts with "Illinois or the United States as a whole," and that the "standard rule that corporate ownership cannot confer jurisdiction over the parent does not apply in the context of a statutory scheme that premises liability on such affiliation." 230 F.3d at 939. The Seventh Circuit first analyzed the plaintiff's corporate affiliation argument. See 230 F.3d at 943.
230 F.3d at 943. The Seventh Circuit stated that, although it had "not squarely considered th[e] issue before, [it had] h[e]ld that constitutional due process requires that personal jurisdiction cannot be premised on corporate affiliation or stock ownership alone where corporate formalities are substantially observed and the parent does not exercise an unusually high degree of control over the subsidiary." 230 F.3d at 943. The Seventh Circuit stated:
230 F.3d at 944-45 (footnote omitted). The Seventh Circuit applied this holding, and found that "corporate affiliation cannot serve as a basis for personal jurisdiction over REE or REWCOR." 230 F.3d at 945.
In Vogt v. Greenmarine Holding, LLC, No. CIV.A. 1:01-CV0311JOF, 2002 WL 534542 (N.D.Ga. Feb. 20, 2002), the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' complaint. See 2002 WL 534542, at *8. The plaintiffs argued that the proper test for personal jurisdiction "is whether OMC and Defendants constitute a `single employer' so as to be liable under WARN." 2002 WL 534542, at *3. The district court found, however, "that it [wa]s improper to conflate an issue of subject matter jurisdiction with personal jurisdiction[;] [l]iability and jurisdiction are two separate inquiries." 2002 WL 534542, at *3. The district court thus "analyze[d] Defendants' motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction under the minimum contacts test." 2002 WL 534542, at *3.
Walker directs the Court's attention to one case—Berry v. Lee—in support of her argument that the Court should consider that THI of Baltimore and FLTCH operate as part of a single, integrated enterprise in its personal-jurisdiction analysis. In Berry v. Lee, the Honorable Sidney A. Fitzwater, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, denied the defendants' motion to dismiss under rule 12(b)(2). See 428 F.Supp.2d at 549. Judge Fitzwater considered Berry's contention that the court had "general jurisdiction
428 F.Supp.2d at 553. Judge Fitzwater rejected the "defendants' challenge to Berry's reliance on the single business enterprise theory," stating that "Berry is not relying on this theory to prove that CPBC is liable; she is doing so for the purpose of establishing that CBPC is amenable to suit in this forum[;] [t]his distinction is recognized in Texas" and that "[m]oreover, Texas courts rely on the single business enterprise theory to assert jurisdiction." 428 F.Supp.2d at 553. The district court, after considering the evidence as a whole, concluded that Berry made "a prima facie showing that BSI, CBPC, BSUSA, and BSC are a single business enterprise," and that CBPC thus, "as a component of a single business enterprise, ha[d] sufficient minimum contacts with the state of Texas to support the exercise of general jurisdiction over it." 428 F.Supp.2d at 556.
The Court has not found, and the parties have not directed the Court's attention to, any jurisprudence from New Mexico adopting or using the single-employer concept to gain personal jurisdiction over a corporate entity. There is a case from the Court of Appeals of New Mexico, which discusses "whether alter ego is a viable theory for obtaining personal jurisdiction over a foreign corporation in New Mexico." Alto Eldorado P'ship v. Amrep, 138 N.M. 607, 611, 124 P.3d 585, 589 (Ct.App.2005).
138 N.M. at 612-13, 124 P.3d at 590-91. The plaintiffs argued that EUI was Amrep's alter ego, and that "this relationship g[ave] New Mexico courts personal jurisdiction over Amrep." 138 N.M. at 613, 124 P.3d at 591. The Court of Appeals stated "[i]ndirectly . . . agency principles may be useful to the question of jurisdiction over Amrep." 138 N.M. at 613, 124 P.3d at 591.
138 N.M. at 614, 124 P.3d at 592. The Court of Appeals noted that "[t]hese differing inquiries have led courts to apply alter ego theories to questions of jurisdiction in two distinctly separate ways." 138 N.M. at 614, 124 P.3d at 592.
138 N.M. at 614-15, 124 P.3d at 592-93. The Court of Appeals noted that "[t]his approach has found favor with may state and federal courts," and that "[e]ven some law reviews favored this approach." 138 N.M. at 615, 124 P.3d at 593. The Court of Appeals stated "[t]his approach would allow a court to satisfy the constitutional requirements by sole use of a straightforward alter ego test instead of focusing on a broader, amorphous, constitutional test." 138 N.M. at 615, 124 P.3d at 593.
138 N.M. at 615-16, 124 P.3d at 593-94. The Court of Appeals noted that International Shoe Co. v. Washington sets forth the constitutional standard for personal jurisdiction—a defendant must have minimum contacts with the forum state such that maintaining the suit against the defendant does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. See 138 N.M. at 616, 124 P.3d at 594. The Court of Appeals stated that, even if EUI were Amrep's alter ego, that factor would not be relieve the court of a due process inquiry. See 138 N.M. at 616, 124 P.3d at 594 ("Due process requirements must be satisfied no matter what theory a plaintiff uses. An alter ego theory under substantive corporate law principles is not a substitute for minimum contacts.").
138 N.M. at 616, 124 P.3d at 594. The Court of Appeals stated that, "[w]hile we might decline to directly superimpose ill-fitting and questionably relevant principles of substantive corporate liability law onto our constitutional inquiry, the relationship between a parent and its subsidiary may be crucial in evaluating jurisdiction itself." 138 N.M. at 616, 124 P.3d at 594. The Court of Appeals stated that "`[t]he mere existence of the relationship is one relevant factor.'" 138 N.M. at 616, 124 P.3d at 594 (citation omitted). The Court of Appeals also noted that the corporate relationship might also be probative whether it is fundamentally fair to require the defendant to defend a suit in the forum and that a showing of formation for an improper purpose might also be probative. See 138 N.M. at 616, 124 P.3d at 594. In analyzing whether Amrep had minimum contacts with New Mexico, the Court of Appeals considered that Amrep's New Mexico subsidiaries were wholly owned, that an Amrep employee ran EUI's day-to-day operations, and that Amrep appeared to direct EUI's actions in New Mexico. See 138 N.M. at 618-19, 124 P.3d at 596-97.
The Court will not use the single-employer theory to determine whether it has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore and FLTCH.
The Court is not persuaded that it should follow the Northern District of Texas' analysis in Berry v. Lee. Unlike Berry v. Lee, where the Northern District of Texas rejected the defendants' challenge to the plaintiff's reliance on the single business enterprise theory to assert jurisdiction, stating that "Texas courts rely on the single business enterprise theory to assert jurisdiction," 428 F.Supp.2d at 553, the Court has not found, nor have the parties directed the Court's attention to, a case from New Mexico using the single-employer theory to gain personal jurisdiction over a corporation. The Court thus believes that Berry v. Lee is distinguishable, and that it should not follow Berry v. Lee and rely on the single integrated-enterprise theory to determine whether FLTCH and THI of Baltimore are amenable to suit in New Mexico. Moreover, even if New Mexico endorsed use of the single integrated-enterprise theory to determine personal jurisdiction, the Court believes that ultimately the New Mexico courts—state and federal—would have to determine whether due process limited the exercise of jurisdiction, for the single reason that the Supremacy Clause requires federal law to trump state law. See Altria Group, Inc. v. Good, 555 U.S. 70, 76, 129 S.Ct. 538, 543, 172 L.Ed.2d 398 (2008) (stating that "we have long recognized that state laws that conflict with federal law are `without effect.'") (quoting Maryland v. Louisiana, 451 U.S. 725, 746, 101 S.Ct. 2114, 68 L.Ed.2d 576 (1981)). Moreover, if New Mexico law already goes as far as due process allows, adoption of the single integrated-enterprise doctrine in the personal-jurisdiction analysis would add nothing to New Mexico jurisprudence. The single integrated-enterprise doctrine cannot confer jurisdiction where due process would not allow the court to exercise jurisdiction over the defendant.
Furthermore, if the Court were to use the single-employer theory to determine whether it has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore and FLTCH, it might have the anomalous result of conferring jurisdiction only when the plaintiff has alleged a claim under Title VII. On the other hand, if the Court were to use the single-employer theory to determine personal jurisdiction, it might also create a situation where a party might find itself subject to personal jurisdiction, litigating both federal and state claims—as Walker is—based upon jurisdictional allegations relevant only to the claims under federal statutes. The Court therefore will not use the single-employer theory to determine whether it has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore and FLTCH. Although the Court will not use the single-employer theory to determine whether it has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore and FLTCH, the Court will consider several facts, that might later be relevant in a single integrated-employer analysis, however, in its analysis whether THI of Baltimore and FLTCH have minimum contacts—such
Walker argues that there is substantial evidence that THI of Baltimore purposefully entered New Mexico and transacted a great deal of business here. She states that THI of Baltimore wholly owns FCC and THI of New Mexico, that THI of Baltimore shares officers and directors with FAS, and that FAS' tax department prepares tax filings for THI of Baltimore. THI of Baltimore argues that none of these contentions, standing alone or together, demonstrate that THI of Baltimore is subject to personal jurisdiction in New Mexico.
"New Mexico has extended the reach of its long-arm statute to the limits of due process." Jemez Agency, Inc. v. CIGNA Corp., 866 F.Supp. at 1342 (citation omitted). Thus, if jurisdiction is consistent with the Due-Process Clause, New Mexico's long-arm statute authorizes jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant. See Tercero v. Roman Catholic Diocese, 132 N.M. 312, 316, 48 P.3d 50, 54 (2002).
The Supreme Court has held that, to exercise jurisdiction in harmony with due process, defendants must have "minimum contacts" with the forum state, such that having to defend a lawsuit there would not "offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice." Int'l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945) (internal quotation marks omitted). The Supreme Court has instructed that the "minimum contacts" standard requires, first, that the out-of-state defendant must have "purposefully directed" its activities at residents of the forum state, and second, that the plaintiff's injuries must "arise out of" defendant's forum-related activities. Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 472, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 85 L.Ed.2d 528 (1985). Additionally, exercising personal jurisdiction over defendants must always be consonant with traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Int'l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. at 316, 66 S.Ct. 154.
Walker has not made a prima-facie showing that the Court has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore. Walker asserts that THI of Baltimore has sufficient contacts with New Mexico, because THI of Baltimore wholly owns FCC and THI of New Mexico, because THI of Baltimore shares officers and directors with FAS, and because FAS' tax department prepares tax filings for THI of Baltimore.
THI of Baltimore is the sole member of FCC and the sole member of THI of New Mexico. See FCC's Answers to Interrogatories, Interrogatory No. 15; Nursing Licensure Application at 2, 4. During the relevant time period, THI of New Mexico wholly owned THI of Hobbs. See Nursing Licensure Application at 2, 4. Walker has put forth evidence that FCC and THI of New Mexico are subject to personal jurisdiction in New Mexico, and THI of Baltimore does not dispute this assertion. See, e.g., Clinical Support Agreement between FCC and THI of Hobbs, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 4(a)). THI of Baltimore's status as the sole member of FCC and THI of New Mexico, in itself, is not sufficient for personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore. See Jemez Agency, Inc. v. CIGNA Corp., 866 F.Supp. at 1343 ("The general rule, however, is that `judicial jurisdiction over a subsidiary corporation does not of itself give a state judicial jurisdiction over the parent corporation[, even if] the parent owns all of the subsidiary's stock.'") (citing Restatement (Second) of Conflicts of Laws § 52 cmt. b
FAS' tax department prepares the tax filings for THI of New Mexico, THI of Baltimore, and FLTCH. See Tabler Depo. at 56:20-59:2. Walker has not, however, tied FAS' preparation of THI of Baltimore's tax filings to New Mexico. THI of Baltimore, however, has never paid any taxes or filed any tax returns in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 19, at 4. Walker has thus not made a prima-facie showing that FAS' tax department's preparation of tax filings is an act "by which [THI of Baltimore] purposefully avail[ed] itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws." FDIC v. Hiatt, 117 N.M. 461, 464, 872 P.2d 879, 882 (1994). FAS' tax department's preparation of tax filings for THI of Baltimore is thus not a sufficient contact with New Mexico which might give the Court personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore.
THI of Baltimore's officers and directors are Tabler, Bennett, and Fulchino. See Tabler Depo. at 10:15-17, 12:13-17; Zack Depo. at 171:3-172:9. FAS' directors are Bennett and Fulchino, and its officers are Bennet, Fulchino, Lisa, Nolan, McCarty, Warlow, and Tabler. See Swanson Electronic Mail Transmission at 1. Although FAS and THI of Baltimore share several officers and directors, there is no evidence that the directors or officers of FAS did "not act independently in the interest of [FAS] but t[ook] direction from" THI of Baltimore. Alto Eldorado P'ship v. Amrep, 138 N.M. at 618, 124 P.3d at 596. See Amiga, Inc. v. Hyperion VOF, No. C07-631RSM, 2008 WL 163623, at *4 (W.D.Wash. Jan. 17, 2008) ("It is the citizenship, place of business, and business activities of the corporation to which the Court must look in determining personal jurisdiction, not the overlapping positions of the officers."); Stenholt v. Centex Real Estate Corp., No. 95 C 2664, 1995 WL 535118, at *3 (N.D.Ill. Sept. 1, 1995) (citing a case as "finding no personal jurisdiction over parent, despite an overlapping board of directors with subsidiary, where non-resident parent exercised minimal control over Illinois subsidiary"); J.L.B. Equities, Inc. v. Ocwen Fin. Corp., 131 F.Supp.2d 544 (S.D.N.Y.2001) (stating that J.L.B. failed to aver facts showing that Ocwen Bank was a mere department of Ocwen such that Ocwen Bank's contacts with New York would "serve as a basis for exercising jurisdiction over Ocwen," because, although they had overlapping officers and directors, this is intrinsic to the parent-subsidiary relationship and the plaintiff was unable to show that Ocwen exerted any significant level of control over Ocwen Bank). The overlap between THI of Baltimore's and FAS' directors and officers is thus not a sufficient contact with New Mexico which gives the Court personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore. See Alto Eldorado P'ship v. Amrep, 138 N.M. at 618, 124 P.3d at 596 ("As a general rule, the mere relationship of parent corporation
THI of Baltimore does not have minimum contacts with New Mexico sufficient to satisfy due-process concerns, because there is evidence only that it has corporate relationships with subsidiary corporate entities, which "is insufficient for personal jurisdiction" over THI of Baltimore. Alto Eldorado P'ship v. Amrep, 138 N.M. at 618, 124 P.3d at 596. THI of Baltimore is not authorized, and has never been authorized, to do business in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 11, at 2. THI of Baltimore is not, and has never been, engaged in the transaction of any business or the performance of any services in the State of New Mexico. See id. ¶ 11, at 2. THI of Baltimore has no employees and thus conducts no operations in New Mexico or anywhere else. See id. ¶ 10, at 2. THI of Baltimore is not, and has never been, a resident of New Mexico, and has never been required to maintain, or maintained, a registered agent for service of process in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 12, at 3. THI of Baltimore has never maintained a mailing address, telephone listing, or place of business in New Mexico, and has never had an agent or employee based in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 12, at 3. THI of Baltimore has never owned or leased any real property, personal property, or equipment in New Mexico and has never had any accounts with financial institutions in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 15, at 3. THI of Baltimore does not provide goods or services to the general public, including New Mexico, has never contracted to supply goods or services in New Mexico, has never contracted to supply goods or services in New Mexico, and has made no sales in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 17, at 3. THI of Baltimore has never paid any taxes or filed any tax returns in New Mexico. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 19, at 4. THI of Baltimore has never been the licensee of and did not own, operate or control any facility in Hobbs, and has never operated, managed, or controlled any other skilled nursing facilities. See Tabler Decl. ¶ 22, at 4. Because the Court finds that Walker has not made a prima-facie showing that THI of Baltimore has minimum contacts with New Mexico "such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice," Int'l Shoe Co. v. State of Wash., Office of Unemployment Comp. and Placement, 326 U.S. at 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, the Court does not have personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore. Cf. Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown et ux. Co-Adm'rs of the Estate of Brown, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 2846, 2851-54, 180 L.Ed.2d 796 (2011) (holding that foreign subsidiaries of a United States parent corporation were not amenable to suit in North Carolina, and stating that the North Carolina courts lacked specific and general personal jurisdiction over the subsidiaries); J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. v. Nicastro, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 2780, 2790-92, 180 L.Ed.2d 765 (2011) (finding that New Jersey was "without power to adjudge the rights and liabilities of J. McIntyre, and its exercise of jurisdiction would violate due process," when the facts "d[id] not show that J. McIntyre purposefully availed itself of the New Jersey Market" when the "respondent's claim of jurisdiction center[ed] on three facts: The distributor agreed to sell J. McIntyre's machines in the United States; J. McIntyre officials attended trade shows in several States but not in New Jersey; and up to four machines ended up in New Jersey," and when "[t]he British manufacturer had no office in New Jersey; it neither
Walker argues that there is substantial evidence that FLTCH purposefully entered New Mexico and transacted a great deal of business there. She asserts that FLTCH wholly owns THI of Baltimore, that FLTCH filed New Mexico income tax returns, that FLTCH received regular updates from Zack, that Zack presumes that Foreman controls her employment, and that the director-and-officer liability insurance is held in the name of FLTCH and covers all nursing homes as well as FAS, FCC, THI of New Mexico, FLTCH and THI of Baltimore. FLTCH argues that none of these contentions, standing alone or together, demonstrate that FLTCH is subject to personal jurisdiction in New Mexico.
Walker has not made a prima-facie showing that the Court has personal jurisdiction over THI of Baltimore, because Walker has not demonstrated that FLTCH has contacts with New Mexico sufficient to satisfy due-process concerns.
FLTCH wholly owns THI of Baltimore. See Nursing Facility Licensure Application at 2. FLTCH is the sole member of FAS, which has no subsidiaries. See FAS' Answers to Interrogatories, Interrogatory No. 14. THI of Baltimore is the sole member of FCC, which has no subsidiaries. See FCC's Answers to Plaintiff's First Interrogatories, Interrogatory No. 15. THI of Baltimore wholly owns THI of New Mexico. See Nursing Licensure Application at 2, 4. During the relevant time period, THI of New Mexico wholly owned THI of Hobbs. See Nursing Licensure Application at 2, 4. Walker has put forth evidence that FAS, FCC, and THI of New Mexico are subject to personal jurisdiction in New Mexico, and FLTCH does not dispute this assertion. See, e.g., Clinical Support Agreement between FCC and THI of Hobbs, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 4(a)); Administrative Support Agreement between FAS and THI of Hobbs, filed March 25, 2011 (Doc. 248, Ex. 4(b)). FLTCH's status as the sole member of THI of Baltimore and FAS, in itself, is not sufficient for personal jurisdiction over FLTCH. See Alto Eldorado P'ship v. Amrep, 138 N.M. at 618, 124 P.3d at 596 ("Amrep's New Mexico subsidiaries are also wholly owned. Even this fact, alone, is insufficient for personal jurisdiction over Amrep, as we will not subject passive investors to our jurisdiction solely on the basis of their investment."). See Jemez Agency, Inc. v. CIGNA Corp., 866 F.Supp. at 1343 ("The general rule, however, is that `judicial jurisdiction over a subsidiary corporation does not of itself give a state judicial jurisdiction over the parent corporation[, even if] the parent owns all of the subsidiary's stock.'") (citing Restatement (Second) of Conflicts of Laws § 52 cmt. b (1971)). Although FLTCH's status as a sole member of FAS and THI of Baltimore is a contact with New Mexico, this contact does not itself give the Court personal jurisdiction over FLTCH.
In her deposition, Zack testified that, though she has no direct supervisor, she presumes Foreman could ask her to become dis-associated and that she keeps
FLTCH is the plan sponsor of the employee benefits offered to the employees of all entities of which it is either a direct or indirect member. See Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, LLC Employee Benefit Options 2007, filed April 13, 2011 (Doc. 262, Ex. 20). In National Production Workers Union Trust v. CIGNA Corp., No. 05 C 5415, 2007 WL 1468555 (N.D.Ill. May 16, 2007), the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois addressed the plaintiff's argument that CIGNA Corp.'s provision "to LINA employees of a pension plan, stock and incentive plan, a deferred compensation plan, and a health and life insurance plan" were evidence that "the defendant and LINA [we]re fully intertwined operations." 2007 WL 1468555, at *11. The Northern District of Illinois stated:
2007 WL 1468555, at *11. See Frank v. U.S. West, Inc., 3 F.3d 1357, 1363 (10th Cir.1993) ("Because it is not beyond the normal parent-subsidiary relationship for the parent to serve as ERISA Plan Administrator for the subsidiary, we do not think that this policy evidences excessive control by Defendant over Northwestern Bell's employment practices."). Based on these cases, and based on the lack of evidence that FLTCH's role as the plan sponsor is beyond the normal parent-subsidiary relationship, the Court finds that FLTCH's role as the plan sponsor of employee benefits offered to employees of all entities of which it is a direct or indirect member is not a contact which gives the Court personal jurisdiction over FLTCH.
FLTCH has elected to treat THI of Hobbs and similar facilities as "disregarded entit[ies]" for federal tax purposes. Tabler Depo. at 60:16-61:16. See Reply at 9 (stating that, "[b]eginning in 2006, FLTCH filed its federal election to be taxed as an S Corporation, and then filed Q Sub elections for all of the entities within FLTCH's group that were not already pass-through entities," and that "[t]he purpose of these elections was to permit income . . . for income tax purposes, to pass through and up to FLTCH"). In 2006, FLTCH filed a 2006 PTE New Mexico Income and Information for Pass-Through Entities. See 2006 PTE at 1. The 2006 PTE states: "D.
In National Production Workers Union Trust v. CIGNA Corp., the Northern District of Illinois found that evidence of an Illinois tax return was "insufficient evidence to subject defendant to general personal jurisdiction in Illinois." 2007 WL 1468555, at *8. The Northern District of Illinois stated:
2007 WL 1468555, at *8. The Northern District of Illinois also noted that "the Seventh Circuit has held that filing joint returns does not create a basis for subjecting a subsidiary to personal jurisdiction, at least where the subsidiary is not undercapitalized." 2007 WL 1468555, at *9 n. 5 (citation omitted).
FLTCH's filing of New Mexico Income and Information Returns for Pass-Through Entities and its listing of a New Mexico corporation is not a contact with New Mexico sufficient to satisfy due-process concerns. As in National Production Workers Union Trust v. CIGNA Corp., where the Northern District of Illinois found that the evidence of the Illinois tax return was insufficient evidence to subject the defendant to personal jurisdiction in Illinois, because it did not believe that the act of the defendant filing a tax return with its subsidiary in Illinois based on its subsidiary's business would mean that the defendant could reasonably foresee being haled into Illinois courts, FLTCH could not reasonably foresee that it would be haled in court in New Mexico based upon its act of filing Income and Information
FLTCH has not filed, nor has it ever sought to file, Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization with the State of New Mexico at any time; it has never been incorporated or regulated to do business in New Mexico at any time; it is not authorized, and has never been authorized, to do business in New Mexico; and it is not and has never been engaged in the transaction of any business or the performance of any services in the State of New Mexico. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 5, at 2. FLTCH is not, and has never been, a resident of New Mexico and it has never been required to maintain, and has never maintained, any mailing address or phone listing in the State of New Mexico at any time. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 7, at 3. FLTCH does not maintain, and has never maintained a place of business, in New Mexico, and does not have, and has never had, an agent or employee who was based in New Mexico, and it has never contracted to supply services or things in New Mexico. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 7, at 3. "FLTCH does not own or lease, and has never owned or leased, any real property in New Mexico, and has never paid any property taxes in New Mexico." Gonzales Decl. ¶ 8, at 3. FLTCH does not own or lease, and has never owned or leased, any equipment located in New Mexico and does not have, and has never had, any accounts with any financial institutions in New Mexico. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 8, at 3. "FLTCH has no employees, and thus has no payroll, benefits, personnel or training departments. Consequently, FLTCH does not prepare or issue paychecks to any employees of its subsidiaries. FLTCH also does not establish any personnel or payroll policies, or control the personnel issues of the entities. . . ." Gonzales Decl. ¶ 9, at 3. FLTCH does not pay the salaries, expenses, or losses of any of the named Defendants. See Gonzales Decl. ¶ 9, at 3. It appears that the only property that FLTCH owns in New Mexico is its subsidiaries.
Viewed together, FLTCH's sole shareholder status in THI of Baltimore, its filing of New Mexico Income and Information Return for Pass-Through Entities, and FLTCH's sponsorship of an employee benefit plan under ERISA to benefit the employees of its subsidiaries are not, alone or together, sufficient minimum contacts with New Mexico, because these contacts reflect only a general and typical relationship between a parent corporation and its subsidiaries. See Alto Eldorado P'ship v. Amrep, 138 N.M. at 618, 124 P.3d at 596 ("As a general rule, the mere relationship of parent corporation and subsidiary corporation is not in itself a sufficient basis for subjecting both to the jurisdiction of the forum state, where one is a nonresident and is not otherwise present or doing business in the forum state.") (citing Smith v. Halliburton Co., 118 N.M. 179, 182, 879 P.2d 1198, 1201 (1994)). Because the Court finds that Walker has not made a prima-facie showing that FLTCH has minimum contacts with New Mexico "such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice," International Shoe Co., 326 U.S. at 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, the Court does not have personal jurisdiction over FLTCH. Cf. Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown et ux. Co-Administrators of the Estate of Brown, 131 S.Ct. at 2851-54; J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. v. Nicastro, 131 S.Ct. at 2790-92. The Court will therefore grant FLTCH's motion to dismiss Walker's SAC as to it.
At the hearing, Mr. Yohalem asked the Court to grant, if the Court rules that it does not believe that, at this moment, it has personal jurisdiction over these Defendants, Walker leave to obtain discovery from the two shareholders of FLTCH to determine whether they are controlling operations in a way where Walker could allege an alter ego claim. The Court is not precluding Walker from conducting additional discovery regarding alter ego in this case, but it will not keep these two Defendants in the case while Walker conducts discovery. It may be that Walker's discovery on her substantive claims will naturally be related to, or the same discovery on, the issue of alter ego, but this case has been pending since January, 2009, and discovery will soon close. The parties have already conducted much discovery, and the Court is reluctant to delay granting these motions further to allow Walker to conduct further discovery into a new issue. The Court will grant the motions, and if Walker's discovery on her case brings to light evidence related to the alter-ego issue, the Court can consider those developments at that time.