Geller et al v. Von Hagens et al, No. 8:2010cv01688 - Document 93 (M.D. Fla. 2011)
Court Description: ORDER denying 53 Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction and the defendant has 10 days to answer the complaint. Signed by Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich on 6/6/2011. (SN)
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Geller et al v. Von Hagens et al Doc. 93 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION ARNIE GELLER, DR. HONGJIN SUI, DALIAN HOFFEN BIO-TECHNIQUE CO., LTD., and DALIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY PLASTINATION CO., LTD., Plaintiffs, v. CASE NO.: 08:10-cv-01688-EAK-AEP GUNTHER VON HAGENS, PLASTINATION COMPANY, INC., and INSTITUTE FOR PLASTINATION Defendants. ORDER ON DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Defendant, Institute for Plastination's ("IfP"), Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 57) for lack of personal jurisdiction and the response (Doc. 67) in opposition by the Plaintiffs. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Arnie Geller, Dr. Hongjin Sui, Dalian Hoffen Bio-Technique Co. Ltd., and Dalian Medical University Plastination Co., Ltd. (collectively "Plaintiffs") brought suit against Dr. Gunther von Hagens, Plastination Company, Inc. and the Institute for Plastination (collectively "Defendants") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, alleging two counts against the Defendants: Count I is for defamation; and Count II is for tortious interference. Dockets.Justia.com The parties to this suit are involved in the business of preserving and exhibiting plastinated bodies. The process of plastination makes it possible to preserve biotic specimens, including organs as well as entire human bodies. Dr. von Hagens, Plastination Company, Inc., ("PCI"), and the Institute for Plastination ("IfP") are involved in the production of "Body Worlds," which is a traveling exhibit showing plastinated bodies. Plaintiff Arnie Geller was President, CEO and Chairman of another company, Premier, which, like Defendant Plastination, was involved in the production and operation of another traveling exhibit showing plastinated bodies - "Bodies ... The Exhibition." Accordingly, Plastination and Premier were each other's competitors. Both competitors promoted their exhibitions in the state of Florida. The "Body Worlds" exhibition was held in Tampa for six months in 2009. Similarly, "Bodies ... The Exhibition" featured plastinated bodies in museums in Tampa, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale between 2005 and 2008. Further, Premier is a Florida corporation and Plaintiff, Arnie Geller, is a resident of Palm Beach County. IfP is in the business of medical education and research and is contracted to provide a variety of services to "Body Worlds" exhibitions. It is a sole proprietorship based out of Heidelberg, Germany, and has thirty employees. Dr. von Hagens is the founder of IfP and now serves as its director of science. In the Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 48), Plaintiffs allege that von Hagens directed a former employee and agent of the Defendants, Deqiang Sun ("Sun"), to make false statements to an investigative journalist of the television network, ABC; these false statements involved the Plaintiffs' plastination operations. Plaintiffs contend that von Hagens was the source of the false information and that when von Hagens acted, he did so as an agent of IfP. On February 15. 2008, a nationally televised "investigative news story" aired on the ABC program, 20/20, and, the Plaintiffs allege, published inflammatory and false statements about Plaintiffs. In their Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 48), Plaintiffs set out six specific and allegedly defamatory statements that were aired on the Broadcast and published on the internet and for which von Hagens, as an agent of IfP, is allegedly the source: (1) the bodies for the "Bodies ... the Exhibition" were purchased on China's "black market," and were bodies of tortured, abused and executed Chinese prisoners; (2) dealers made "body runs" to the "black market" and purchased bodies which included executed prisoners for approximately $200-300; (3) executed bodies were located in a rotting warehouse in northern China; (4) von Hagens stated it was quite normal that executed prisoners were used for anatomical purposes in China; (5) the bodies were obtained illegally; and (6) the bodies which were either obtained from the "black market" or otherwise illegally obtained were used in "Bodies ... the Exhibition." Plaintiffs allege that these statements were made with the intent to economically harm them. Plaintiffs further maintain that as a result of the statements they have suffered financial damages, and have been injured in their profession, trade and business reputation. Defendant IfP now moves to dismiss Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 48) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2). It asserts the absence of personal jurisdiction under the Florida long-arm statute, § 48.193, Florida Statutes, as well as under the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. In response, Plaintiffs assert that both the long-arm statute and the Due Process Clause support personal jurisdiction in Florida. DISCUSSION A determination as to personal jurisdiction requires an analysis (1) of whether the state long-arm statute authorizes personal jurisdiction and (2) of whether the defendant possesses "minimum contacts" with the forum state sufficient to comport with "traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice." Horizon Aggressive Growth. L.P. v. Rothstein-Kass, P.A., 421 F.3d 1162, 1166- 67 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting Int'l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945)). 1. Section 48.193, Florida Statutes Section 48.193 provides that: (1) Any person, whether or not a citizen or resident of this state, who personally or through an agent does any of the acts enumerated in this subsection thereby submits himself or herself and, if he or she is a natural person, his or her personal representative to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for any cause of action arising from the doing of any of the following acts: (b) Committing a tortious act within this state. The Eleventh Circuit interprets § 48.193 (1)(b) as applicable to defendants who have committed tortious acts outside the state that cause injury in Florida. 4 Posner v. Essex Ins. Co., Ltd.. 178 F. 3d 1209, 1217 (11th Cir. 1999). Thus, "[t]he alleged tortfeasor's physical presence [in Florida] is not required." Horizon Aggressive Growth, LP. v. Rothstein-Kass, P.A., 421 F.3d 1162, 1168 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting Wendt v. Horowitz, 822 So. 2d 1252, 1260 (Fla. 2002)). Further, a tortious act committed by a non-resident defendant is sufficient for the establishment of § 48.193 (1)(b) when the injurious material is circulated or published within the state, whether or not the defendant is the actual publisher of the alleged tortious statement. Madara v. Hall, 916 F.2d 1510, 1515 (11th Cir. 1990) (finding that the requirements of the Florida long-arm statute were met when a defendant's alleged libelous statement was made to a reporter in California and subsequently printed in a magazine that was distributed in Florida). Similarly, posting allegedly defamatory material about a Florida resident on a website which is both "accessible in Florida and accessed in Florida" constitutes a tortious act sufficient to support personal jurisdiction under §48.193(1)(b). Internet Solutions Corp. v. Marshall. 611 F.3d 1368, 1370-1371 (11th Cir, 2010) (citing Internet Solutions Corp. v. Marshall, 39 So. 3d 1201 (Fla. 2010) (finding that "[b]y posting allegedly defamatory material on the [w]eb about a Florida resident, the poster has directed the communication about a Florida resident to readers worldwide, including potential readers within Florida.")). Section 48.193(1) of Florida's long-arm statute encompasses acts "[done] personally or through an agent." Thus, § 48.193(1)(b) applies to tortious acts committed by the defendant itself or by a person acting as its agent. Under Florida law, "apparent agency can arise . . . when the principal by its actions creates a reasonable appearance of authority." Borg-Warner Leasing, a Div. of Borg-Warner Acceptance Corp. v. Doyle Eleo, 733 F.2d 833, 836 (11th Cir. 1984). In moving to dismiss, IfP argues that § 48.193(1 )(b) is not satisfied with regard to its defamation count because it did not commit a tortious act directed toward the Plaintiffs. IfP contends that, von Hagens, the alleged source of the defamatory statements, is not its agent. It asserts that von Hagens' role with the organization as science director is a limited one and through that role he does not have the power to bind IfP. In response, Plaintiffs rely on Borg-Warner Leasing, a Div. of Borq-Warner Acceptance Corp. v. Doyle Eleo, and contend that von Hagens is in fact an agent of IfP. Specifically, Plaintffs argue that the frequent reference to von Hagens' founding and involvement with IfP, reflected on IfP's website, allows for a reasonable inference that von Hagens is an agent of IfP under the doctrine of apparent authority. See Borg-Warner Leasing, 733 F. 2d at 836. Under Florida case law, a question of agency is reserved for the trier of fact when resolution of the issue depends on the inferences to be drawn from the facts adduced. Borq-Warner Leasing, 733 F.2d at 836 (citing Amerven, Inc. v. Abbadie, 238 So.2d 321, 322 (3d Fla.App.1970). Further, the Eleventh Circuit maintains that, "the district court must accept the facts alleged in the complaint as true, to the extent they are uncontroverted by the defendant's affidavits." Madara v. Hall, 916 F.2d 1510, 1514 (11th Cir. 1990) (quoting Morris v. SSE, Inc., 843 F.2d 489, 492 (11th Cir. 1988)). Additionally, where the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's affidavits conflict, the district court must construe all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. Id. Therefore, at this stage of the proceedings, the Court will accept the facts as alleged by the Plaintiffs, that von Hagens is an agent of IfP, as true. Plaintiffs further rely on Madera v. Hall and argue that personal jurisdiction is proper because an intentional tort was committed by von Hagens while acting as IfP's agent. Specifically, Plaintiffs allege they were defamed when von Hagens arranged for false statements to be made to ABC that were later broadcasted and directed at Florida. Plaintiffs assert that ABC is a national network and von Hagens was well aware that that the 20/20 broadcast would be aired on U.S. television, including within the State of Florida. Finally, Plaintiffs contend that at the time of the broadcast, in addition to Premier being a Florida corporation and Geller residing in Palm Beach County, the Plaintiffs possessed a reputation in Florida and conducted business there through the exhibitions of "Bodies ... the Exhibition." The Plaintiffs allege that they have suffered financial damages, as well as injury to their profession, trade and business reputation as a result of the defamatory statements broadcasted on 20/20. In this instance, IfP is allegedly responsible for the false information being directed to ABC since von Hagens intended that it be broadcasted nationally. By airing these statements, von Hagens allegedly harmed the Plaintiffs' reputation in each forum in which the Plaintiffs' plastinated works are exhibited, including in Florida. In Madera and Internet Solutions, where (respectively) defamatory statements were made accessible to Florida residents through a magazine distributed in Florida and also through a website that could be accessed in Florida, the Eleventh Circuit found a sufficient basis for asserting jurisdiction under § 48.193(1 )(b). Accordingly, jurisdiction will be asserted here since the allegedly defamatory statements that harmed the Plaintiffs were broadcasted nationally and, thus, accessible to television viewers in Florida. 2. Due Process & Minimum Contacts In addition to personal jurisdiction under § 48.193, the plaintiffs must show that the defendants possess "minimum contacts" with Florida sufficient to comport with "traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice." New Lenox Indus., Inc. v. Fenton, 510 F. Supp. 2d 893, 903-904 (M.D. Fla. 2007). Jurisdiction may be constitutionally asserted over the nonresident defendant whenever he has by his own purposeful conduct created a "substantial connection" with the forum state. The Court has made clear, however, that "[s]o long as it creates a 'substantial connection' with the forum, even a single act can support jurisdiction." Intentional torts are such acts, and may support the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the nonresident defendant who has no other contacts over the forum. Licciardello v. Loveladv, 544 F.3d 1280, 1285 (11th Cir. 2008). Thus, personal jurisdiction over defendants may be based on the effects of their conduct in the forum state. Calderv. Jones, 465 U.S. 783, 789 (1984). Accordingly, if "a defendant's tortious conduct is intentionally and purposefully directed at a resident of the forum, the minimum contacts requirement is met and the defendant should anticipate being haled into that forum." Fenton, 510 F. Supp. 2d at 904. In the present case, IfP does not have an office in Florida, nor does it own or lease property in Florida. Additionally, IfP has no bank accounts 8 in Florida and has never paid taxes in Florida. In her Declaration (Doc. 53-2), Dr. Angelina Whalley, the sole proprietor and director of IfP, asserts that IfP's contacts with Florida are limited to the services it provided to the "Body Worlds" exhibition in Tampa. However, through the alleged actions carried out by von Hagens specified in the Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 48), IfP is responsible for an intentional tort. As an agent of IfP, von Hagens allegedly intended that defamatory information be broadcasted nationwide and, thus, directed at every state in which the Plaintiffs' plastinated displays might be exhibited. Due to the far-reaching nature of the 20/20 broadcast, von Hagens undoubtedly intended to reach a vast audience, including viewers in Florida. In addition to Premier being a Florida corporation and Geller residing in Palm Beach County, the Plaintiffs possess a reputation in Florida and conduct business there through "Bodies ... the Exhibition." The Plaintiffs allege that they have suffered financial damages, as well as injury to their profession, trade and business reputation as a result of the defamatory statements. Under Licciardello, von Hagen's alleged tortious conduct, which von Hagens directed at the Plaintiffs and which allegedly caused injury to the Plaintiffs in Florida, establishes IfP's minimum contacts with Florida since von Hagens allegedly acted as an agent for IfP. Further, asserting jurisdiction comports with traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. Florida possesses a substantial interest in adjudicating a dispute over alleged conduct that purportedly caused an injury within the state. The Plaintiffs need not travel to the defendant's state of residence in order to obtain a remedy. See Calder, 465 U.S. at 790. Accordingly, it is: ORDERED that Institute for Plastination's Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 57) be DENIED and the Defendant is directed to answer the complaint within ten days of this order. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Tampa, Florida, this tP June, 2011. Copies to: All parties and counsel of record. 10 . day of
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