Robinson Helicopter Co. Inc. v. Estate of Deodat P. Gangapersaud by and Through Grace Gangapersaud, as Personal Representative Thereof and Ryan Persaud
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledJune 22, 2022
Docket2D20-2470
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
SECOND DISTRICT
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY, INC.,
Appellant,
v.
GRACE GANGAPERSAUD, as personal representative of the Estate
of Deodat P. Gangapersaud deceased, RYAN PERSAUD;
LAVENDRANAUTH PERSAUD; HBD INDUSTRIES, INC.;
HBD/THERMOID, INC.; FSH MAINTENANCE, LLC; FLORIDA
SUNCOAST HELICOPTERS, LLC; and BC DENTAL, INC.,
Appellees.
No. 2D20-2470
June 22, 2022
BY ORDER OF THE COURT:
Upon consideration of appellee's motion for rehearing,
rehearing en banc, or certification of conflict, appellant's response,
and appellee's amicus brief of the Florida Justice Association in
support of the motion for rehearing, rehearing en banc, or
certification of conflict:
IT IS ORDERED that the motion for rehearing is granted to the
extent that the opinion dated January 5, 2022, is withdrawn and
the attached opinion is substituted therefor. The motions for
rehearing en banc and for certification of conflict are denied.
No further motions will be entertained.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE COPY OF THE
ORIGINAL COURT ORDER.
MARY ELIZABETH KUENZEL
CLERK
2
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
SECOND DISTRICT
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY, INC.,
Appellant,
v.
GRACE GANGAPERSAUD, as personal representative of the Estate
of Deodat P. Gangapersaud deceased, RYAN PERSAUD;
LAVENDRANAUTH PERSAUD; HBD INDUSTRIES, INC.;
HBD/THERMOID, INC.; FSH MAINTENANCE, LLC; FLORIDA
SUNCOAST HELICOPTERS, LLC; and BC DENTAL, INC.,
Appellees.
No. 2D20-2470
June 22, 2022
Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.130 from the Circuit Court for
Hillsborough County; Martha J. Cook, Judge.
Mark R. Antonelli and Emily C. Smith, Coral Gables, and Tim A.
Goetz, Torrence, California, for Appellant.
Thomas J. Seider of Brannock Humphries & Berman, Tampa, and
T. Patton Youngblood of Youngblood Law Firm, St. Petersburg, for
Estate of Deodat P. Gangapersaud by and through Grace
Gangapersaud, as Personal Representative thereof, and Ryan
Persaud, Appellees.
Stephen F. Rosenthal of Podhurst Orseck, P.A., Miami, for Amicus
Curiae The Florida Justice Association.
No appearance for remaining Appellees.
STARGEL, Judge.
Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc., appeals a nonfinal order
denying its motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction in
this action brought by Grace Gangapersaud, as personal
representative of the Estate of Deodat P. Gangapersaud, and Ryan
Persaud (collectively, the Estate). Because we conclude that the
trial court erroneously determined that personal jurisdiction existed
over Robinson, a nonresident entity based in California, we reverse.
Background
On March 31, 2019, Dr. Brent Mutton was flying an R44
helicopter owned by his dental practice, BC Dental, Inc., from
Naples to Cross City, Florida, when the engine unexpectedly lost
power, forcing him to land the aircraft in an empty field near
Tampa. Over the following days, Dr. Mutton communicated with
Robinson, the manufacturer, and FSH Maintenance, LLC, a local
service provider, in an effort to repair the helicopter.1 Robinson
1 During this time, the helicopter remained at the site of the
March 31 landing.
2
provided FSH with instructions for diagnosing and repairing the
helicopter as well as replacement parts to potentially fix the
problem.
On April 4, 2019, mechanics from FSH replaced the
helicopter's fuel pump with a replacement part sent by Robinson.
After FSH representatives were able to start the engine and hover
the helicopter for several minutes, it was decided that FSH would fly
the helicopter to its facility in Sarasota for further inspection. But
during the flight, the engine failed yet again, forcing the pilot to
attempt an emergency landing in a busy intersection in Tampa.
During the landing, one of the helicopter's rotor blades struck a
utility pole, causing a piece of the blade to break off and fly through
the windshield of a pickup truck sitting at the intersection. The
passenger, Deodat P. Gangapersaud, was killed instantly; the
driver, Ryan Persaud, suffered nonfatal injuries.
The Estate filed this action against Robinson, FSH, and
several other defendants in Hillsborough County circuit court. The
amended complaint asserted claims against Robinson for strict
liability and negligence based on a defective air inlet duct which
3
caused the engine failure as well as a separate negligence claim for
failing to properly diagnose, repair, and transport the helicopter.
Robinson moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.
In support, Robinson submitted sworn affidavits from three of its
employees, Peter Riedl, Patrick Cox, and Peter Hallqvist, contesting
the amended complaint's jurisdictional allegations. The Estate
opposed the motion, asserting that Robinson purposefully availed
itself of the privilege of doing business in Florida and that
Robinson's conduct giving rise to the claims against it supported a
finding of specific jurisdiction under Florida's long-arm statute.2
At the hearing on Robinson's motion, the Estate focused its
argument on the issue of specific jurisdiction.3 According to the
Estate, Robinson's involvement in the negligent diagnosis, repair,
and transport of the helicopter brought it within the ambit of
section 48.193(1)(a)2, Florida Statutes (2018), which provides for
2 See § 48.193, Fla. Stat. (2018).
3 Counsel for the Estate essentially conceded that general
jurisdiction was not appropriate in this case, noting that "in light of
the case law . . . it's tough for [the Estate] to establish general
jurisdiction over Robinson."
4
specific jurisdiction over a nonresident who "[c]ommit[s] a tortious
act within this state." In addition, the Estate also maintained that
specific jurisdiction existed under section 48.193(1)(a)6 because a
helicopter which was manufactured by Robinson caused injury
within the state.4
The trial court ultimately denied the motion, finding that
sufficient jurisdictional facts existed to bring the action within the
ambit of the long-arm statute and to establish the constitutionally
required minimum contacts. This appeal follows.
4 Section 48.193(1)(a)6 provides for jurisdiction over a person
who
[c]aus[es] injury to persons or property within this state
arising out of an act or omission by the defendant
outside this state, if, at or about the time of the injury,
either:
a. The defendant was engaged in solicitation or service
activities within this state; or
b. Products, materials, or things processed, serviced, or
manufactured by the defendant anywhere were used or
consumed within this state in the ordinary course of
commerce, trade, or use.
5
Analysis
Robinson contends that its motion should have been granted
because the trial court has neither general nor specific jurisdiction
over it. While the amended complaint pleaded grounds for both
general and specific jurisdiction, the Estate now asserts that "[t]he
existence of general personal jurisdiction is not at issue" in this
case. Based on this concession, we need only address the issue of
specific jurisdiction. Our standard of review for this issue is de
novo. See Camp Illahee Invs., Inc. v. Blackman, 870 So. 2d 80, 83
(Fla. 2d DCA 2003). To determine whether personal jurisdiction
exists over a nonresident defendant, courts must apply the two-step
test set forth in Venetian Salami Co. v. Parthenais, 554 So. 2d 499
(Fla. 1989). First, the court must determine whether the operative
complaint "alleges sufficient jurisdictional facts to bring the action
within the ambit of the [long-arm] statute." Id. at 502 (quoting
Unger v. Publisher Entry Serv., Inc., 513 So. 2d 674, 675 (Fla. 5th
DCA 1987)). "[I]f it does, the next inquiry is whether sufficient
'minimum contacts' are demonstrated to satisfy due process
requirements." Id. (quoting Unger, 513 So. 2d at 675).
6
The plaintiff bears the initial burden to allege a basis for
personal jurisdiction under the long-arm statute. See Rautenberg v.
Falz, 193 So. 3d 924, 928 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016). When alleging
specific jurisdiction under section 48.193(1), "due process
considerations also require the plaintiff to establish that the
nonresident defendant 'has sufficient minimum contacts with the
state so that the exercise of jurisdiction would not offend traditional
notions of fair play and substantial justice.' " Volkswagen
Aktiengesellschaft v. Jones, 227 So. 3d 150, 154 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017)
(quoting Teva Pharm. Indus. v. Ruiz, 181 So. 3d 513, 516 (Fla. 2d
DCA 2016)).
If the plaintiff meets this initial pleading requirement, the
defendant may contest the plaintiff's jurisdictional allegations by
filing a "legally sufficient affidavit or other sworn proof" to the
contrary.5 Rautenberg, 193 So. 3d at 928 (citing Hilltopper Holding
5 "To be legally sufficient, the defendant's affidavit must
contain factual allegations which, if taken as true, show that the
defendant's conduct does not subject him to jurisdiction. At this
stage, the defendant's affidavit must contest only the actual
jurisdictional facts—not the ultimate allegations of the complaint."
Hilltopper Holding Corp. v. Est. of Cutchin ex rel. Engle, 955 So. 2d
598, 601 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007) (first citing Acquadro v. Bergeron, 851
7
Corp. v. Est. of Cutchin ex rel. Engle, 955 So. 2d 598, 601 (Fla. 2d
DCA 2007)). "If the defendant's affidavit fully disputes the
jurisdictional allegations, then the burden shifts back to the
plaintiff to prove by affidavit or other sworn proof that there is a
basis for long-arm jurisdiction." Id. at 929 (citing Hilltopper, 955
So. 2d at 602). Should the plaintiff fail to produce sworn proof
refuting the defendant's allegations and establishing jurisdiction,
the defendant's motion to dismiss must be granted. Hilltopper
Holding Corp., 955 So. 2d at 602.
The Estate raises two grounds for specific jurisdiction over
Robinson in this case: first, that Robinson committed a tort within
this state, and second, that a product manufactured by Robinson—
the helicopter—caused injury within this state. While the trial
court's order does not specify under which provision of the long-
arm statute it found that it had personal jurisdiction over Robinson,
we conclude that jurisdiction does not exist under either theory.
So. 2d 665, 672 (Fla. 2003); then citing Capital One Fin. Corp. v.
Miller, 709 So. 2d 639, 640 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998); and then citing
Acquadro, 851 So. 2d at 669).
8
A. Committing a Tortious Act
The amended complaint alleges that Robinson's "negligent
actions and omissions pertaining to its involvement in the repair
and diagnosis of the helicopter," including its "furnishing of parts"
to FSH, its "collaboration" with FSH, and "the decision to transport
versus fly the helicopter [to FSH's facility in Sarasota]," contributed
to the crash. It further alleges that Robinson's actions in this
regard "inextricably link[] Robinson to, and create[] a substantial
connection with, Florida." According to the Estate, these allegations
establish personal jurisdiction under section 48.193(1)(a)2 of the
long-arm statute.
To support a finding of personal jurisdiction under section
48.193(1)(a)2, "[t]he statute expressly requires that the tort be
committed in Florida." Casita, L.P. v. Maplewood Equity Partners
L.P., 960 So. 2d 854, 857 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2007); see also Rautenberg,
193 So. 3d at 930 ("The statute's language 'necessarily focuses
analysis not on where a plaintiff ultimately felt damages, but where
a defendant's tortious conduct occurred.' " (quoting Metnick & Levy,
P.A. v. Seuling, 123 So. 3d 639, 645 (Fla. 4th DCA 2013))). There is
9
no question here that Robinson did not have any representatives in
Florida when any of the events in this case transpired.
"[A] defendant's physical presence," however, is not required
"in order to 'commit a tortious act' in Florida." Wendt v. Horowitz,
822 So. 2d 1252, 1260 (Fla. 2002). In Wendt, the court held that
the commission of a tortious act for the purposes of long-arm
jurisdiction "can occur through the nonresident defendant's
telephonic, electronic, or written communications into Florida" so
long as "the cause of action . . . arise[s] from the communications."
Id. Based on the holding in Wendt, the Estate argues that
Robinson's communications with FSH which form the basis of the
negligent repair claim satisfy this provision of the long-arm statute.
However, as this court has previously explained, "the Wendt
rule is applied when the tort 'involves some sort of communication
directed into Florida for purpose of fraud, slander, or other
intentional tort.' " Stonepeak Partners, LP v. Tall Tower Cap., LLC,
231 So. 3d 548, 554 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017) (quoting Wiggins v. Tigrent,
Inc., 147 So. 3d 76, 86 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014)).
The reasoning of the cases expanding the reach of
subsection (1)[(a)2] does not appear to have been used in
typical negligence actions, see Homeway Furniture Co. of
10
Mount Airy, Inc. v. Horne, 822 So. 2d 533, 537 (Fla. 2d
DCA 2002), but has been applied primarily to
defamation, slander, fraud, and other intentional torts.
See, e.g., Achievers Unlimited, Inc. v. Nutri Herb, Inc., 710
So. 2d 716 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998) (involving action for
defamation); Wood v. Wall, 666 So. 2d 984 (Fla. 3d DCA
1996) (involving action for fraud and racketeering); Silver
v. Levinson, 648 So. 2d 240 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994)
(involving action for defamation); Allerton v. State, Dep't of
Ins., 635 So. 2d 36 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994) (involving action
for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty); Int'l Harvester Co.
v. Mann, 460 So. 2d 580 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984) (involving
action for breach of fiduciary duty), disapproved of on
other grounds, Doe v. Thompson, 620 So. 2d 1004 (Fla.
1993). These cases have generally been based upon
common law theories and actions that a reasonable
person outside the State of Florida would expect to create
a cause of action in Florida.
Kountze v. Kountze, 996 So. 2d 246, 252 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008).
Contrary to the cases discussed in Kountze, the proffered basis
for jurisdiction in this case is a claim sounding in ordinary
negligence. While the Estate cites a sampling of decisions from
other districts finding personal jurisdiction over nonresident
tortfeasors based on communications directed into the state, the
vast majority of those cases also involved claims for defamation or
other intentional torts. See, e.g., Price v. Kronenberger, 24 So. 3d
775, 776 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009); Fletcher Jones W. Shara, Ltd. v.
11
Rotta, 919 So. 2d 685, 686 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Silver, 648 So. 2d at
241.
One exception is the First District's decision in Dean v. Johns,
789 So. 2d 1072 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001), which involved an action for
medical malpractice. There, the court held that the defendant, an
Alabama-based neurologist, had committed a tort in Florida for the
purposes of long-arm jurisdiction even though he was not present
for the plaintiff's treatment because the plaintiff's injuries occurred
in Florida and the Alabama doctor directed phone calls and reports
into the state for the purpose of treating the plaintiff. Id. at 1077.
We find Dean to be distinguishable from the instant case. The
facts of Dean reveal that the defendant accepted Dean as a patient,
rendered a diagnosis and recommended surgery, and reached out to
both Dean and her referring physician in Florida to discuss the
procedure. Id. at 1075. Here, the amended complaint alleges that
Robinson simply responded to Dr. Mutton and FSH's
communications by providing instructions and spare parts to
potentially repair the issue with the helicopter. This is a far cry
from the circumstances which led the court in Dean to conclude
12
that the defendant had committed a tort in Florida for the purposes
of long-arm jurisdiction.
Accordingly, based on the nature of the tort claim against
Robinson, we cannot conclude that the holding in Wendt
contemplates the exercise of specific jurisdiction in circumstances
such as those alleged in the amended complaint. Because the
amended complaint fails to sufficiently allege that Robinson
committed a tortious act in Florida under section 48.193(1)(a)2, it
fails under the first prong of Venetian Salami.
B. Causing Injury Within the State
As a separate basis for specific jurisdiction over Robinson, the
amended complaint alleges that Robinson is subject to personal
jurisdiction under section 48.193(1)(a)6 because Robinson
caus[ed] injuries to Plaintiffs and property in
Hillsborough County, Florida, on and after April 4, 2019,
by acts or omissions outside this State, . . . and, at the
time of said injuries, products, materials, or things
processed, serviced, or manufactured by [Robinson] were
used or consumed within this State in the ordinary
course of commerce, trade, or use.
Robinson claims it does not fall within the ambit of this
provision because it "did not manufacture or design the part upon
which Plaintiffs base their claim" and "did not perform any of the
13
maintenance actions which precipitated the Subject Accident."6
However, as the Estate correctly argues, "nothing in the long-arm
statute requires Robinson to be the manufacturer or designer [of]
the specific part that caused the accident." Rather, it is sufficient
that Robinson manufactured the helicopter which included the
defective part that allegedly caused the engine failure. See
Cunningham v. Lynch-Davidson Motors, Inc., 425 So. 2d 131, 133
(Fla. 1st DCA 1982) ("[T]he assembler of a product, which includes a
component part manufactured by another, who sells the
completed product as its own and thereby represents to the public
that it is the manufacturer is also considered the manufacturer of
the component part." (emphasis added)).
Because there is no dispute that Robinson assembled the
helicopter and sold it as its own, it makes no difference whether
Robinson manufactured the faulty air inlet duct which allegedly
caused the engine failure. Thus, Robinson has failed to refute the
Estate's claim that this provision of the long-arm statute applies.
6 Robinson does not dispute that the helicopter caused
injuries within this state or that the helicopter was being operated
in the ordinary course of use at the time of the accident.
14
Accordingly, we turn to the second step of the Venetian Salami
analysis—the constitutional requirement of minimum contacts.
"The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
constrains a State's authority to bind a nonresident defendant to a
judgment of its courts." Walden v. Fiore, 571 U.S. 277, 283 (2014)
(citing World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 291
(1980)). The Supreme Court has held that a nonresident defendant
must have certain "minimum contacts" with the forum state such
that the exercise of jurisdiction "does not 'offend traditional notions
of fair play and substantial justice.' " Int'l Shoe Co. v. Washington,
326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945) (quoting Milliken v. Meyer, 311 U.S. 457,
463 (1940)).
To establish minimum contacts in a case involving specific
jurisdiction, the plaintiff must show that the defendant's contacts
with the forum state
(1) are related to the plaintiff's cause of action or have
given rise to it, (2) involve some act by which the
defendant has purposefully availed itself of the privilege
of conducting activities within the forum, and (3) must be
such that the defendant should reasonably anticipate
being haled into court there.
15
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, 227 So. 3d at 154-55 (citing Moro
Aircraft Leasing, Inc. v. Int'l Aviation Mktg., Inc., 206 So. 3d 814, 817
(Fla. 2d DCA 2016)). In other words, "[f]or a State to exercise
jurisdiction consistent with due process, the defendant's suit-
related conduct must create a substantial connection with the
forum State." Walden, 571 U.S. at 284. In products liability
actions, "[t]he defendant's transmission of goods permits the
exercise of jurisdiction only where the defendant can be said to
have targeted the forum." J. McIntyre Mach., Ltd. v. Nicastro, 564
U.S. 873, 882 (2011).
In this case, Robinson claims that there are no minimum
contacts because the helicopter was not "purposefully directed" to
Florida—rather, it was sold to a dealer in Indiana before being
resold to BC Dental and later brought to Florida. The Estate
disagrees, arguing that purposeful availment is evidenced by the
existence of three Robinson-authorized dealers and eleven
authorized service centers in Florida, which allow owners of
Robinson helicopters to obtain maintenance all over the state. As
the Estate puts it, Robinson "sold its products knowing that they
would end up in Florida."
16
The Estate argues that the Supreme Court's recent decision in
Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court, 141 S. Ct.
1017 (2021), which was decided during the pendency of this appeal,
is directly on point. That case involved lawsuits in Montana and
Minnesota brought by plaintiffs who claimed that they had been
injured in accidents caused by defects in their Ford vehicles. Id. at
1022. Each action was filed in the state where the accident had
occurred which, in both instances, was also the plaintiff's home
state. Id. In both cases, the automobiles had been originally sold
in other states and brought to the respective forum states by later
resales and relocations. Id. at 1023.
Ford contested personal jurisdiction in both actions. Notably,
Ford agreed that it did "substantial business" in Montana and
Minnesota and had "purposefully avail[ed] itself of the privilege of
conducting activities" in those states. Id. at 1026 (alteration in
original) (quoting Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253 (1958)).
However, it argued that specific jurisdiction did not exist because
"those activities do not sufficiently connect to the suits" and that
jurisdiction attaches "only if the defendant's forum conduct gave
rise to the plaintiff's claims." Id. Instead, Ford claimed that specific
17
jurisdiction existed only in those states where Ford designed,
manufactured, or sold the respective vehicles. Id.
The Court rejected this "causation-only" approach, explaining
that the "most common formulation of the rule demands that the
suit 'arise out of or relate to the defendant's contacts with the
forum,' " and that "the back half [of that standard], after the 'or,'
contemplates that some relationships will support jurisdiction
without a causal showing." Id. (quoting Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v.
Superior Ct. of Cal., 137 S. Ct. 1773, 1780 (2017)). Also relevant is
whether "a corporation has 'continuously and deliberately exploited
[a State's] market,' " in which case "it must reasonably anticipate
being haled into" court there. Id. at 1027 (alteration in original)
(quoting Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U.S. 770, 781 (1984));
see also World-Wide Volkswagen, 444 U.S. at 297 ("[I]f the sale of a
product of a manufacturer or distributor . . . is not simply an
isolated occurrence, but arises from the efforts of the manufacturer
or distributor to serve directly or indirectly, the market for its
product in other States, it is not unreasonable to subject it to suit
in one of those States if its allegedly defective merchandise has
there been the source of injury to its owner or to others.").
18
Using this analysis, the Court determined that Ford had
sufficient suit-related contacts to locate personal jurisdiction in the
respective forum states. Id. at 1028. The Court noted that Ford
advertises the vehicle models involved in those states "[b]y every
means imaginable," including television, radio, print, and direct
mail; sells those models, new or used, at the many dealerships in
the states; distributes replacement parts to dealers and
independent auto shops in the states; and that its dealers in those
states regularly service those and other Ford models. Id. "In other
words, Ford had systematically served a market in Montana and
Minnesota for the very vehicles that the plaintiffs allege[d]
malfunctioned and injured them in those States." Id.
As such, the Court concluded that there was "a strong
'relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the litigation'—
the 'essential foundation' of specific jurisdiction." Id. (quoting
Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414
(1984)). By regularly conducting business in Montana and
Minnesota, Ford "enjoys the benefits and protection of [their] laws"
and "has 'clear notice' that it will be subject to litigation in [their]
courts when the product malfunctions there." Id. at 1029-30 (first
19
alteration in original) (first quoting Int'l Shoe, 326 U.S. at 319; and
then quoting World-Wide Volkswagen, 444 U.S. at 297). The Court
clearly stated that its decision would not mean "that any person
using any means to sell any good in a State is subject to
jurisdiction there if the product malfunctions after arrival." Id. at
1028 n.4. The Court further stated its intention to continue
"treat[ing] isolated or sporadic transactions differently from
continuous ones." Id.
The circumstances here are much different than in the Ford
case. For starters, recall that Ford conceded the issue of purposeful
availment—agreeing that it did substantial business in the forum
states—and focused its argument on whether the lawsuits "a[rose]
out of or relate[d] to" its contacts with the forum states. See id. at
1026. In this case, Robinson makes no such concession—and for
good reason.
Robinson Helicopter Company is no Ford Motor Company.
Ford is a universally acknowledged household name and markets
and advertises its products daily throughout the country. Ford has
dealers in every state and its products are sold and serviced
throughout the United States and beyond. Id. In the United States
20
alone, Ford annually distributes over 2.5 million new vehicles to
over 3,200 licensed dealerships. Id. Robinson, on the other hand,
is a comparatively small company with a single facility in California
which produced fewer than fifty helicopters in 2020. There is no
indication that Robinson engages in any targeted advertising in
Florida (or any other state), much less the types of "wide-ranging
promotional activities" which are commonplace for Ford.7
Moreover, while Robinson does maintain a list of "authorized"
dealers and service centers in various states, including Florida,
those businesses are separate entities; Robinson itself has no
employees, agents, or representatives in the state.
Clearly, the circumstances which led Ford to concede
purposeful availment in the Ford case are not present here.
Robinson has not "systematically" served a market in Florida for the
type of helicopter involved in this case. And while the particular
aircraft involved in this case malfunctioned and caused injury
7 As Justice Kagan observed in the Ford case, such
promotional activities include "television, print, online, and direct-
mail advertisements. No matter where you live, you've seen them:
'Have you driven a Ford lately?' or 'Built Ford Tough.' " 141 S. Ct.
at 1022.
21
within Florida, it had only been brought into the state after BC
Dental had purchased it from the dealer in Indiana. But as this
court has previously explained, the "unilateral activity of another
party" is not an appropriate consideration in the minimum contacts
analysis. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, 227 So. 3d at 158
(quoting Helicopteros, 466 U.S. at 417).
Nor can we conclude that the Estate's products-liability claims
against Robinson "arise out of or relate to" Robinson's contacts with
Florida. As explained above, Robinson did not direct the subject
helicopter into Florida nor has it continuously exploited the state's
market such that it must reasonably anticipate being haled into
court here. In fact, the few contacts Robinson had with Florida
which could plausibly be said to relate to this case were actually
created by FSH and Dr. Mutton who, as the record demonstrates,
reached out to Robinson for advice in repairing the helicopter. This
is insufficient to establish minimum contacts, as due process
requires that the defendant's relationship with the forum state
"must arise out of contacts that the 'defendant himself' creates with
the forum State." Walden, 571 U.S. at 284 (quoting Burger King
Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 475 (1985)).
22
Accordingly, we hold that Robinson lacks the constitutionally
required minimum contacts with Florida to support the exercise of
specific jurisdiction under section 48.193(1)(a)6 of the long-arm
statute. Because we also conclude that personal jurisdiction does
not exist under section 48.193(1)(a)2, we reverse the order denying
Robinson's motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and
remand with instructions for the trial court to render an order
dismissing Robinson from this action.
Reversed and remanded with instructions.
BLACK and ROTHSTEIN-YOUAKIM, JJ., Concur.
Opinion subject to revision prior to official publication.
23