SMEC AMERICA CORP v. AGGRESSIVE HYDRAULICS LEASING COMPANY, INC

Not for Publication

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

SMEC AMERICA CORP,

Civil Action No. 21-cv-19465

Plaintiff,

OPINION & ORDER

v.

AGGRESSIVE HYDRAULICS LEASING

COMPANY, INC. and HALES MACHINE

TOOL, INC.,

Defendants.

John Michael Vazquez, U.S.D.J.

In this matter, Plaintiff largely asserts breach of contract and negligence-based claims, but

the overarching dispute is whether a machine manufactured by Plaintiff was free of defects and

conformed to the manufacturing specifications. Presently before the Court are motions to dismiss

filed by Defendants Hales Machine Tool, Inc. (“Hales”), D.E. 8, and Aggressive Hydraulics

Leasing Company, Inc. (“AHL”), D.E. 10. AHL also seeks, in the alternative, to transfer the matter

to the District of Minnesota. D.E. 8. Plaintiff SMEC America Corp. (“SMEC”) filed briefs in

opposition, D.E. 12, 13, to which Defendants replied, D.E. 18, 19.1 The Court reviewed the parties’

submissions and decided the motions without oral argument pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

1 In this Opinion, the Court refers to Hales’ brief in support of its motion to dismiss (D.E. 8-1) as

“Hales Br.”; AHL’s brief in support of its motion to dismiss (D.E. 10-3) as “AHL Br.”; SMEC’s

brief in opposition to Hales’ motion (D.E. 12) as “Hales Opp.”; SMEC’s brief in opposition to

AHL’s motion (D.E. 13) as “AHL Opp.”; Hales’ reply (D.E. 19) as “Hales Reply”; and AHL’s

reply (D.E. 18) as “AHL Reply”.

Procedure 78(b) and Local Civil Rule 78.1(b). For the reasons set forth below, the motions are

GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

I. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

As the parties are familiar with this matter, the Court does not provide a detailed factual

recitation. Instead, the Court reviews relevant facts here and discusses certain additional facts in

the analysis section below.2

Hales, a machine tool distributor, is located in Minnesota. Certification of Shawn M. Jones

(“Jones Cert.”) ¶¶ 2-3, D.E. 8-3. During the events at issue, Hales distributed SMEC machines.

Id. ¶ 4. In 2020, AHL, another Minnesota-based company, contacted Hales about purchasing a

specific type of machine. Hales suggested an SMEC machine. After negotiations between Hales

and AHL, AHL agreed to purchase a floor model from Chicago. Id. ¶¶ 14-17; Declaration of Paul

Johnson (“Johnson Decl.”) ¶¶ 6-7. Hales sent a purchase order for the machine to SMEC, a New

Jersey-based company, and provided payment to SMEC in New Jersey. Compl. ¶¶ 6-7. SMEC

shipped the floor model from Chicago to AHL in Minnesota. Johnson Decl. ¶ 11.

Shortly after the purchase, the SMEC machine allegedly became unusable. Compl. ¶ 13.

AHL and Hales informed Plaintiff of the problem, and Hales sent technicians to try and repair the

machine. Compl. ¶ 14; Jones Cert. ¶¶ 18-19; Johnson Decl. ¶ 14. Defendants (it is unclear which

one) submitted a warranty claim to SMEC, Jones Decl. ¶ 20, and SMEC agreed to replace the

2 The factual background is taken from Plaintiff’s Complaint and the parties’ declarations and

certifications submitted in connection with the motions to dismiss. When deciding a motion to

dismiss for improper venue, a court accepts all well-pleaded allegations regarding venue as true,

“draws all reasonable inferences from those allegations in the plaintiffs’ favor, and resolves any

factual conflicts in the plaintiffs’ favor.” Shah v. Centurum, Inc., No. 10-2015, 2011 WL 1527334,

at *2 (D.N.J. Apr. 20, 2011) (internal punctuation omitted). A court, however, “may examine facts

outside the complaint to determine whether venue is proper” and need not accept plaintiffs’

allegations if “they are contradicted by the defendant’s affidavits.” Id. (internal quotations

omitted).

machine, Compl. ¶ 16. Plaintiff paid to ship and install the replacement machine to AHL’s facility

in Minnesota. Id. ¶ 17; Jones Decl. ¶ 20. Hales then retrieved the second machine in California

and brought it to Minnesota. Declaration of Peter Jung (“Jung Decl.”) ¶ 6, D.E. 12-1.

The second SMEC machine also failed. Compl. ¶ 18. “All or most of SMEC’s subsequent

phone, email, and fax communications with Hales . . . occurred from its New Jersey office.” Jung

Decl. ¶ 7. Once again, Hales sent a member of its service team to inspect the machine, Jones Cert.

¶ 21, and two SMEC employees also tried to fix the machine. Jung Decl. ¶ 10. One of the SMEC

employees traveled from New Jersey to Minnesota. Id. After SMEC was unable to fix the

machine, AHL rescinded its acceptance of the machine and demanded a refund. Compl. ¶¶ 19-21.

AHL represents that it attempted to resolve the dispute with SMEC without litigation.

After SMEC refused AHL’s attempts, however, AHL mailed SMEC a copy of a complaint that it

intended to file in Minnesota regarding the defective machines. Declaration of Matthew Robinson

(“Robinson Decl.”) ¶¶ 2-4, D.E. 10-1. Approximately ten days later, Plaintiff filed the instant

action. Id. ¶ 4. Plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment stating that it fully performed under the

sales agreement (Count One) and Hales breached the contract (Count Two). Plaintiff also asserts

disparagement (Count Two) and negligence (Count Four) claims against Hales based on Hales’

alleged representations to AHL about the machine’s design flaws and manufacturing defects. D.E.

1. Defendants subsequently filed the instant motions to dismiss. Hales seeks to dismiss the

Complaint for improper venue, lack of personal jurisdiction, and failure to state a claim. D.E. 8.

AHL contends that the Complaint should be dismissed for improper venue, or in the alternative,

transferred to the District of Minnesota. D.E. 10.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Dismissal for Improper Venue

Defendants maintain that this matter must be dismissed because Plaintiff brought suit in an

improper venue. See, e.g., AHL Br. at 7-11. Federal Civil Rule of Procedure 12(b)(3) permits a

court to dismiss a matter that is filed in an improper venue. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(3). A district

court has broad discretion in determining whether to dismiss or transfer a case due to improper

venue. See Konica Minolta, Inc. v. ICR Co., No. 15-1446, 2015 WL 9308252, at *5 (D.N.J. Dec.

22, 2015). But “dismissal is considered to be a harsh remedy and transfer of venue to another

district court in which the action could originally have been brought[ ] is . . . preferred.” Id.

(quoting NCR Credit Corp. v. Ye Seekers Horizon, Inc., 17 F. Supp. 2d 317, 319 (D.N.J. 1998)).

The “defendant[s]…bear the burden of showing improper venue.” Myers v. Am. Dental Ass’n,

695 F.2d 716, 724-25 (3d Cir. 1982).

Venue is governed exclusively by the relevant federal laws. Atl. Marine Constr. Co., Inc.

v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for the W. Dist. of Tex., 571 U.S. 49, 55 (2013). 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) provides

that a civil action may be brought in

(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.

28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(1)-(3). If a case falls into at least one of the Section 1391(b) categories, venue

is proper. Atl. Marine Constr. Co., Inc., 571 U.S. at 55.

The parties focus solely on Section 1391(b)(2), which, as noted, provides that a case may

be brought in a district where “a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim

occurred.” 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2). To make this determination, courts look at the nature of the

dispute and “the location of those events or omissions giving rise to the claim.” Bockman v. First

Am. Mktg. Corp., 459 F. App’x 157, 161 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting Cottman Transmission Sys., Inc.

v. Martino, 36 F.3d 291, 294 (3d Cir. 1994)). “Events or omissions that might only have some

tangential connection with the dispute in litigation are not enough.” Cottman Transmission Sys.,

Inc., 36 F.3d at 294. The statute, however, “does not require a majority of events to take place” in

a chosen venue. Park Inn Int’l, L.L.C. v. Mody Enters., Inc., 105 F. Supp. 2d 370, 376 (D.N.J.

2000). Consequently, multiple fora may be appropriate venues. “[T]here can be more than one

place in which a ‘substantial part’ of the acts or omissions occurred” and a court is not required to

determine “the ‘best’ forum” See Ferratex, Inc. v. U.S. Sewer & Drain, Inc., 121 F. Supp. 3d 432,

438–39 (D.N.J. 2015).3

Defendants argue that New Jersey is an improper venue because the relevant events and

conduct occurred in Minnesota, not New Jersey. See AHL Br. at 7-11; Hales Br. at 12-13.

Defendants point to the fact that they are both Minnesota corporations and both machines were

shipped to, and used in, Minnesota. Compl. ¶¶ 7, 14, 17-19. Defendants continue that AHL

negotiated and ultimately purchased the first machine from Hales. Defendants contend that their

3 In arguing that venue is improper, AHL relies in part on Tifa Limited v. Republic of Ghana, 692

F. Supp. 393, 405 (D.N.J. 1988). In Tifa, the court addressed venue for actions brought under the

Foreign Services Immunities Act (“FSIA”), which is a different standard than determining venue

for civil cases under Section 1391(b). See Tifa, 692 F. Supp. at 405 (explaining that “courts have

required extensive events or omissions giving rise to a claim to occur in the forum in order for

venue to be appropriate under the FSIA venue provision”).

negotiations occurred exclusively in Minnesota. Johnson Decl. ¶ 6. Finally, Defendants note that

the attempts to fix both machines occurred in Minnesota. Id. at ¶¶ 15, 22-23.

While much of the relevant conduct clearly took place in Minnesota, critical decisions and

events also occurred in New Jersey. Specifically, Hales was a distributor for SMEC and contacted

SMEC in its New Jersey office about the two machines at issue. Jones Cert. ¶ 4; Jung Decl. ¶ 7.

Hales contacted SMEC in New Jersey to order the first machine, Jung Decl. ¶ 6, and sent payment

to New Jersey, id. ¶ 9. Moreover, SMEC sent the sales agreement and related documents,

including manuals, from its New Jersey office. Id. ¶ 8; Compl. ¶ 9. After the first machine failed,

Defendants notified Plaintiff and one of the Defendants submitted a warranty claim to SMEC.

Jones Cert. ¶ 20; Johnson Decl. ¶ 14. While not explicitly stated, the Court infers that these

conversations occurred with SMEC’s employees in New Jersey. In addition, SMEC agreed to

replace the first machine, making arrangements to do so from New Jersey. Johnson Decl. ¶ 16;

Jung Decl. ¶ 6.

The New Jersey conduct relates to Plaintiff’s claims. First, two of Plaintiff’s claims pertain

to the sales agreement, Compl. ¶¶ 24, 29-30. Although AHL maintains that the negotiations for

purchase occurred solely between AHL and Hales in Minnesota, Johnson Decl. ¶ 7, Hales notified

Plaintiff about the purchase in New Jersey and SMEC sent Hales the contract from New Jersey,

Jung Decl. ¶ 8. Thus, it appears that the contract originated from New Jersey. Plaintiff’s remaining

claims involve Hales’ allegedly false communications to AHL. Compl. ¶¶ 26, 33. In essence,

Plaintiff alleges that it provided Hales with information and manuals regarding safe and proper use

of the machines but Hales did not convey this information to AHL. Id. ¶ 9. As discussed, Hales

communicated with SMEC’s employees in New Jersey, Jung Decl. ¶ 7, and the manuals and

information were purportedly created and sent from New Jersey. Compl. ¶ 9; Jung Decl. ¶ 8.

The Court cannot conclude that conduct in New Jersey is tangential to Plaintiff’s claims.

Hales contacted Plaintiff in New Jersey to purchase the first machine, Plaintiff sent the contract

from New Jersey, decisions regarding the replacement machine occurred within the state, both

Defendants communicated with Plaintiff in New Jersey about the machine’s defects, and Hales

communicated with Plaintiff in New Jersey about the machines use and capabilities. Accordingly,

a substantial part of the events occurred in this state, such that venue is appropriate under 28 U.S.C.

§ 1391. Defendants’ motions are denied on these grounds.

B. Transfer pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a)

AHL also argues that this case should be transferred to the District of Minnesota under 28

U.S.C. § 1404(a). AHL Br. at 11-19. Because New Jersey is a proper venue, the Court turns to

AHL’s alternative argument to transfer under Section 1404(a).4 See Ferratex, Inc., 121 F. Supp.

3d at 437 (explaining that “if Defendants cannot sustain their burden of showing that venue is

improper under § 1391(b)(2), then the Court will apply § 1404(a)”).

Section 1404(a) provides that “[f]or the convenience of the parties and witnesses, in the

interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division

where it might have been brought or to any district or division to which all parties have consented.”

28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). Accordingly, “Section 1404(a) provides for the transfer of a case where both

the original and requested venue are proper.” Jumara v. State Farm Ins. Co., 55 F.3d 873, 878 (3d

Cir. 1995). “The moving party bears the burden of establishing that the transfer is appropriate and

must establish that the alternate forum is more convenient than the present forum.” Ferratex, Inc.,

4 Hales maintains that the Complaint should be dismissed as to it for lack of personal jurisdiction

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2). Hales Br. at 8-11. A transferor court does

not need personal jurisdiction over every defendant to transfer pursuant to Section 1404(a).

Rappoport v. Steven Spielberg, Inc., 16 F. Supp. 2d 481, 507 (D.N.J. 1998). Consequently, the

Court does not reach Hales’ personal jurisdiction argument.

121 F. Supp. 3d at 440. Ultimately, the Section 1404 analysis “is flexible and must be made on

the unique facts of each case.” Ricoh Co., Ltd. v. Honeywell, Inc., 817 F. Supp. 473, 479 (D.N.J.

1993).

In conducting a § 1404(a) analysis, a court must first determine whether a plaintiff could

have brought suit in the proposed forum. Santi v. Nat’l Bus. Recs. Mgmt., LLC, 722 F. Supp. 2d

602, 606 (D.N.J. 2010). Plaintiff does not argue that the District of Minnesota is an improper

forum. As discussed, AHL and Hales’ negotiations regarding the initial purchase occurred in

Minnesota, both machines were used and failed in Minnesota, and the attempts to repair also

occurred in the state. Consequently, venue is also proper in the District of Minnesota pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2).

The Court, therefore, turns to the second prong of its Section 1404(a) analysis, whether

transfer would be in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses. 28

U.S.C. § 1404(a). “[C]ourts decide whether to grant a § 1404(a) transfer by evaluating various

private and public interests.” In re Howmedica Osteonics Corp., 867 F.3d 390, 401 (3d Cir. 2017).

The private interest factors include the following:

[T]he plaintiff’s forum preference as manifested in the original

choice, the defendant’s preference, whether the claim arose

elsewhere, the convenience of the parties as indicated by their

relative physical and financial condition, the convenience of the

witnesses, and the location of books and records.

Id. at 402 (quoting Jumara, 55 F.3d at 879). The public interest factors include:

The enforceability of the judgment, the relative administrative

difficulty in the fora resulting from court congestion, the local

interest in deciding local controversies at home, the public policies

of the fora, and the familiarity of the trial judgment with the

applicable state law in diversity cases.

Id.

As to the private interest factors, AHL contends that Plaintiff’s choice of forum should be

given little deference because the substantive events did not occur in New Jersey and neither

Defendant is in the state. AHL Br. at 13-14. SMEC counters that its choice of forum should be

given greater weight because its principal place of business is in New Jersey. AHL Opp. at 9-10.

Although a plaintiff’s choice of forum is of “paramount concern,” it is “neither dispositive of the

transfer analysis nor is it the only factor to be considered.” Ricoh Co., Ltd., 817 F. Supp. at 480.

As discussed, much of the relevant conduct occurred in Minnesota. But certain events did occur

in New Jersey--Plaintiff’s choice of forum and its principal place of business. As a result, this

factor weighs against transfer.

Next, AHL argues that the evidence in this matter, in the form of witness testimony and

physical evidence, is predominantly located in Minnesota. AHL Br. at 14-15. Relatedly, AHL

maintains that transferring this matter to Minnesota would be more convenient for the parties and

witnesses. Id. at 15-16. SMEC counters that the convenience for AHL’s witnesses is immaterial,

and the location of physical evidence does not support a transfer. AHL Opp. at 11-15. Plaintiff

continues that all evidence can be transferred to New Jersey and witnesses can also travel to this

district for trial, if necessary. Id. Although Plaintiff is correct that witnesses and evidence can be

produced within this state, asking Defendants’ witnesses to travel to a different state and

transferring evidence, including heavy machinery, from Minnesota to New Jersey will likely cause

needless expenses. While the Court is aware that certain evidence and witnesses are in New Jersey,

it seems that asking SMEC’s witnesses to travel and moving any paper evidence from New Jersey

to Minnesota is less cumbersome. Finally, while this Court determined that a substantial part of

the events took place in New Jersey, most of the relevant conduct took place in Minnesota. As a

result, the remaining private interest factors weigh towards transfer. In sum, even giving deference

to Plaintiff’s choice of forum, the private interest factors weigh towards transferring this matter to

Minnesota.

As for the public interest factors, AHL maintains that practical considerations of trial weigh

towards transfer because most of the witnesses are in Minnesota. As a result, logistical

arrangements were this case to proceed to trial would be easier because witnesses would not need

to travel. AHL Br. at 17. Plaintiff argues this case should be transferred because there is nothing

in the record demonstrating that witnesses could not travel to New Jersey. AHL Opp. at 12.

Although the Court is aware that Plaintiff is in New Jersey, both Defendants are based in

Minnesota. In addition, while not raised by either party, the Court notes that any non-party witness

who lives in Minnesota would likely be outside of this Court’s subpoena power. See Fed. R. Civ.

P. 45(c)(1). As a result, because two out of the three parties (and their witnesses) are in Minnesota,

litigating this case will likely be more efficient in Minnesota.

AHL also argues that the public interest factors weigh towards transfer because the District

of Minnesota’s docket is not as congested as the District of New Jersey. Id. at 18. SMEC maintains

that this factor alone cannot serve as the basis for transfer. AHL Opp. at 15. In June of 2022, the

weighted filings per judge in New Jersey were 659 while the weighted filings per judge in

Minnesota were 391. In addition, there were 14,268 filings in New Jersey compared to 8,943

filings in Minnesota. See U.S. Courts, Statistics & Reports,

https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics/table/na/federal-court-management-statistics/2022/06/30-3.

While Plaintiff is correct that this factor is not dispositive, it does weigh slightly towards transfer.

The remaining public interest factors are neutral. AHL concedes that a judgment could be

enforced in either state. AHL Br. at 17. And, as discussed, while much of the conduct occurred

in Minnesota, certain events did occur in New Jersey and Plaintiff is in New Jersey. Accordingly,

this case implicates local interests and certain public policies in both states. Finally, AHL states

that Minnesota law would likely apply in this matter. AHL Br. at 19. Without delving into a

choice of law analysis, the Court is more than able to apply Minnesota law and a judge in the

District of Minnesota is equally able to apply New Jersey law, if necessary.

Viewed together, the public interest factors also weigh in favor of transfer. Because the

private and public interest factors weigh towards transfer, the Court will transfer this matter under

28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). AHL’s motion is granted on these grounds.5

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, and for good cause shown,

IT IS on this 4th day of October, 2022,

ORDERED that Hales Machine Tool, Inc’s motion to dismiss (D.E. 8) is DENIED with

respect to its arguments for dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3).

Because the Court did not reach its arguments for dismissal pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6), the motion is DENIED without prejudice on these grounds. If

it chooses to do so, Hales may reassert these arguments in the District of Minnesota; and it is

further

ORDERED that Defendant Aggressive Hydraulics Leasing Company’s motion (D.E. 10)

is DENIED as to its arguments for dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3);

and it is further

5 Because the Court is transferring this matter, it will not address Hales’ Rule 12(b)(6) arguments

for dismissal.

ORDERED that Defendant Aggressive Hydraulics Leasing Company’s motion (D.E. 10)

is GRANTED as to its argument to transfer the matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a); and it is

further

ORDERED that the Clerk’s Office shall transfer this matter to the District of Minnesota.

Qe 1.08. N99

John: Michael Vazquez,U-S.D.J.

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