Sherlock v. Sherlock

• Decision Date: 01 May 2001
• Docket Number: No. COA00-356.,COA00-356.
• Citation: 143 NC App. 300,545 S.E.2d 757
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: Lela Christine Sheehy SHERLOCK, Plaintiff, v. Roger Thomas SHERLOCK, Defendant.

545 S.E.2d 757

143 NC App. 300

Lela Christine Sheehy SHERLOCK, Plaintiff, v. Roger Thomas SHERLOCK, Defendant.

No. COA00-356.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

May 1, 2001.

William J. Cotter, Durham, for plaintiff-appellee.

Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, by Edward L. Embree, III, and Laura Keohane, Durham, for defendant-appellant.

BIGGS, Judge.

Roger Sherlock (defendant) appeals from an order denying his motion to dismiss plaintiff's action pursuant to N.C.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2), based on lack of personal jurisdiction. We find that the trial court properly concluded that grounds exist to assert personal jurisdiction over the defendant. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's ruling.

Lela and Roger Sherlock were married in Durham, North Carolina, on 27 December 1983. They separated in June 1999, and on 6 July 1999, Lela Sherlock (plaintiff) instituted the present action, seeking post-separation support, equitable distribution, attorneys' fees, alimony, and a restraining order barring the defendant from disposing of marital assets. The defendant was properly served with the summons and complaint in Bangkok, Thailand, on 26 July 1999. On 23 August 1999, defendant filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's complaint under Rule 12(b)(2), asserting the absence of personal jurisdiction. His motion was heard on 9 December 1999. The trial court ruled that grounds for jurisdiction were found in N.C.G.S. § 1-75.4(12) (1999), and that the defendant's due process rights were not offended by his being required to defend the suit in North Carolina. The trial court denied defendant's motion to dismiss, and from this ruling defendant appeals.

The denial of a defendant's motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, though interlocutory, is immediately appealable. N.C.G.S. § 1-277(b) (1999); Teachy v. Coble Dairies, Inc., 306 N.C. 324, 293 S.E.2d 182 (1982); Cooper v. Shealy, 140 N.C.App. 729, 537 S.E.2d 854 (2000). The burden is upon the plaintiff to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that personal jurisdiction exists. Filmar Racing, Inc. v. Stewart, ___ N.C.App. ___, 541 S.E.2d 733 (2001); Murphy v. Glafenhein, 110 N.C.App. 830, 431 S.E.2d 241, disc. review denied, 335 N.C. 176, 436 S.E.2d 382 (1993). The court's determination that grounds exist for personal jurisdiction is a question of fact. Chadbourn, Inc. v. Katz, 285 N.C. 700, 208 S.E.2d 676 (1974); Hiwassee Stables, Inc. v. Cunningham, 135 N.C.App. 24, 519 S.E.2d 317 (1999). Upon review by this Court, the trial court's findings of fact should be upheld if supported by competent evidence. Hiwassee, 135 N.C.App. at 24, 519 S.E.2d 317.

When a defendant challenges the court's exercise of personal jurisdiction, the court must undertake a two part inquiry. Buck v. Heavner, 93 N.C.App. 142, 377 S.E.2d 75 (1989). The court first determines whether North Carolina law provides a statutory basis for the assertion of personal jurisdiction. Filmar Racing, Inc. v. Stewart, ___ N.C.App. ___, 541 S.E.2d 733 (2001); Cooper v. Shealy, 140 N.C.App. 729, 537 S.E.2d 854 (2000); Schofield v. Schofield, 78 N.C.App. 657, 338 S.E.2d 132 (1986). If the court concludes that there is a statutory basis for jurisdiction, it next must consider whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction complies with the due process requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment. Bates v. Jarrett, 135 N.C.App. 594, 521 S.E.2d 735 (1999); Powers v. Parisher, 104 N.C.App. 400, 409 S.E.2d 725 (1991), disc. review denied, 331 N.C. 286, 417 S.E.2d 254 (1992).

In the present case, the trial court found statutory grounds for jurisdiction under N.C.G.S. § 1-75.4 (1999). This statute confers jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, including:

any action under Chapter 50 that arises out of the marital relationship within this State, notwithstanding subsequent departure from the State, if the other party to the marital relationship continues to reside in this state.

G.S. § 1-75.4(12). We agree with the trial court's conclusion that jurisdiction is proper under this statutory provision. The parties were married in North Carolina. Plaintiff "continues to reside" in North Carolina. The action arises under Chapter 50, "Divorce and Alimony," and seeks resolution solely of issues pertaining to the dissolution of their marriage. Under these circumstances, plaintiff's action is authorized under G.S. § 1-75.4(12). The defendant argues that this action does not "arise out of the marital relationship within this state" because, e.g., the couple never established a permanent home in North Carolina, and the defendant has never owned property within the state. However, these factors do not necessarily render jurisdiction improper. Instead, they are relevant to our evaluation of defendant's connections with this state in regard to the due process implications of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over him.

The requirements for in personam jurisdiction were articulated by the United States Supreme Court in International Shoe Company v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945), in which the Court held:

[D]ue process requires only that in order to subject a defendant to a judgment in personam, if he be not present within the territory of the forum, he have certain minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend `traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.'

Id. at 315, 66 S.Ct. at 158, 90 L.Ed. at 102 (citations omitted). International Shoe remains the leading authority in this area, and decisions of this Court have adhered to its principles. The plaintiff in this case sought to exercise jurisdiction over the defendant pursuant to G.S. § 1-75.4, often called the "long arm statute" in reference to its power to compel defense of a suit even by those located at a great distance, provided that the defendant has the requisite "minimum contacts" with North Carolina. This Court has noted that:

Under our `long arm' statute, North Carolina courts may obtain personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant to the full extent permitted by the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution.

Saxon v. Smith, 125 N.C.App. 163, 173, 479 S.E.2d 788, 794 (1997) (citations omitted). See also Dillon v. Numismatic Funding Corp., 291 N.C. 674, 231 S.E.2d 629 (1977)

. Therefore, when personal jurisdiction is alleged to exist pursuant to the long-arm statute, "the question of statutory authority collapses into the question of whether [the defendant] has the minimum contacts with North Carolina necessary to meet the requirements of due process." Hanes Companies, Inc. v. Ronson, 712 F.Supp. 1223, 1226 (M.D.N.C.1988) (citations omitted); Murphy v. Glafenhein, 110 N.C.App. 830, 431 S.E.2d 241,

disc. review denied, 335 N.C. 176, 436 S.E.2d 382 (1993).

Thus, the issue before this Court is whether Roger Sherlock has had "minimum contacts" with this State so as to permit the exercise of personal jurisdiction over him without offense to his due process rights. The resolution of this question "will vary with the quality and nature of the defendant's activity, but it is essential ... that there be some act by which the defendant purposefully avails [himself] of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws." Chadbourn, Inc. v. Katz, 285 N.C. 700, 705, 208 S.E.2d 676, 679 (1974) (citations omitted). Further, the relationship between defendant and North Carolina must be such that the defendant "should reasonably anticipate being haled into court" in this state. Tom Togs, Inc. v. Ben Elias Industries Corp., 318 N.C. 361, 365, 348 S.E.2d 782, 786 (1986) (citations omitted). As expressed by the United States Supreme Court:

[the] purposeful availment requirement ensures that a defendant will not be haled into a jurisdiction solely as a result of `random,' `fortuitous,' or `attenuated' contacts,... or of the `unilateral activity' of another party or a third person.... Jurisdiction is proper, however, where the contacts proximately result from actions by the defendant himself[.]

Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 475, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 2183, 85 L.Ed.2d 528, 542 (1985)

(citations omitted). This Court recently has summarized the aspects of a defendant's situation that have proven useful in an analysis of "minimum contacts" with a jurisdiction:

Our courts have developed a list of factors helpful to determining the existence of minimum contacts. Such factors include, (1) the quantity of the contacts, (2) nature and quality of the contacts, (3) the source and connection of the cause of action to the contacts, (4) the interest of the forum state, and (5) convenience of the parties.... The Court must also weigh and consider the interests of and fairness to the parties involved in the litigation.

Filmar Racing Inc. v. Stewart, ___ N.C.App. ___, ___, 541 S.E.2d 733, 737 (2001) (citations omitted). See also Tutterrow v. Leach, 107 N.C.App. 703, 421 S.E.2d 816 (1992)

; Powers v. Parisher, 104 N.C.App. 400, 409 S.E.2d 725 (1991) (stressing importance of the same factors).

Plaintiff and defendant were married in 1983, and lived together until 1999. They were married in Durham, but did not reside there. The couple never purchased a home or established a permanent residence in this country. In fact, a six month stay in Georgia was the only time during their marriage that they lived in the United States. Nor did they establish a permanent home in any other country. Rather, defendant's employment at all times dictated their place of residence. Roger Sherlock was employed during the marriage by Lucent Technologies and by ATT. These corporations shuttled defendant to various international locales, as need arose. Between 1983 and 1999, the Sherlocks resided in Egypt, Korea, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Australia, and Thailand. There is no evidence in the record to suggest that either of the Sherlocks intended to become...