David Moreno Construction, Inc. v. Frontier Steel Buildings Corp., No. 1:2008cv00854 - Document 66 (E.D. Cal. 2009)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER denying 49 Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration, signed by Judge Oliver W. Wanger on 11/9/2009. (Kusamura, W)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 DAVIS MORENO CONSTRUCTION, INC., 10 11 Plaintiff, 12 vs. 13 14 FRONTIER STEEL BUILDINGS CORPORATION, 15 Defendant. 16 17 18 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. CV-F-08-854 OWW/SMS MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION (Docs. 42 and 49) By Memorandum Decision filed on May 26, 2009, (Doc. 37) 19 Defendant Frontier Steel Buildings Corporation s ( Frontier ) 20 motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint filed by Plaintiff Davis 21 Moreno Construction, Inc. ( Davis or DMCI ) for lack of 22 personal jurisdiction and for change of venue or to transfer was 23 denied. 24 10, 2009. 25 26 The Order denying Frontier s motion was filed on June On June 23, 2009, Frontier filed a motion for reconsideration pursuant to Rules 52 and 59, Federal Rules of 1 1 2 Civil Procedure. Davis contends that Frontier s reliance on Rule 52 and 59 in 3 seeking reconsideration is misplaced. Rule 52 pertains to 4 findings of fact and conclusions of law and judgment on partial 5 findings. 6 amending a judgment. 7 dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 8 12(b)(2), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; there are no findings 9 of fact and conclusions of law or judgment on partial findings, Rule 59 pertains to a new trial or altering or The Court denied Frontier s motion to 10 nor was there a trial or a judgment to be altered or amended. 11 addition, both of these rules contain time limits, i.e., motions 12 under these rules must be filed no later than ten days after 13 entry of judgment. 14 have been based on Rule 60(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 15 16 17 18 In Davis argues that Frontier s motion should Frontier replies that Rule 52 applies to Rule 12 motions. Frontier refers to Rule 52(a)(3): The court is not required to state findings or conclusions when ruling on a motion under Rule 12 or 56 or, unless these rules provide otherwise, on any other motion. 19 Frontier also refers to Rule 52(b): 20 21 22 23 On a party s motion filed no later than 10 days after the entry of judgment, the court may amend its findings - or make additional findings - and may amend the judgment accordingly. The motion may accompany a motion for a new trial under Rule 59. 24 Frontier also refers to Rule 59(e): A motion to alter or amend a 25 judgment must be filed no later than 10 days after the entry of 26 the judgment. Frontier construes these provisions as applying 2 1 to a Rule 12 motion and cites Beentjes v. Placer County Air 2 Pollution Control District, 254 F.Supp.2d 1159, 1161 n.2 3 (E.D.Cal.2003) for the proposition that Rule 59(e) permits 4 motions for reconsideration even though no trial has taken place. 5 Frontier asserts that [s]uch an application of the rule would 6 permit additional evidence or hearing. 7 Beentjes involved a motion for reconsideration after denial 8 of the defendant s motion for summary judgment. 9 Judge Damrell stated: 16 Defendant s motion, brought pursuant to both Rule 59 and 60, is titled Notice of Motion and Motion to Alter Order and/or Motion for New Trial and/or Motion for Reconsideration. While defendant periodically requests a new trial in addition to relief from the court s December 23, 2002 order throughout its motion, the court notes that no trial has taken place in this action. Thus, the court disregards defendant s request for a new trial and interprets defendant s motion as one for reconsideration pursuant to either Rule 59(e) or 60(b). 17 Frontier also cites United States v. Westland Water District, 134 18 F.Supp.2d 1111 (E.D.Cal.2001), which considered Rules 59(e) and 19 60(b) in addressing a motion to reconsider a ruling on cross- 20 motions for summary judgment. 21 to argue that the Court need treat this motion for 22 reconsideration as a Rule 60(b) motion. 10 11 12 13 14 15 23 Frontier relies on this authority Resolution of the appropriate procedural basis for this 24 motion is unnecessary. Denial of a motion to dismiss for lack of 25 personal jurisdiction is an interlocutory order; it is not 26 immediately appealable absent certification by the District Court 3 1 for interlocutory appeal. Cassirer v. Kingdom of Spain, 580 F.3d 2 1048 (9th Cir.2009); Lucas v. Natoli, 936 F.2d 432, 433 (9th 3 Cir.1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1073 (1992). 4 Memorandum Decision and the Order are interlocutory, discretion 5 exists to reconsider. 6 Bakersfield, 634 F.Supp. 656, 665 (E.D.Cal.1986), aff d in part 7 and rev d in part on other grounds, 828 F.2d 514 (9th Cir.1987), 8 cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1015 (1988). 9 not intended as mere first drafts, subject to revision and Because the Kern-Tulare Water Dist. v. City of [T]his Court s opinions are 10 reconsideration at a litigant s pleasure. 11 Co. v. Gulfco Indus., Inc., 123 F.R.D. 282, 288 (N.D.Ill.1988). 12 Courts have distilled various grounds for reconsideration of 13 prior rulings into three major grounds for justifying 14 reconsideration: (1) an intervening change in controlling law; 15 (2) the availability of new evidence or an expanded factual 16 record; and (3) need to correct a clear error or to prevent 17 manifest injustice. 18 Rule 78-230(k)(3), Local Rules of Practice, the party seeking 19 reconsideration has the duty to indicate in an affidavit or 20 brief, as appropriate, what new or different facts or 21 circumstances are claimed to exist which did not exist or were 22 not shown upon such prior motion, or what other grounds exist for 23 the motion, and why facts or circumstances were not shown at 24 the time of the prior motion. 25 26 Quaker Alloy Casting Kern-Tulare Water Dist., id.. Pursuant to Davis does not respond to the substantive arguments made in the motion for reconsideration. Davis contends that the motion 4 1 is procedurally defective because no affidavit has been submitted 2 pursuant to Rule 78-230(k)(3) and that Frontier s motion is in 3 essence re-arguing its prior motion, relying on the same evidence 4 and arguments. 5 An affidavit is not necessarily required; Rule 78-230(k)(3) 6 allows the basis for reconsideration to be stated in a brief. 7 Frontier further requests the Court take judicial notice of the 8 affidavits and briefs filed in connection with the motion to 9 dismiss. 10 Frontier seeks reconsideration of the decision not to 11 enforce the choice of law clause in the final Purchase Order that 12 [t]his PURCHASE ORDER shall be construed and enforced under the 13 laws of the State of Colorado. 14 transfer the action to the United States District Court for the 15 District of Colorado pursuant to the doctrine of forum non 16 conveniens, the Memorandum Decision ruled in pertinent part: 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 In denying Frontier s motion to Colorado has a substantial relationship to the parties and to the transaction. Frontier is domiciled in Colorado, the engineering and fabrication of the steel building by Frontier occurred in Colorado. Because Colorado has such a substantial relationship, it must be determined whether Colorado s law is contrary to a fundamental policy of California. Restatement Second of Conflict of Laws, § 187, Comment g, provides: To be fundamental, a policy must in any event be a substantial one. Except perhaps in the case of contracts relating to wills, a policy of this sort will rarely be found in a requirement, such as the statute of frauds, that relates to 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 formalities ... Nor is such a policy likely to be represented by a rule tending to become obsolete, such as a rule concerned with the capacity of married women ..., or by general rules of contract law, such as those concerned with the need for consideration ... On the other hand, a fundamental policy may be embodied in a statute which makes one or more kinds of contracts illegal or which is designed to protect a person against the oppressive use of superior bargaining power. Statutes involving the rights of an individual insured as against an insurance company are an example of this sort ... To be fundamental within the meaning of the present rule, a policy need not be as strong as would be required to justify the forum in refusing to entertain suit upon a foreign cause of action under the rule of § 90. Davis contends that California public policy favors the application of its own laws to those contracts which are to be performed in California, citing California Civil Code § 1646: A contract is to be interpreted according to the law and usage of the place where it is to be performed; or, if it does not indicate a place of performance, according to the law and usage of the place where it is made. Section 1646 does not articulate a fundamental policy of the state of California; Section 1646 may be negated by a valid choice-of-law provision in a contract. 23 24 25 26 Davis, noting that the FAC alleges that Frontier did not possess a California contractor s license, contends that California public policy generally requires those who work in California to be licensed by California. California Business & 6 1 Professions Code § 7026 provides that, for purposes of the license requirements: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Contractor for the purposes of this chapter, is synonymous with builder and, within the meaning of this chapter, a contractor is any person who undertakes to or offer to undertake to, or purports to have the capacity to undertake to, or submits a bid to, or does himself or herself or by or through others, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building ... or other structure, project, development or improvement, or to do any part thereof, including the erection of scaffolding or other structures or works in connection therewith, ... and whether or not the performance of work herein described involves the addition to, or fabrication into, any structure, project, development or improvement here described of any material or article of merchandise. Contractor includes subcontractor and specialty contractor .... 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 California Business & Professions Code § 7031 provides: (a) Except as provided in subdivision (e), no person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor, may bring or maintain any action, or recover in law or equity in any action, in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract where is license is required by this chapter without alleging that he or she was a duly licensed contractor at all times during the performance of that act or contract, regardless of the merits of the cause of action brought by the person, except that this 7 1 2 3 prohibition shall not apply to contractors who are each individually licensed under this chapter but who fail to comply with Section 7029. 8 (b) Except as provided in subdivision (e), a person who utilizes the services of an unlicensed contractor may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state to recover all compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor for performance of any act or contract. 9 ... 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (e) The judicial doctrine of substantial compliance shall not apply under this section where the person who engaged in the business or acted in the capacity of a contractor has never been a duly licensed contractor in this state. However, notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 143, the court may determine that there has been substantial compliance with licensure requirements under this section if it is shown at an evidentiary hearing that the person who engaged in the business or acted in the capacity of a contractor (1) had been duly licensed as a contractor in this state prior to the performance of the act or contract, (2) acting reasonably and in good faith to maintain proper licensure, (3) did not know or reasonably should not have known that he or she was not duly licensed when performance of the act or contract commenced, and (4) acted promptly and in good faith to reinstate his or her license upon learning it was invalid. 25 26 In Hydrotech Systems, Ltd. v. Oasis Waterpark, 52 Cal.3d 370 (1991), the Supreme 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Court held that Section 7031 barred an action by an out-of-state corporation that subcontracted to provide labor and materials for a wavemaking machine in a water park project against the project s owners to recover its payment, regardless of the unique nature of the service provided or the fact that it was an isolated transaction in California. The Supreme Court explained: The purpose of the licensing law is to protect the public from incompetence and dishonesty in those who provide building and construction services ... The licensing requirements provide minimal assurance that all persons offering such services in California have the requisite skill and character, understand applicable local laws and codes, and know the rudiments of administering a contracting business .... 13 14 15 16 17 Section 7031 advances this purpose by withholding judicial aid from those who seek compensation for unlicensed contract work. The obvious statutory intent is to discourage persons who have failed to comply with the licensing law from offering or providing their unlicensed services for pay. 18 ... 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Hydrotech claims the law s interests in competence and public protection were not disserved in this case because its agreement to design and construct the surfing pool for Oasis was an isolated California transaction. However, as the Court of Appeal observed, It is manifest that the concern for the public inherent in section 7031 is just as applicable to a project done by an out-of-state contractor with few jobs in California as to a project done by 9 1 2 3 4 5 a California contractor who performs only one job in California before going out of business. That Hydrotech s activities in California were isolated is not clear from the pleadings, but even if they were, there is no implied exception for isolated transactions by foreign contractors .... 6 7 8 9 10 11 Hydrotech also begs the question by suggesting that Oasis need for its unique skills should exempt it from section 7031. As noted, the licensing law achieves its protective purpose by requiring that a contractor s competence and qualifications, however unique, be examined and certified by the expert agency charged with the law s enforcement. 12 52 Cal.3d at 995-997. 13 14 15 16 17 18 Contracts by unlicensed contractors are considered illegal, i.e., malum prohibitum as opposed to malum in se. Ranchwood Communities Limited Partnership v. Jim Beat Construction Co., 49 Cal.App.4th 1397, 1409 (1996), citing S & Q Construction Co. v. Palma Ceia Development Organization, 179 Cal.App.2d 364, 367 (1960); see also MW Erectors, Inv. v. Niederhauser Ornamental and Metal Works Co., Inc., 36 Cal.4th 412, 435436 (2005): 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Generally a contract made in violation of a regulatory statute is void. Under this general rule, where a law requires, for regulatory rather than revenue purposes, that one procure a license before offering or performing certain services and provides a penalty for violation, the contract of an unlicensed person to perform such services will not be upheld ... This rule is based on the rationale that the public importance of discouraging 10 1 2 such prohibited transactions outweighs equitable considerations of possible injustice between the parties. ... .... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 See also California Business & Professions Code § 7028(a)(making it a misdemeanor for a person to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor within California without having a license); California Business & Professions Code §§ 7028.3, 7028.4 (allowing registrar to apply to Attorney General or district attorney for injunction restraining unlicensed contractor). California s statutes requiring that contractors be licensed in California is fundamental. According to the CLSI National Contractor License Service website, in Colorado: State license required for electrical, asbestos removal, plumbers and pesticides trade; no state license for general contracting. Licensing may be required on a city or county level. See also Walker Adjustment Bureau v. Wood Bros. Homes, Inc., 41 Colo.App. 26, 582 P.2d 1059, 1063 (1978)( Colorado does not require state licensing of construction contractors. ) 5 Bruner & O Connor Construction Law § 1622, states that [a]s a general rule, unless a statute provides otherwise, one who has already paid an unlicensed contractor or design professional is not entitled to recover it. California is one of the few jurisdictions that statutorily permits a contractee to seek disgorgement of monies paid to an unlicensed contractor. Id. Colorado law is contrary to California s fundamental policy of California of limiting unlicensed contractors. As Davis contends, [a]llowing Colorado law to govern would be a vehicle by which out of state contractors could circumvent California s Contractor s State Licensing Law and the policies it seeks to advance among which include offering unlicensed services for pay. Because of this conclusion, it must be determined whether California has a materially greater interest than Colorado in 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 the determination of the particular issue. [A] court can decline to enforce the parties contractual choice-of-law provision only if the interests of the forum state are materially greater than those of the chosen state, and the forum state s interests would be more seriously impaired by enforcement of the parties contractual choice-of-law provision than would the interests of the chosen state by application of the law of the forum state. Application Group, Inc. v. Hunter Group, Inc., 61 Cal.App.4th 881, 898899 (1998). California s interests are materially greater than those of Colorado. Frontier is alleged to be an unlicensed contractor who performed work on a California public works project located in California. California s interests in protecting the public from unlicensed contractors would be more seriously impaired if the choice-of-law provision were enforced. Colorado has no commensurate statutory scheme, policy or interest. For these reasons, the contractual choice-oflaw provision is unenforceable. The factor of the state most-familiar-with governing-law weighs in favor of Davis for this reason. As to the plaintiff s choice of forum, Davis was entitled by virtue of the forum selection clause to bring this action in California. (Doc. 37, 38:22-45:17). In seeking reconsideration of this ruling, Frontier contends 19 that DMCI did not allege that Frontier was an unlicensed 20 contractor who performed work on a California public works 21 project but, rather, alleged that Frontier Steel did not possess 22 a valid California Contractor s License. 23 Frontier contends that DMCI s allegations are careful to narrow 24 its scope, referring to the allegation in Paragraph 20 that 25 Frontier Steel submitted a bid on a California Public Works 26 construction project where it offered to construct and erect the 12 (FAC, Paragraph 20). 1 subject steel building thereby requiring it to be duly licensed 2 by the California Contractor s Board; the allegation in 3 Paragraph 31 that Frontier Steel submitted a bid to construct 4 and erect a steel building in connection with the Project ... and 5 did not disclose that it did not possess a California 6 Contractor s License; and the allegation in Paragraph 32 that 7 the suppression of the fact Frontier Steel did not possess a 8 contractor s license was likely to mislead plaintiff and did in 9 fact mislead plaintiff in the light of other representations made 10 by defendant by submitting a bid for work which requires a 11 contractor s license. 12 Plaintiff allege that Frontier, pursuant to its contract - not 13 its bid, performed a specific act in California on the Project 14 which required a contractor s license. 15 DMCI s affidavits in opposition to Frontier s motion to dismiss 16 or transfer did not address the question. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Frontier argues that [n]owhere does Frontier contends that Frontier asserts: [N]o fact implicates the California contractor licensing statute in this case. The allegations of the Amended Complaint, Second Cause of Action, as a matter of law, do not state facts which place Frontier within the contractor licensing disgorgement statute. Section 7031(a) and (b), B&PC, contemplates limiting legal actions by a contractor, or disgorgement from a contractor only for the performance of any act or contract. ... (This issue as now framed is analogous to Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim with respect to Davis Second Cause of Action.) 24 Frontier notes that the Memorandum Decision concluded that [t]he 25 evidence does not establish that Frontier and Davis agreed that 26 13 1 Frontier would erect the building. (Doc. 37, 22:26-23:1). 2 Frontier contends that its uncontroverted affidavits show that 3 Frontier s sole performance were acts in Colorado to design and 4 pre-engineer the steel building and acquire the steel. 5 argues that these were the acts of a supplier, designer and 6 engineer, not a contractor. 7 is devoid of facts upon which this Court may base a finding and 8 conclusion of law that the California Contractor Licensing 9 statute may apply to Frontier and that [n]o authority has been 10 cited to support the proposition that an out of state supplier is 11 subject to the California Contractor Licensing statute. 12 Frontier asserts, without citation to authority, that 13 architects, designers, steel manufacturers and fabricators, and 14 truckers are not a contractor within the meaning of the 15 California Contractor Licensing statute. Frontier Frontier contends that the record 16 The Memorandum Decision relied on the following facts: 17 On October 8, 2007, Davis obtained a bid from Frontier, addressed to contractors/estimators, for pre-engineered bldg. The bid is for $145,494 and further states: Erecting: We can assist you in erecting this structure for this price $ 70, 750.00. (Stephen Davis Decl., Ex. A.). Stephen Davis, president of Davis, avers that submission of the bid to contractors/estimators typically means that the proposal went to all of the generals that were bidding the job. (Id., ¶ 4). Davis was the low bidder and was awarded the job by the School District and listed Frontier as one of the subcontractors (Id., ¶ 5). By letter dated December 7, 2007, Davis notified Frontier of its intent to issue a subcontract to Frontier ... in the amount of $145,494.00 for Pre-Engineered Metal Building 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 14 1 2 in accordance with the Plans and Specifications by BFGC Architects Planners Inc., and Addendums No. 1 thru 5. (Id., Ex. B). Mr. Davis avers: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 7. Thereafter, on December 13, 2007, Davis Moreno sent to Frontier ... a Purchase Order for the steel dated December 11, 2007, attached as Exhibit C. On January 10, 2008, Davis Moreno received a modified Purchase Order by fax transmission from Frontier ... This document is attached as Exhibit D. On the same day, I signed a Purchase Order, subject to the conditions set forth in my letter I wrote to Miranda Bresnick at Frontier ... outlining what Davis Moreno was agreeable relative to the Purchase Order. A true and correct copy of the letter and signed Purchase Order are attached as Exhibit E. Exhibit C to Mr. Davis declaration, the initial Davis Purchase Order contains no forum selection or choice of law provision. The initial Davis Purchase Order states: 15 Furnish: 16 17 18 19 Complete per plans, specifications, Specification Section 13122 Metal Building Systems including any and all addendums as prepared by BFGC Architects Planners Inc. and as called for Kern HSD Records Retention Facility Project 20 21 for a total amount of $145,494.00. The initial Davis Purchase Order does not specify that Frontier would also erect the building. 22 23 24 Exhibit D to Mr. Davis declaration, the Frontier Purchase Order, faxed to Davis by Frontier in response to Davis December 13, 2007 Purchase Order, contains the following provision: 25 26 This PURCHASE ORDER shall be construed and enforced under the 15 1 2 3 4 laws of the state of Colorado ... Purchaser consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the district court in and for the county of Douglas, State of Colorado. No actions may be commenced other than in the district court, County of Douglas, State of Colorado. 5 The Frontier Purchase Order also stated: 6 Supply as follows: 7 ... 8 1.0 Primary and Secondary Steel 9 10 2.0 Standing Seam Rod Panels 24" Coverage 24 GA 11 3.0 Metal Panels at the Roof Mechanical Screen 12 13 4.0 Steel Framing for Mechanical Screen 14 5.0 Mansard Rigid Frames 15 6.0 Metal Deck on Mansard Frames 16 7.0 Soffit Structure at Overhangs 17 8.0 6" Metal Stud and Parapet Framing 18 9.0 Internal Gutters 19 10.0 Gutters and Downs 20 11.0 Full Trim Package 21 22 23 24 25 26 for an amount due of $145,494.00. There is no mention in the Frontier Purchase Order that Frontier would also erect the building. The Frontier Purchase Order states: It is the building s purchaser s responsibility to obtain experienced personnel, proper tools and equipment to erect this building in a safe competent and 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 professional manner. Exhibit E to Mr. Davis declaration is the January 10, 2008 letter from Davis to Frontier concerning the final purchase order for the Project, and stating that [t]hese following clarifications, based on our discussion, shall also be made part of the terms of the final purchase order. The January 10, 2008 letter states in pertinent part that Davis will sign the Purchase Order provided by Frontier, instead of the Purchase Order provided by Davis, with the following provisions that paragraph 6 will be changed to assert that the prevailing jurisdiction for any legal action filed will be determined by the complaining party. The January 10, 2008 letter concluded: 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Your quote also asserted that you would provide a building erector for the sum of $70,750.00. After receiving quotes from the recommended erectors, we are now faced with quotes that exceed your originally quoted amount by over 10%. As discussed during our conversation, DMCI though disappointed that your original quote is now being exceeded, would absorb this cost increase. This again is being done in the spirit of cooperation. We expect that Frontier Steel will accept our final revisions to the purchase order, and proceed with the timely submission of shop drawings as required and promised. We also request that Frontier Steel take all steps to incur timely fabrication and delivery of the product as we discussed. 22 23 24 Mr. Davis avers that, [a]fter Frontier received my letter of January 10, 2008, they proceeded to perform under the agreement, which included the agreement as to how jurisdiction would be established. 25 From the Court s research, California Business and 26 17 1 Professions Code § 7045 provides: 6 This chapter does not apply to the sale or installation of any finished product, materials, or articles of merchandise that do not become a fixed part of the structure, nor shall it apply to a material supplier or manufacturer furnishing finished products, materials, or articles of merchandise who does not install or contract for the installation of those items .... 7 ... 2 3 4 5 8 California Business and Professions Code § 7052 provides that 9 [t]his chapter does not apply to any person who only furnishes 10 materials or supplies without fabricating them into, or consuming 11 them in the performance of, the work of the contractor. 12 In WSS Industrial Construction, Inc. v. Great West 13 Contractors, Inc., 162 Cal.App.4th 581 (2008), WSS, a steel 14 subcontractor, sued the general contractor, Great West, to 15 recover for work WSS performed under a subcontract with Great 16 West for improvements on a public works project. 17 bid proposal to Great West to perform steel construction work on 18 the project. 19 for but not yet obtained a corporate contractor s license. 20 bid proposal was subsequently incorporated into a subcontract 21 with Great West. 22 that the drafting of shop drawings and ordering of anchor bolts 23 was not work performed under the contract, but prefatory tasks 24 for which the corporation was not required to be licensed. 25 Cal.App.4th at 592. 26 WSS submitted a At the time WSS submitted its bid it had applied The Among other issues raised on appeal, WSS argued 162 The Court of Appeal rejected the argument: WSS prepared shop drawings detailing the 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 steel work it intended to perform on the project and specifying how [it was] going to build the canopies, and submitted those drawings to the project architects and engineers for approval. A contractor includes one who, like WSS, offers to undertake ... or purports to have the capacity ... or submits a bid to do specific acts defined by statute as work engaged in by a contractor, including the construction, alteration or repair of any part of any building, structure or project. (§ 7026.) Shop plans constitute such an offer or bid. Through them WSS purported to possess the capacity to undertake the steel work and construction it proposed to perform on the project within the meaning of section 7026, and thus was acting as a contractor. WSS was required to possess a contractor s license when its submitted its shop plans specifying the scope of the structural steel construction it intended to perform on a public works project. (See §§ 6737.3 [exempting licensed contractors from requirements applicable to civil engineers for, among other things, designing structures for work the contractor is to perform and supervise, in accordance with construction industry standards and codes and within his or her license classification, and for the preparation of shop or field drawings for work he or she has contracted to perform], 6731 [defining scope of civil engineering].) The public has a right to expect the party designing such plans - the improper implementation of which could have serious consequences at a school for deaf children will, at a minimum, have the qualifications required and to possess a valid contractor s license. 21 22 23 24 25 26 The same logic negates WSS s assertion it was not required to be licensed to order materials meant to be incorporated in the ultimate construction, or because it did not perform the steel galvanization itself, but coordinated and oversaw that process which was actually performed by a third party vendor. Section 7026 plainly states that both the person who provides construction services himself and one who does so through 19 others qualifies as a contractor. The California courts have also long held that those who enter into construction contracts must be licensed, even when they themselves do not do the actual work under the contract ... Indeed, if this were not the rule, the requirement that general contractors be licensed would be completely superfluous. ... The reason contractors must be licensed even if they hire subcontractors to do the actual work is so that the public is protected, against persons who are unqualified to perform the required work. ... The same reasoning governs the services subcontractor WSS provided in ordering and overseeing the preparation of materials ultimately intended to be incorporated in the project, i.e., to become part of an integrated whole. .... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Id. at 592-593. Here, Frontier agreed to provide a Pre-Engineered Metal 13 Building, pursuant to plans and specifications prepared by BFGC 14 Architects Planners Inc. 15 Frontier would prepare shop designs and provide materials for the 16 pre-engineered metal building. 17 that Frontier would erect the building. 18 Construction, Inc. negates Frontier s contention that it was not 19 required under these circumstances to be a licensed contractor. 20 Consequently, Frontier is not entitled to reconsideration on this 21 ground. Frontier s agreement provided that Frontier and Davis did not agree However, WSS Industrial 22 Frontier moves for reconsideration of the denial of 23 Frontier s motion to transfer the action to the United States 24 District Court pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens 25 on the ground that there is insufficient evidence to support the 26 application of the Contractor Licensing statute policies to this 20 1 case. 2 subject to California s contractor s licensing provisions. 3 However, for the reasons stated above, Frontier is Frontier also argues that the Court should reconsider the 4 factors of cost and availability of process. 5 Decision stated: 6 7 8 The Memorandum As to the differences in the costs of litigation in the two forums, this factor weighs in favor of Davis. Davis list of prospective witnesses is substantially larger than that of Frontier. 11 As to the availability of compulsory process to compel attendance of unwilling non-party witnesses, this factor weighs in favor of Davis because Davis has listed more non-party witnesses than Frontier, who lists only one. 12 Frontier argues that the factor of costs should be 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 reconsidered in Frontier s favor: The relative circumstances of Frontier and Davis Moreno render the costs a more significant factor for Frontier as a small operation than for Davis, even though Davis costs may be somewhat greater with more witnesses. Trial in California, and its costs ... place Frontier at a severe disadvantage compared to its opponent. 18 Frontier is not entitled to reconsideration of this factor. 19 All of this was known, the alleged economic extremis of Frontier 20 was emphasized and fully considered by the Court in denying 21 Frontier s motion for transfer pursuant to forum non conveniens. 22 Litigation in the United States District Court for the District 23 of Colorado will cost more for Davis than litigation in 24 California will cost Frontier. 25 Frontier argues that the factor of availability of process 26 21 1 should be reconsidered in Frontier s favor because of the 2 conveniences of modern litigation and because Davis additional 3 witnesses represent the owner of the project, the school 4 district. 5 Frontier is not entitled to reconsideration of this factor. 6 Kern Unified School District is not a party to this litigation 7 and its employees are non-party witnesses. 8 entity dependent on public funds that will be subjected to 9 greater litigation expense. This is a public Davis listed three other non-party 10 witnesses who are not employees of Kern Unified School District. 11 Reconsideration on this ground is inappropriate. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Frontier moves for reconsideration of the denial of Frontier s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The Memorandum Decision ruled: Davis has established purposeful availment by Frontier because, although Frontier s bid was in response to Davis s solicitation of subcontractor bids for the Project, Frontier knowingly and intentionally shipped its product to California for inclusion in the Project. By shipping its product to California for inclusion in the Project, Davis [sic] obtained the protections of the laws of California pertaining to the rights of subcontractors. To some extent, Frontier s motion for reconsideration 22 appears to challenge the underlying merits. 23 that its declarations and evidence in support of the motion to 24 dismiss establish that Frontier did not offer to construct and 25 erect the building and that there is no evidence of strict time 26 requirements or delays to rebut Frontier s evidence of 22 Frontier contends 1 performance of the contract. 2 base its decision on Frontier s agreement to erect the building, 3 specifically stating: The evidence does not establish that 4 Frontier and Davis agreed that Frontier would erect the 5 building. 6 breached the contract by alleged delay in compliance with its 7 terms does not negate Frontier s contact with the forum, i.e., 8 that it shipped its product to California for inclusion in a 9 California public works project. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 The Memorandum Decision did not (Doc. 37, 22:26-23:1). Whether or not Frontier Frontier contends that Davis s claims arise out of contract, not tort. Frontier asserts: It is not a case of a corporation placing its products into the stream of commerce for the use of general consumers. It is a bargained for service and supply contract. All of the material allegations of the complaint have been controverted by affidavit and the affidavits of Frontier have not been rebutted by affidavit by Davis. It is distinguishable in that it is a supply and professional services contract; not a standard construction subcontract for services onsite. Indeed, it is not a subcontract at all. At the hearing on February 2, 2009, Davis confirmed that its contract with Frontier did not incorporate Davis own contract with the Kern Unified School District. Frontier argues that the line of cases most analogous are 22 those involving professional services and that the case which 23 demonstrates the circumstances most analogous to this case is 24 Sher v. Johnson, 911 F.2d 1357 (9th Cir.1990). 25 26 In Sher, federal officials arrested Sher in California in connection with criminal charges brought against him in Florida. 23 1 Sher and his wife retained Nolan, a California attorney, to 2 assist in Sher s defense and to help Sher retain suitable Florida 3 counsel to try the case. 4 interviewed numerous attorneys, settling on a Florida law 5 partnership. 6 individual defendants were Florida residents, licensed to 7 practice law only in Florida. 8 Sher gave Johnson, the lead Florida attorney, a retainer check. 9 Later, Johnson sent a letter to Sher in California detailing the 10 retainer agreement, which Sher signed and mailed back to Johnson 11 in Florida. 12 partnership sent bills to the Shers in California; Mrs. Sher sent 13 checks to the partnership, drawn on a California bank, in payment 14 for legal services. 15 the retainer agreement, the Shers executed a deed of trust and 16 promissory note in favor of the partnership, encumbering the 17 Shers Los Angeles residence. 18 the deed of trust was not recorded. 19 California to meet with the Shers or Nolan on three occasions. 20 He was the only partner to travel to California in connection 21 with Sher s defense. 22 phone calls to the Shers in California and sent them various 23 communications by mail. 24 of extortion and several RICO violations. 25 trial, Johnson was being investigated for violations of the Hobbs 26 Act by the U.S. Attorney s Office that prosecuted Sher. Sher and Nolan flew to Florida and The law firm was a Florida partnership and all the At a meeting at the Tampa Airport, During the course of the representation, the To secure these payments, and pursuant to Nolan held the deed of trust, but Johnson traveled to Johnson and another partner made several A federal jury in Tampa convicted Sher 24 At the time of Sher s Johnson 1 did not disclose this fact to Sher and Sher did not discover the 2 investigation until after his conviction. 3 reversed Sher s conviction on several grounds, including that 4 Johnson s conflict of interest between defending Sher and 5 defending himself violated Sher s right to competent counsel. 6 The Shers filed a complaint for legal malpractice against 7 Johnson, other individual partners, and the partnership in the 8 Central District of California. 9 action for lack of personal jurisdiction. The Eleventh Circuit The district court dismissed the The Ninth Circuit 10 ruled that personal jurisdiction over the partnership in 11 California existed: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Although some of Sher s claims sound in tort, all arise out of Sher s contractual relationship with the defendants. In such a case, the mere existence of a contract with a party in the forum state does not constitute sufficient minimum contacts for jurisdiction. Burger King, 471 U.S. at 478 ... Instead, we must look to prior negotiations and contemplated future consequences, along with the terms of the contract and the parties actual course of dealing to determine if the defendant s contacts are substantial and not merely random, fortiutous, or attentuated. .... 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Here, it is undisputed that a Florida law firm represented a California client in a criminal proceeding in Florida. As normal incidents of this representation the partnership accepted payment from a California bank, made phone calls and sent letters to California. These contracts, by themselves, do not establish purposeful availment; this is not the deliberate creation of a substantial connection with California ..., nor is it the promotion of business within California. For one thing, the business that the partnership promoted was legal representation in Florida, not 25 4 California. Moreover, the partnership did not solicit Sher s business in California; Sher came to the firm in Florida. There is no substantial connection with California because neither the partnership nor any of its partners undertook any affirmative action to promote business within California. 5 ... 6 ... Out-of-state legal representation does not establish purposeful availment of the privilege of conducting activities in the forum state, where the law firm is solicited in its home state and takes no affirmative action to promote business within the forum state. This, of course, is not the end of the matter; the Shers allege several additional contacts between the partnership and California. For example, on three occasions Johnson traveled to Los Angeles to meet with the Shers and Nolan in connection with the partnership s representation of Sher. Even this action, however, when combined with the firm s underlying representation of a California client, does not constitute purposeful availment of the privilege of conducting activities within California. 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 The trips to California were incident to the Florida representation. It may be said, of course, that by coming to California in connection with the representation, the partnership conducted its business in that state. We do not believe, however, that in the context of the parties actual course of dealing, ... the partnership was availing itself of any significant California privilege by coming into the state to talk to its client. The three trips to California were discrete events arising out of a case centered entirely in Florida; they appear to have been little more than a convenience to the client, who would otherwise have had to travel to Florida. We find these contacts too attenuated to create a substantial connection with California. 25 26 The same cannot be said when we consider in addition the deed of trust. To secure the 26 partnership s payment for Sher s legal representation, the Shers executed a deed of trust in favor of the partnership, encumbering the Shers California home. By requiring the execution of a deed to California real estate, the partnership was looking to the laws of California to secure its right to payment under its contract with Sher. The execution of the deed contemplated [significant] future consequences in California; perfection of the partnership s security interest would require filing in the California recorder s office; judgment on the deed would require the application of California law; enforcement of such a judgment would require the action of a California court. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The deed represented a significant contact with California. We need not decide, however, whether standing on its own, the deed would constitute a substantial connection with California for jurisdictional purposes. For, looking at the partnership s entire course of dealing with the Shers related to this contract, including the calls and letters, the trips and the deed, we conclude that the partnership invok[ed] the benefits and protections of the laws of California for purposes of jurisdiction. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Id. at 1362-1364. 18 jurisdiction over the individual partners in California did not 19 exist: 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 However, the Ninth Circuit ruled that personal The Shers contend, without benefit of case support, that because the liability of the partnership would establish joint and several liability of each individual partner ..., jurisdiction over the partnership establishes jurisdiction over the partners. The Shers are wrong. Liability and jurisdiction are independent. Liability depends on the relationship between the plaintiff and the defendants and between the individual defendants; jurisdiction depends only upon each defendant s relationship with the forum ... Regardless of their joint liability, 27 1 jurisdiction over each defendant must be established individually. 2 ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... In this case, the district court has jurisdiction over only those individual partners who personally established the requisite minimum contacts with California. There are no such partners. Johnson represented Sher, a California resident, made phone calls and sent letters to California in the course of the representation, and traveled to California on three occasions to service his client. He was not, however, a beneficiary of the deed of trust; only the partnership was. Such contacts alone do not constitute purposeful availment in California .... 11 12 13 14 15 16 There is also no jurisdiction over Hayes and Paniello. Hayes represented a California client, and made phone calls and sent letters to California during the course of the representation, but he had no other relevant contacts with the state. Paniello had no involvement with the Sher representation; indeed, he wasn t even part of the firm during much of the representation. As there is no jurisdiction over Johnson, there is ... no jurisdiction over Hayes or Paniello. 17 Id. at 1363-1364. 18 Frontier argues that it stands in the same shoes as the 19 individual partners in Sher. Frontier contends: 20 21 22 23 To paraphrase the Court in Sher, out-of-state engineering services do not establish purposeful availment of the privilege of conducting activities in the forum state, where the firm is solicited in its home state and takes no affirmative action to promote business within the forum state. 24 25 26 Here, Frontier was solicited on the internet by Kern Unified School District its potential general contracts including Davis [sic]. Here, the contract was consummated in 28 Colorado. Here, Davis has offered no evidence that Frontier took affirmative action to promote business within California. 1 2 Frontier is not entitled to reconsideration on this ground. 3 4 This case law was available to cite, but adds nothing to the 5 analysis. 6 Building, prepare shop designs and provide materials for the pre- 7 engineered metal building to be delivered for a public works 8 project in California. Frontier agreed to provide a Pre-Engineered Metal Sher is not analogous. Frontier again cites Lakeside Bridge & Steel Co. v. Mountain 9 10 State Constr. Co., 497 F.2d 496 (7th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 445 11 U.S. 407 (1980), for the proposition that delivery of steel does 12 not support personal jurisdiction. 13 addressed Lakeside; the Court reached a different conclusion. 14 Frontier merely reiterates an argument previously made and 15 rejected by the Court. The Memorandum Decision fully Finally, Frontier argues that the reasonableness prong of 16 17 the specific jurisdiction test should be reconsidered on the 18 basis that California s Contractor Licensing statute is not 19 properly before this Court. 20 ground for reconsideration is without merit. For the reasons stated, Frontier s motion for 21 22 reconsideration is DENIED ON ALL GROUNDS. IT IS SO ORDERED. 23 24 For the reasons stated above, this Dated: 668554 November 9, 2009 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 25 26 29
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