Crose v. Volkswagenwerk Antiengesellschaft, 44160

• Citation: 558 P.2d 764,88 Wn.2d 50
• Decision Date: 06 January 1977
• Docket Number: No. 44160,44160
• Parties: Margaret N. CROSE and Robert F. Crose, her husband, Respondents, v. VOLKSWAGENWERK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a Foreign Corporation, et al., Petitioners.
• Court: United States State Supreme Court of Washington

Page 50

88 Wn.2d 50 558 P.2d 764 Margaret N. CROSE and Robert F. Crose, her husband, Respondents,
v.
VOLKSWAGENWERK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a Foreign Corporation, et
al., Petitioners. No. 44160. Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc. Jan. 6, 1977.

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[558 P.2d 765] Hackett, Beecher & Hart, A. R. Hart, Seattle, for petitioners.

Gavin, Robinson, Kendrick, Redman & Mays, Leo C. Kendrick, Joel E. Smith, Yakima, for respondents.

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DOLLIVER, Associate Justice.

This is a products liability case in which respondents claim injury from a defective automobile. We issued a writ of certiorari to review the trial court's order denying the following motions: Motion by Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft (VW-Germany) and Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VW-America) to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction; motion by VW-Germany and VW-America to quash service of process; and motion by VW-America for a summary judgment.

The accident giving rise to this litigation occurred in California while Margaret Crose, one of the respondents, was a passenger in a Volkswagen microbus owned by residents of California. The respondents are residents of Yakima County, Washington. The vehicle was ordered in California for delivery in Germany and was subsequently shipped by the owner to California.

The trial court held that jurisdiction over the petitioners was properly obtained pursuant[558 P.2d 766] to RCW 4.28.080, which reads, in part:

The summons shall be served by delivering a copy thereof, as follows:

(10) If the suit be against a foreign corporation or nonresident joint stock company, partnership or association doing business within this state, to any agent, cashier or secretary thereof.

Service of process was made upon an officer of VW-Germany in Germany where it is incorporated. VW-America, a New Jersey corporation, was served in that state. Riviera Motors, an Oregon corporation, was served in Oregon and in Washington where it maintains a registered agent, CT Corporation System. VW-Germany and VW-America each contend that they were not 'doing business' in the State of Washington within the meaning of RCW 4.28.080(10); that to subject either of them to in personam jurisdiction would violate the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; and that CT Corporation, while acting as an agent

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for Riviera Motors, was not an adequate agent for VW-Germany or VW-America. We disagree on each point.

VW-Germany is a German corporation which engages in the manufacture of Volkswagen automobiles, parts and accessories. It manufactured the automobile in which Mrs. Crose was injured. VW-Germany is also listed as the seller of the Volkswagens purchased through the tourist delivery program, through which the automobile in question was purchased. VW-Germany has no office or place of business in Washington under the name Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft, nor does it pay any state tax.

VW-America, a New Jersey corporation, is the sole importer of Volkswagen automobiles and products into the United States. All the stock in VW-America is owned by VW-Germany. Four of VW-America's 6-member board of directors are on the board of directors of VW-Germany. VW-America sells the products to regional distributors; it does not sell directly to dealers in the State of Washington.

Riviera Motors, originally joined as a party defendant, was dismissed by the trial court pursuant to a motion for a summary judgment. Riviera Motors, incorporated in Oregon, is the regional distributor of Volkswagen automobiles in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Riviera Motors did not sell nor did it service the vehicle in question. Neither VW-Germany nor VW-America own stock in Riviera.

The record indicates that the contractual controls exerted by VW-America over Riviera Motors are extensive. No change in the...